The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING OCTOBER 29 1844.

SOUTH WALES RAILWAY
MEETING AT CARDIFF.

A numerously attended and highly influential
meeting of the bankers, merchants, and traders of
Cardiff, with a number of the gentry of this and the
neighbouring towns and counties, was held on Fri-
day, in the Town-hall, to take into consideration the
expediency of promoting a line of railway through
Newport, Cardiff, the agricultural districts of Llan-
trissant, Cowbridge, Briclgend, Porthcawl, Neath, and
Swansea. A deputation from the Great Western
Railway Company, consisting of F. P. Barlow, Esq.,
one of the Directors, C. Saunders, Esq., Secretary,
W. 0. Hunt, Esq., solicitor, with J. K. Brunel,
Esq., engineer, attended. The presence of these
gentlemen constituted an important feature in the
meeting, and afforded something like guarantee that
the business of the day would be conducted with the
same good faith which has invariably characterised
the proceedings of these gentlemen in the various
localities where, in furtherance of the objects of the
company, they attended. The period that has elapsed
since the last meeting in Swansea afforded time for
a partial survey of the important line of railway
through this county ; this circumstance, coupled
with the interest naturally attachable to so important
a demonstration, led to the expectation that an
authoritative declaration as to a specific and definite
line would be made in the course of the day. A
large and imposing assemblage of persons, deeply
interested in the project, were in consequence brought
together. •
Among those present we observed the Marquis of
Bute, Lord Lieutenant of the county; J. Bruce
Pryce, Esq., High Sheriff of the county; Viscount
Adare, M.P.; the Right Hon. J. Nichol!, M.P.;
Sir John Guest, Bart., M.P.; C. K. Kemys Tinte,
Esq., M.P.; Edward Divett, Esq., M.P.; J. Gower,
Esq. ; M. P. Traherne, Esq. ' • the Very Rev. the Dean
of Llandaff; R. F. Jenner, Esq. ; J. Homfray, Esq.;
'T. W. Booker, Esq. • Walter Coffin, Esq. ' • Rowland
Fothergill, Esq.; E. H. Lee, Esq.; J. N. Carrie,
Esq.; Rev. J. Coles ; Rev. Robert Knight ; Rev. W.
Bruce; E. M. Williams, Esq. ; Captain Hewitt; W.
Needham, Esq. • Rev. Dr. Buckland, Professor of
Geology ; Rev. W. D. Conybeare; H. Morgan, Esq.,
Mayor of Cardiff; Rev. R. Prichard ; Rev. T.
Stacey; Rev. W. L. Morgan; E. P. Richards, Esq.;
H. S. Coke, J. Randall, W. Williams, David Evans,
J. H. Langley, R. Daw, Wm. Lewis, James Lewis,
Henry Jones, Wm. Jones, W. Towgood, R. Reece,
J. Clark, John Richards, J. S. Corbett, Lewis Reece,
Charles James, of Merthyr, Wm. Perkins, of Merthyr,
Montague Grover, A. Miller, Birt Jenner, C. C.
Williams, Evan David, Esqs.; Dr. Moore ; Messrs.
IV. J. Watson, Wm. Richards, Geo. Insole, John
Batchelor, Henry Webber, Wm. Bird, R. Beaumont,
W. Williams, G. S. Strawson, C. Vachell, &c.
The members of the deputation from the Great
Western Company entered the Hall about half-past
twelve, and were warmly greeted. A few minutes
after the Marquis of Bute entered, and was received
with loud and general cheering.
His Lordship, on the motion of M. P. Traherne,
Esq., was moved to the chair.

The Noble MARQUIS then briefly addressed the
meeting. He ventured to appeal to the knowledge
of all present, that it was his anxious desire to show
his goodwill towards the promotion of the object
which so much interested them all. It was an un-
dertaking in which there was not only individual but
general interest concerned; and, as such, it was, he
believed, of importance to the country. He had re-
turned
from the western part of the county, where
the matter, in the course of general conversation, was
pretty freely talked over and from this he could learn
the general good feeling that prevailed respecting it.
It was under these impressions that he complied with
what appeared to be the general wish of the meeting
in taking the chair. He felt, however, that it was
impossible for him to do so without expressing his
thanks for the manner in which that intimation had
be en conveyed to him, The Noble Marquis resumed
his seat amid much cheering.
Mr. BARLOW then announced himself as one of the
deputation of the Great Western Company, and next
addressed the meeting. He ventured to address
them as the representative of that Company, which
was warmly interested in the prosecution of the
South Wales Railway. The duty would have
been ably discharged by the Chairman of the
Company, but whose avocations elsewhere rendered it
impossible for him to attend. Mr. Barlow adverted to
the deputation having recently passed through Cardiff,
and apologised for their not then addressing a public
meeting on the subject. The reason principally was,
that the Noble Chairman whose support they were
anxious to conciliate, could not conveniently attend,
and which support he considered essential to the suc-
cess of the undertaking.—(Cheers.) The Great
Western Company had no idea of overlooking the im-
portant town of Cardiff. That was not meant, they
wanted the support of numbers. They not only
wanted that support, but the species of moral support
founded on the good opinions of the people of the
work in hand.— (Cheers.) They wanted the prac-
tical manifestations of their anxiety to• go to, and
carry the business through Parliament. They had a
claim on every individual for his support to enable
them to bring the project before Parliament. That
support he would beg to tell them was shown by sub-
scriptions. They wanted to see the local interest
concerned in order to keep up the spirit of the thing.
The advantages of railway communication was so
obvious, so generally admitted, that it would be
needless to descant on them. To the port and town
of Cardiff, peculiarly situated as they were, a railway
was inestimable. As a means of internal communi-
cation for sending the produce of England into Wales,
and transporting into the interior of England the
great mineral resources of this and the neighbouring
counties, the railway contemplated was of great
importance. Some years ago a railway into
Wales was looked upon as rather a wild specula-
tion. But, fortunately for society, mention
of its impracticability at the present
.day had
vanished, and what was then considered as
visionary and delusive, might now be looked upon
as safe and practicable.— (Cheers.) Even if no pros-
pective remuneration arose from the present project
to shareholders, yet it was worthy the attention of
influential persons as a means of improving property,
for he thought that there were few gentlemen of the
present day who would now be found to complain of
the vicinity of a railroad to their park or mansion.
The proposed line will give a direct communication
between London and Wales. It will work into the
railroads that are about to be constructed, and from
the westward it will open a communication with Ire-
land. It will open a communication between Fish-
guard and Wexford—it will be responded to by cor-
responding lines of railway in Ireland—by lines from
Wexford to Dublin, and from that city to Waterford.
At present it was the intention of the deputation to
proceed to Wexford, and lay there the foundation of
a project similar to that which he had now the honour
of addressing to them.—(Cheers.) By the proposed
line they would have the most direct communication
with the southern part of Ireland. He had only to
assure them that the Great Western Company were
ready to support the project in the most influential
way. They think they will best achieve that object
by incorporating themselves with the South Wales
Board of Directors—(Cheers)—and support it with
their money. He was gratified to find that this
announcement was satisfactory. There had been
times when it was all but impossible to get capital,
but now gentlemen were ready to come forward, and
there was a spirit of enterprise and emulation abroad
that augured well for the undertaking. He would
give an instance of this in the person of one gentle-
man, now near him, who was a member of the South
Wales Board of Directors, and who had taken 2,000
shares in the speculation. This gentleman had come
forward with alacrity, and with as purely disinterested
a feeling as it was possible to fall to the lot of any
human being.—(Cheers.) The meeting would learn
with satisfaction the gratifying state of the share-
list. If they thought proper to produce their share-
book, it would be seen that it would not be necessary
to get a single name more on it—in other words, the
whole of the share-list necessary to go to Parliament
has been already filled ; in fact the number of shares
necessary to a successful application to Parliament
have been already subscribed for. The list will be
kept open till the Ist of November. After that period
it will be closed. He was aware as an element of
opposition to the present undertaking, doubts were
industriously circulated respecting the traffic on the
projected line. He was happy to inform them that
there was no truth in the rumour. Everything had
been done scrupulously to ascertain that ; and it was
submitted to checks and tests of so rigorous a nature,
as to enable them to vouch for its suffi-
ciency. The statistics of the traffic had been
taken by gentlemen of admitted competency, who
have made their report in the proper quarters. From
that report it has been ascertained that it will produce
full 10 per cent. on the subscribed capital.—(Cheers.)
Now when that report finds its way into the money
market, he could not say with what avidity the shares
would be taken up. He now mentioned the fact to
give an opportunity for making timely applications.
He admitted he was anxious to see these applications,
because they were anxious to be in a position to go to
Parliament with a certainty of success. From this
feature in the transactions, they might see it was not
a mere jobbing speculation they were called to em-
bark in. They therefore wished to have from Cardiff
that expression of feeling which should be the most
efficient representative of the number of shares which
Cardiff would represent. He felt the subject was not
in competent hands ; any application, to the deputa-
tion of the Great Western Company, the officers of
which were present, would elicit the fullest explana-
tion of their views. Mr. Brunel in particular, would
give every explanation. He saw around him num-
bers of the South Wales board, who might if necessary
be applied to on the subject. The deputation now
tpnroc this
sd would to Webxefo made,rd, w
were on their way to Fishguard, whence they would
demonstration s sim
ilar
to
awhere he had doubt, ar
similar triumph would await them.—(Cheers.)

Viscount ADARE, M.P., then rose to propose the
first resolution. After the statements that had been
I.IA made, it was unnecessary for him to enter into
tha question whether a railway was necessary for
South Wales. On that subject he apprehended there
could not be a second opinion. He felt particularly
gratified at two things:—first at the good opinion
which such a company as the 'Great Western seemed
to entertain of the project ; and, secondly, at the nume-
rous and highly influential meeting which, by its pre-
sence, concurred in the proceedings of the day. This
was particularly understood to be the age of great
undertakings. It was essential to their progress that
unanimity should govern their proceedings, and he
was happy to state that unanimity was the distin-
guishing feature of the present meeting. The most
sceptical on the subject—those who did not belong to
the company, and proposed taking no part in the spe-
culation, nevertheless hailed it as a measure of wis•
dam—as the means of connecting the metropolis of
England with the south of Ireland, and as productive
of those happy results which must proceed from such
an intercourse. The Noble Lord concluded by mov-
ing the folowing resolution:--" That the formation of
a railway in connection with the Great Western Rail-
way, through Newport, Cardiff, and the agricultural
districts of Llantrissant, Cowbridge, Bridgend, and
Pyle, thence to Neath, Swansea, and Fishguard,
thereby both connecting the metropolis of England
with Ireland, and giving scope to the development of
the vast and various resources of this rich country,
cannot fail to be productive of the greatest advantage
not only to the country at large, but especially to the
respective districts which it will traverse."
The Right Hon. J. NICHOLL,. M.P., said ~,he had
the honour and gratification of seconding the resolu-
tion just moved by the Noble Viscount. It had been
well said that any project that had for its object the
establishment of a communication between this coun-
try and the metropolis must be of advantage to Wales.
IV hen he said that the projected line would be in
connexion with the Great Western Company, he
meant to say that it would be in connexion with the
greatest and best line of railway that had ever been
constructed in this or any other country, or that had
yet been called into existence. He begged to con-
gtatulate the meeting that it received so great an
amount of support; and he hoped that the town of
Cardiff would show its sense of the proposed boon—
of its interest in the undertaking, not by the sub-
scriptions of single persons, but of numbers. 'lt was
not the wish of the Great Western Company, nor
was it necessary that gentlemen alone should come
forward in support of the railway with large sub-
scriptions. It was essential that names should be
numerous as well as influential, and thusgprove that
the town of Cardiff, with the county at large, felt an
interest in the undertaking. He would not detain
the meeting further than to bid the undertakingo
forward and prosper.—(Cheers.)
The question on the resolution was then: put from
the chair and carried.

Sir J. GUEST, Bart., M.P., said, that the following
resolution had been put into his hands :—" That com-
mittees be appointed for the purpose of obtaining
subscriptions, and otherwise promoting the under-
taking, and, from time to time, conferring with the
provisional committee and the Great Western Rail-
way Company in furtherance of the measure." After
the interesting explanation given by Mr. Barlow, it
I was quite unnecessary for him to say anything, ex-
cept merely in discharge of the duty he felt imposed
on him to call on them to put down their names.
He would only add, with respect to the commercial
prospects of the railway, that as the present line
would be the connecting link between England and
Ireland, much commercial advantage might be in-
ferred. It should not be forgotten, that in this
country they had a profusion of metals, which were
manufactured in the heart of England. If the pro-
jected line were now laid down, the facilities of
transit would be so great, that the produce of their
copper would be sent there, the English hardware
would find its way into this country, and in their
turn they would be able to send into the heart of
England the various metals with which their hills
abounded ; and it was not too much to anticipate that
the trades and manufactures which now flourished in
England would in the course of a few years, find
their way to the hills, and be established among them.
—(Cheers.) As a voucher for this speculation, he
could refer to Professor Buckland, who, he was glad
to see among them. [The Learned Gentleman thus
appealed to, sat opposite Sir J. Guest, and by a nod,
intimated his assent.] That Learned Gentleman
could satisfy them of the abundance of coal on their
hills, and its probable duration. He (Sir J. Guest)
was happy to see that day,—he had long anticipated
it, and the success of the undertaking was what he
had at heart for many years.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. ROBERT KNIGHT said he had been se-
lected for seconding the resolution just now submitted
to them. He could do so with great pleasure. They
had heard of the advantages that would arise from the
proposed undertaking, by joining the two extremities
of the United Kingdom. If they looked nearer home,
they would find in the county of Glamorgan that ma-
terials which lay for many ages unexplored and unde-
veloped, would by the contemplated line be made
available for the uses for which a wise Providence
originally intended them, and make business at both
extremities of this county as active as ever it had been
at the centre of it. He would not detain them longer
than to congratulate the county generally on the
happy prospects held out, and the deputation of the
Great Western Company for the flattering reception
which it had everywhere experienced.
The High Sheriff of the county, J. B. PuxcE, Esq.,
said that the accomplishment of the present under-
taking would be productive of the happiest results,
and was certainly the most important that could be
undertaken. A few days ago he observed stakes
driven into a portion of the bank of the Ely, on which
part of his property lay. He was glad to perceive
that his land could afford such a slight facility for
the commencement of this great undertaking, and
he would be glad to find that the best land of
his in the county could serve a similar purpose.
He had the pleasure of bringing with him to
the meeting two of the most distinguished
geologists of the age, Professor Buckland and
the Rev. Mr. Conybeare. He was quite delighted to
see those gentlemen unfold their maps and display
the treasures of the mineral world, which they ,anti-
cipated from this display. He concluded by moving
the following resolution :—" That the best thanks of
the meeting be given to the deputation of the Great
respectingW
.t elry n. 181
information so readily given by them,
T
of seconding the resolution taohioel wicpaio:CpEoe
cms
tcisp„aonfyt,h feo pr theirn dert a aktitnegn nce this
day, and the
In doing so, he could not help congratulating
said he
hhiechhandadthbeehenig
pro-
posed.jhushtonour
the deputation of the Great Western Railway Com-
pany on the very flattering circumstances under
which they appear before the public. There was a
period, and not a remote one, in which the near ap-
proach of a railway line was regarded by the landed
proprietary with horror. " What,' said they, " shall
we have our parks cut up by your railways—our
very kitchens and pantries tunnelled by your boring ?
—(Laughter.) You will not let the country alone,
but tormenting and cutting it up into the most fan-
tastic shapes and forms disfiguring the face of
nature. You will not leave one beauty free
To sink or swell as Heaven pleases.' "
This might at one period form the ground of com-
plaint with many well-meaning gentlemen ' • but time
and circumstances are changed, and what at one
period was looked upon with jealousy and consterna-
tion, was now regarded with tolerance, if not com-
placency. Mr. Brunel too, like other artful seducers,
kept out of the people's way, and by a retiring and
delicate reserve, ,enhanced the value of his presence,
and made people but wish the more for his company.
—(Laughter.) He could not help obterving that it
augured well for the success of the undertaking to
find that the South Wales Railway would have less
in amount to pay for compensation for land than other
lines. This circumstance brought him to the railway
itself. In the few observations he felt it necessary to
make, he would avoid treading on tender ground, or
hazarding an observation that would for a moment
disturb the unanimity that so happily prevailed. He
would, in all courtesy, beg to put some questions to
the deputation, to which, from the frank and explicit
manner elsewhere shown, he was sure satisfactory
replies would be given. He could perceive that
from Cardiff the railway, passes by the valley of
Ely through a rich agricultural district adjacent
to Llantrissant, Cowbridge, Bridgend, Porth Cawl,
and Pyle, the produce of which would thus be
rendered available towards the supply of the sur-
rounding manufacturing population. Passing thence,
the railway runs through the centre of the great
copper and tin-plate works, situate at Cwm-Avon,
Neath, and Swansea, where it is estimated that three-
fourths of all the copper raised in Great Britain are
smelted, and a great portion is new exported at a very
considerable cost, to London and the north. This
produce from the shorter route, and the greater faci-
' lity of transport offered by the proposed means of com-
munication, would necessarily be secured to the rail-
way, and thus speedily and more economically find its
way to the metropolis and all the interior parts of the
kingdom. Leaving Swansea, the course of the rail-
way would be such as to secure to it the entire traffic
of the counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke and a
large portion of that of Cardigan. Some distance be•
yond Cormarthen it is proposed that the railway
shall divide into two branches, the one proceeding
southward to Pembroke and Milford Haven, and
the other in a southward direction to Fishguard,
whence a communication with the South of Ire-
land would be effected within five hours. The
length of way was computed to be 148 miles ; the
capital to be expended 2,500,0001.; and 17,0001.
per mile was the estimated cost. Now, as the
gentlemen were in town most conversant with—these
details, people would naturally expect the most
explicit declarations on these subjects. Would
Mr. Brunel say whether the estimated expenditure

of 17,0001. per mile was correct ? For his part he
did not anticipate the failure of the project for want
of funds; and he might be allowed to hope that the
I projectors were prepare to neutralised, if not overcome,
every opposition that might be offaed. It is proposed
that the railway shall cross the Severn below Glouces-
ter. Respecting this the meeting was aware of the
formidable opposition to be encountered. He would
therefore have no reserve, and he was anxious to get
the most specific declarations on the subject to pre-
vent any mistakes. A meeting had been recently
held in Gloucester. The interference of the South
Wales Railway with the navigation of the Severn had
been freely alluded to. Lord Hatherton attended the
meeting, and he would beg to state what his expres-
sions were on that occasion. He expressed the fullest
conviction that the fair interests of the creditors of the
Severn would be protected by Parliament.—(Cheers.)
Parliament had refused to make the river a joint-stock
property. It had preferred appointing a commission to
execute the improvements in a prescribed manner, and
had given to the creditors of the commission the secu-
rity of certain tolls to pay them their interest and to re •
pay them their capital, and he was satisfied that it
would never (before a shilling of revenue to repay the
larger expenditure had been raised), sancion any body
of speculators in the establishment of an almost paral-
lel line, to carry off the entire of the traffic from the
improved navigation—(Cheers)—and it was remarka-
ble that it was on a commercial traffic that the railway
projectors seemed to rely, for little or nothing was said
about passengers ; but what was the case ? Ia 1837
the House of Commons considered the grand con-
nexion scheme, which took a line very similar to that
proposed to be taken now. A certain amount of traffic
was then exhibited as likely to be accommodated by
such a line. That line, however, the House of Com-
mons rejected; but, since that period, he might say
that three other lines had been opened for the accom-
modation of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and South
Staffordshire. The Birmingham and Gloucester
Railway had been opened, and was carrying at an
incredibly small rate of tonnage. The Birmingham
and Worcester Canal, running in exactly the same
direction, had been so greatly improved by deepening
and ample reservoirs, as to render it almost a new
canal, and its tonnages had been reduced to the lowest
practicable rate. Then, on the other side, the com-
pletion of the works on the Severn, which would be
perfect to below Worcester in five weeks, would ren-
der the line of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire
Canal, from Wolverhampton down to the Severn, and
on to Worcester, serviceable to the local and
, general trade to an extent never before known.
Here were three lines, then, that might be con-
sidered as newly opened since the House of Com-
mons pronounced the proud connexion scheme unne-
cessary in 1837. But the importance of the Severn im-
provement would not stop here. If Parliament would
protect its revenue, the future amount of which was
still doubtful, the commission would, he was satisfied,
institute immediate inquiry into the means of ex-
tending the improvements down to the Bristol
Channel. The execution of the works for the deep-
ening the river, under Mr. Cubitt and Mr. Williams'
direction, by embanking, dredging, &c., below Wor-
cester, left no doubts whatever of the facility with
which those operations might be extended below
Gloucester; and until the channel was opened up
from the mouth of the river, they should never see
that accomplished which Sir R. Peel had expressed
in the House of Commons—his desire to witness the
" sea brought up to Worcester."—(Cheers.) The
immense importance of steam navigation between Ire-
land and the south-west of England on one side and
the centre of England on the other could not be over
estimated. Railways were no doubt most important,
but he doubted whether there was now any one
national object of the sort unaccomplished so import-
ant as the establishment of a perfect steam-boat navi-
gation between the Bristol Channel and the centre of
England. He should never rest satisfied till that was
accomplished.—(Cheers.) But for such an object
the revenue of public creditors must be protected, or
Parliamentary commissions would remain powerless
for ever.—(Cheers.) Mr. Booker felt in common
with them all, how deeply they were indebted to the
deputation, and he felt there was every propriety in
putting these questions to the deputation.
Mr. BRUNEL said he came there that day quite un-
prepared to make any specific doclarations, but with
respect to the questions put by Mr. Booker, he was
quite ready to give the fullest information. With
respect to the first point, the estimated amount of the
line, he should say that gentlemen would bear in
mind the comparative expenditure of lines constructed
in the present day, and those laid down eight or ten
years ago. Some of these cost much more than was
atfirst contemplated. There were various reasons for
this discrepancy between the estimated and actual
amount of construction. Without troubling the
meeting with all the reasons, it would, perhaps, be
enough for his purpose to state that various circum-
stances determined the relative amount—the period
of time when they were made—the cost of materials,
and possibly the want of precision in the estimate.
The same fallacy in the estimates that private gen-
tlemen are subject to in building their mansions,
occasionally governs railways. Railway directors
when they see what has been done—when new vistas
of commerce open to their views, generally extend
their lines, and necessarily incur an expense to which
the new improvements subject them. The circum-
stauces under which the Great Western Railway
was constructed were very different from those which
govern railways of the present day. He would in-
stance a few particulars, by way of illustration. The
Box tunnel of the Great Western Railway cost 1001.
per yard. The tunnel on the Exeter Railway cost
but 53/. The Cheltenham tunnel in connexion with
might
tthe Great Western Railway was estimated at 1361.
per
yard
n thiso cost
t departmentbut
341.
per
alone, yard.
he Tom showgh the
mentionre-
duction
that, within the last three weeks, he had contracted
i itc
for tunnelling at 281. per yard. The comparative
expense must, of course, depend on a variety of cir-
cumstances—the nature of the material to be worked
upon, and the accessibility of materials, with other
matters which he could not just now go into. The
estimate of the railway proposed to be brought before
Parliament was considerably less than that of lines laid
down even in 1836. About 2,500,0001. was the esti-
mate of the South Wales line—about 15,0001. per mile
—and then a surplus would be left available for the
exigencies of the Company. The line of railway pass-
ing through the Stroud valley, at one period deemed
impracticable,and in consequence given up, was taken by
the Great Western Company, and that cost but 15,0001.
a mile on the average. Now, he would say that the South
Wales line ought not to average more that 12,0001.
or 13,0001. per mile. So far as to the comparative
expense of construction. Respecting other points he
would say there was no mystery—there was no effort
at concealment; but explicitness of detail with re-
gard to leading features was quite consistent with
some reserve on other points. 'With respect to the
Severn navigation, he should say it was proposed to
improve that river up to the city of Worcester; and
the parties interested in that improvement must have
contemplated a railway to give effect to that improve-
ment. He had been in communication with the
Severn Navigation Company, and he would not hesi-
tate to state to that body his belief that the contem-
plated railway would considerably advance the im-
provement of that river.

Mr. BARLOW briefly returned thanks. He would
have great pleasure in stating to his colleagues in town
the gratifying unanimity which prevailed at the pre-
sent meeting, and the cordiality with which the depu-
tation had been received. They might rest assured
that the :confidence reposed in them would not be
misplaced, and that they would do all in their power
to justify that by promoting the interests of the line.
There would be an identity of views and interests
between them. So great was the confidence already
reposed in them, that at a recent meeting of the South
Wales Board, an unanimous vote was come to, ap-
pointing Mr. Russell as Chairman to the Company.
Mr. Barlow concluded by an encomium on the Chair-
man of the Great Western Company, and, in terms
of warm eulogy, moved the thanks of the deputation
to the Marquis of Bute for the liberality of his
views and support of the projected railway, and the
ability and impartiality with which he had filled the
chair. _ _ _

A contention of a very amicable nature here took
place between several gentlemen in the vicinity of the
chair for the honour of seconding the resolution.
Prominent among these was the distinguished Pro-
fessor Buckland, to whom, by common consent, was
awarded the honour.

Dr. BUCKLAND then rose, and was warmly cheered.
He rose, he aaid, with heartfelt pleasure, to second the
proposition which had been just made. Though not
an inhabitant of that county, it was his lot to be oc-
casionally connected with it for many years, and,
therefore, he had some pretensions to second the mo-
tion which had been made. These were matters of
which he was professionally cognizant, and which he
might, with propriety, detail to the present meeting,
and which it was important for them they should
know. The foundation of their present prosperity
mainly rested on the article of coal. Had not this
existed, he believed he was correct in stating that
their population would have been less than it was at
present by 5,000,000, and their commerce less by
one-third. He need not dwell on the advantages to
be derived from locomotives. They all had appa-
rently prospects of long life before them, and they all
might learn the facilities of encouragement railways
gave the multiplication of the means of life, and the en-
hancement of its highest and most intellectual
enjoy-
ments. Next in importance to coal,
tasa
wasn important
preferable
staple of their country, stood. irotn
t
r
r
ania. Some of these were haunted with the
etHdi ro
House
gu.
sol
silver,d
oh respectingofe rsct
tei
mlhavnremenrhysi
ni:ebeiloennhfnsgeosi
s had
noho.
fdaret
severalbheorede
uh elfei
entered
emmhra
members
Itir
de
ruin
esi
ounbtoi
rons.f ,
notions on the subject of coal, amounting to
apprehension that the coal of the country was in a
amsoagt
Fop details
talnerdhais
rnient
etha iha

-
( rapid state of consumption, :Ind the quantity for all
manufacturing purposes was exhausted. The Learned
gentleman ridiculed the idea and demonstrated the
supply in many places to he adequate to any contin-
gent demands. In other localities, particularly in what
was termed the Upp. r Russell vein, the exhaustion of
coal was rapidly progressing, and would have been
completed in that district had not another vein in that
vicinity been found. Opini-ms as to the durability of
even the best veins of coal in England varied. Some
said that fifty or sixty years would exhaust them,
other said two hundred years. He then alluded to
the practice resorted to by coal owners and merchants
of deteriorating the quality of coal at the mouth of the
pit, by reducing it to fragments for the purpose
of increasing the bulk with a view of getting a
bonus allowed by Government. Several hundred
thousand chaldrons of coal were now destroyed
this way, fully amounting to one-third of the supply
brought to the mouth of the pit. London merchants
did the same, and became, in consequence entitled to
the reduction of duty. From certain data, it might
be affirmed that the coal of Newcastle would be gone
in a century, and their posterity would see the great
manufacturers of England obliged to come into \Vales
and settle down on their hills. Ile was able to state
that there was little fear of exhausting their home
supply. The coal fields of this and the neighbOuring
counties had abundance of store, and when the coal
fields of England were exhausted, those of the county
of Glamorgan would survive.—(Cheers.)
The Marquis of BUTE said he was anxious in the
discharge of his duty as Chairman to return his
very sincere thanks for the honour they had con-
ferred on him by the present resolution, so kindly
proposed by his friend Mr. Barlow. He thought it
not inconsistent with that duty to permit the learned
Professor I3uckland to address the meeting. He
had, on all occasions, been too much accustomed
to expressions of kindness and partiality in that
room to be surprised at its manifestation just now.
There was another circumstance which afforded him
much satisfaction—it was the expression of unanimity
in that room. He might be allowed to say that,
accustomed as he was to gratifying exhibitions of that
nature, there was none that ever afforded him so much
pleasure as that which he enjoyed at the present
meeting. On occasions similar to the present, when
he attended, it was only to preside at meetings, com-
posed exclusively, perhaps, of the inhabitants of Car-
diff. Unanimity at such meetings might be expected,
but on the present occasion, when the meeting was
attended by not only the inhabitants of this town, but,
of other towns and counties, an expression of unani-
mity in the proceedings of the day was the more
acceptable. His Lordship then vacated the chair,
and the meeting, which it is no exaggeration to say
was most respectable and influential, separated.

THE THEATRES.
HAYMARKET.
No sooner does a clever actor make his appearance
than Webster, the most enterprising of managers,
immediately does his utmost to secure his services.
IVe are not, therefore, surprised to find Mr. Marble,
the prince of Yankees, on the Haymarket boards.
He made his debut at this theatre last evening, in his
favorite character of Lot Sap Sago, in the farce of
Yankee Land. We have so lately given an account
of the admirable pourtrayal by Marble of this cha-
racter, that it is unnecessary to go into this subject at
any great length. Suffice it to say, that his humour
was as dry, and his Jonathanisms as quaint as ever,
and that his whole delineation of the character was the
very beau ideal of a "Help," lie was well received
throughout by a crowded house.

LYCEUM.
A new piece, of course an adaptation from the
French, was produced here last evening with complete
success, under the title or Watch and Ward. An old
French Baron has a pretty ward, Isabel (Miss Fair-
brother), who has a lover, Victor (Mr. Kinioch).
The guardian, after the manner of all stage guardians,
of course disapproves of her conduct, and determines
closely to watch his ward. Her maid, of course,
brings her lover to meet her in the garden. When
did a stage lady's maid ever do otherwise ? Old
guardians and ladies maids are like the positive and
negative poles of a galvanic battery, perpetually
neutralising each other, and in so doing inflicting a
series of shocks on the unfortunate medium of com-
munication, the heroine. The guardian goes into his
garden, and there finds, not the lover, but a Captain
O'Donnell, an Irish officer, who had taken re-
fuge there to escape from the patrol. O'Donnell
demands hospitality as one who, having killed his
adversary in an affair of honour, is endeavouring to
escape from justice. While the Baron goes in to
prepare a hiding-place for him, the lady's maid enters,
and conducts O'Donnell to her mistress, while Victor,
who arrives immediately afterwards, is forced by the
Baron into the hiding-place which he had prepared
for him. From these contre-temps a world of laugh-
able incidents arise. The embroglio is kept up to the
very last, when of course all ends happily. The great
weight of the piece fell on Wigan, who sustained it admi-
rably. We would just hint to him, however, that in an
Irish officer the slightest possible touch of the brogue
is sufficient. The scene is laid in the time of Louis
XIV., and the splendid costume of the period served
to set it off to great advantage. It was completely
successful, and will, no doubt, have a long run. The
house was crowded.

STRAND.
If; as Cato says, " This world was made for
Cxsar,” most undoubtedly this dramatic season was
made for Don Caesar de Bazan. Already did he
reign supreme at the Princess's, Haymarket, Adelphi,
Surrey, and Victoria, when last night the Strand was
added to his conquests. Like his great prototype, he
may exclaim, " F. eni, vidi, vici," for wherever he ap-
pears his success is certain. He was at this theatre
most admirably represented by Roberts, who as Don
Cwsar exhibited powers for the possession of which
we had not before given him credit. There was a
freedom about his acting which told admirably.
Maritana was very ably sustained by Mrs. Coleman
Pope, and Lazarillo, the armourer's boy, was very nicely
acted by Miss Stephens. Mr. John Howard, from the
Brighton theatre, made his first appearance before a
London audience, in the character of the King. It
was a very careful and creditable performance. The
nzise en scene was admirable, and at the conclusion
the applause was enthusiastic. The Polka, which
has been laid aside for a time, was revived last even-
ing, and as danced by Mr. Roberts and Mrs. Mont-
gomerie, it is one of the most lively and elegant
dances imaginable. This is nearly the hundredth
time of its performance at this theatre, and, judging
from appearances, we should not be surprised if it
were danced a hundred nights more. This is cer-
tainly one of the most delightful of dances, and we
are not at all surprised at its undiminished popularity.
The house was very well attended.

An attorney in Dublin having died exceedingly
poor, a shilling subscription was set on foot to pay the
expenses of his funeral. Most of the attorneys and
barristers having subscribed, one of them applied to
Toler, afterwards Lord Chief Justice Norbury, express-
ing his hope that he would also subscribe his shilling.
" Only a shilling," saidiroler, " only a shilling to bury
an attorney ? Here is..a guinea : go and bury one-and-
twenty of them."

The Eastern Counties Company have, it is said,
resolved to apply to Parliament next session for powers to
make a line from Witham to Braintree, and have inti-
mated to the people of Sudbury that they will not op-
pose a continuation from Braintree to that town, but
will decidedly oppose any attempt to carry it on from
Sudbury to Bury and Thetford.—.Esser Herald.

FINDING A WATCH IN THE ROYAL PROCESSION.—
Yesterday, afternoon, about three o'clock, just as the
royal procession was passing along the Strand, on the
return of her Mrjesty to Buckingham Palace, a police-
constable, of the M division, stationed in the line at
Charing Cross, picked up a valuable silver watch, nearly
opposite Nelson's Pillar. It had the appearance of
having been dropped while the owner supposed he had
returned it safe in his fob, as it was much bruised on
one side. The watch is engine-turned, and the crest of a
dog looking at a bird on a tree:was engraved on the outer
case. It remains at the Bow-street station-house, to be
identified.

THE FOREIGN MAILS.—The following notice was
issued yesterday at the General Post-office, St. Martin's
le-Grand :—" The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon,
Cadiz, and Gibraltar will be made up on Thursday
morning next, the 31st instant. For Malta, Greece, the
lonian Islands, Egypt, India, and Hong-Kong, on the
morning of Saturday, the 2d of Nov., via Southampton.
By the overland closed mail to India, &c., via Marseilles,
on the evening of the 7th of November. Madeira, the
West Indies, Mexico, Honduras, Havannah, and Vene-
zuela, on the morning of the 2d of November, by the Tay
steamer, via Southampton. British North America,
Bermuda, and the United States, on the evening of the
4th of November, by the Britannia steamer, via Liver-
pool to Halifax and Boston. Brazils and Buenos Ayres,
on the evening of the Gth of November, via Falmouth.
From August to January the packet touches at Pernam-
buco and Bahia on her outward passage to Rio
de
Janeiro, and the other six months on her homeward.
Sydney, New South Wales, and Port t' the Philip,
by
the
31st
Ann Grant, on the evening of Thursday x
inst., via Gravesend. Mails due :—Gibraltar,e Cadiz,
Lisbon, and Oporto, on the 30th inst. ; the West Indies,
Mexico, Honduras, Havanna!), Now Grenada, and San
British
North 'de Nicaragua, on the 7th of November ;
Nora: America and the United States, on the 31st inat.
A deputation from Barnard Castle, aecompanled by
Mr, ,J, reasei,
)4 rlington, waited upon the Duke of
' Cleveland a ew days ago, to ascertain his Grace's views
respecting a contemplated railway between those twu
towns. his Grace received the deputation very cour-
teously, but declined giving it his support, and depre-
cated the formation of short branch lines, which Were of
no public utility, but involved much destruction of pro-
perty, and he said that he would oppose any line which
should be intended to pass through any part of Ills pro,
peaty.-4-NoppaVie iburad,,
CHIPPING NORTON.--A gt quantity of barley
g
is still standing in this nei libroetairhood, and much that
can !lover be expected to ri
fPrw4tistate sc,aroel Eeil that which is in a more
harvested, so late and un-
propitious as the season (s,-ox,fittiChronick.

COURT CIRCULAR.
The Ladifs and Gentlemen of the Royal Muse-
hold appointed to form the royal procession to the
new Royal Exchange began to arrive at 13uckingbam
Palace soon :after ten o'clock yesterday morning, and
were ushered into the Library.
The Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the
Grand Hall, under the command of Mr. Leo, the
Lieutenant, and Mr. Ellerthorp, the Adjutant.
At five minutes past eleven the state procession was
formed, the Queen and Prince Albert being con-
ducted by the Great Officers of the Household to the
state coach, the Master of the Horse handing her
Majesty and his Royal Highness to their seats in the
carriage.
The Hon. Colonel Cavendish, commanding the Lire
Guards on duty, was on horseback at the door of the
state coach, having in attendance a trumpeter in
state uniform, who gave the signal with his trumpet,
on her Majesty's entering the carriage.
The state procession (which will be found in
another column) left the Palace at ten minutes past
eleven o'clock.

Her Majesty's dress was of white satin silver tissue,
of the richest and most elegant design, portions of the
pattern representing leaves and foliage, being of dif-
ferent textures, and some having the effect of bur-
nished silver. It was open in front from the girdle,
increasing in width as it approached the bottom, and
displaying a petticoat of the most valuable old point
lace.

The sleeves were short, and at the top of each was
a very brilliant diamond ornament.
The dress had a most chaste and magnificent ap-
pearance, the silver brocaded satin of which it was
composed being ornamented with valuable diamonds
down each side of the front, placed at intervals on
white satin bows. It was of Spitalfields' manufacture.
Her Majesty had a most splendid diamond
stomacher, some of the brilliants in it being of extra-
ordinary size and lustre, and on the left side the
Queen wore the Star of the Order of the Garter,
having the cross in the centre formed of rubies, and
the rest of the star composed of diamonds.
Her Majesty wore at the back of her head a minia-
ture crown entirely formed of brilliants, and a
diamond tiara surmounting the forehead.
The necklace, ear-rings, and bracelets, were of
brilliants.

Over the left shoulder was the Riband of the Gar-
tar, looped with diamonds, and having a most magni-
ficent " George" suspended, composed of Urge and
valuable brilliants ; and on the left arm was the
" Garter" of purple velvet, edged with diamonds, and
having the motto " Honi soit qui mat y pense" set in
diamonds.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert wore the uni-
form of Captain General and Colonel of the Honour-
able Artillery Company, with the insignia of the most
noble Order of the Garter and the Golden Fleece.
The Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, and
the Officers of the Royal Household, wore the full
dress household costume, and the. Earl of Jersey his
uniform as Master of the Horse, with the insignia of
the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. The Duke
of Norfolk carried his gold baton, as Earl Marshal of
England. The Captain of the Gentleman at Arms,
and the Captain of the Yeoman Guard, wore the uni-
forms of their respective corps. The Marquis of
Anglesey appeared in the uniform of his regiment, the
Royal Horse Guards, with the insignia of the Garter
and of two foreign orders. The Earl of Rosslyn wore
his uniform as Master of the Buck Hounds.
The procession quitted the Palace by the marble
arch.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent left her
residence, Clarence House, St. James's, with her
suite, in two carriages, escorted by a party of Life
Guards, at a quarter before eleven o'clock yesterday
morning, for the new Royal Exchange. Her Royal
Highness was attended by Lady Charlotte Dundas,
Lady in Waiting ; the Countess Wratislaw, and
Colonel Sir George Couper, Bart., First Equerry
and Comptroller of her Royal Highness's household.
The dress of the Royal Duchess was of white satin
and silver, of Spitalfields' manufacture. The head-
dress of feathers and diamonds.

The Duke of Cambridge~ arrived in town from
Tottenham-park, Wilts, the seat of the Marquis of
Ailesbury, to attend the opening of the Exchange.
His Royal Highness left Cambridge House, attended
by Baron Knesebeck, Equerry in Waiting, and es-
corted by a party of Life Guards.
The Royal Duke was habited in the uniform of a
Field Marshal, and wore a star set in diamonds of the
Order of the Garter, and the Ribind and Badge.
His Royal Highness also wore the Stars of the Alost
Hon. Military Order of the Bath, and of the most
distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.
The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the
Royal Suite, returned to Buckingham Palace at three
o'clock.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert left Buckingham
Palace at half-past four, attended by Lady Portman,
Lady in Waiting, for the Paddington terminus of the
Great Western Railway. Her Majesty and his
Royal Highness were conducted to their carriage by
the Lord Chamberlain and Lord George Lennox, Lord
in Waiting to Prince Albert.
The Maids of Honour in Waiting, the Honourable
Misses Liddell and Paget, and the Equerries in Wait-
ing, Major General Wemyss and Colonel Bouverie,
followed in a carriage and four. Lord Byron, Lord
in Waiting, and the Honourable Captain Duncombe,
Groom in Waiting, were in another carriage and four.
A party of Lancers formed the escort from the
Palace to the Paddington terminus. The royal party
left by a special train for 'Windsor Castle.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Charlotte Dundas, the Countess Wratislaw,
and Sir George Couper, left Clarenca House St.
James's, at half-past three o'clock, yesterday after,
noon, for Frogmore Lodge, Windsor.
The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, President of the
Board of Trade, arrived in town yesterday from
Fasque, Kincardineshire, and attended the opening of
the new Royal Exchange.

POSTING LETTERS.—It is surprising to observe
parties posting letters only just when offices are closing,
and then pre-paying, instead of having stamps attached,
some even requiring letters to be weighed. The least
possible inconvenience ought to be given at post-offices,
and it is really a disgrace to respectable individuals who
occasion unnecessary trouble and inconvenience. What
would they feel and say were they in the situation of
postmasters, and found those who must know better put-
ting them to trouble and inconvenience, which might,
and ought to be avoided ?—From a Correspondent.
PUSEYISM AT OXFORD.—It will be seen that Mr.
Iladden, Fellow of Trinity College, has been appointed
a Public Examiner. This gentleman was some time
Mr. Newman's curate, and his sermons as such were
characterised as " abominable" for their hostility to the
doctrines of the Articles. Mr. lladden was also ono of
those who attempted to break the force of the condem.
nation of Dr. Pusey's sermon ; so that within a few days
of the victorious convocation we have a Tractarian Pub-
lic Examiner officially nominated and approved by con-
vocation Readers at a distance will ask, how can these
things be ? The manner of it is thus :—The Proctors
are Tractarians—appointed by the Masters of Arts of
Oriel and Trinity Colleges—one of them at this moment
excluded from orders on account of his anti-Protestant
opinions. Among other important functions, these
Proctors have the nomination of examining masters, and
therefore Mr. lladden is nominated. The nomination is
subject to the approval of convocation, and convocation
has approved. We can now only give the facts. It will
also be observed, that the Regius Professor of Hebrew,
Dr. Pusey, in his notice, recommends undergraduates
requiring private assistance, to seek it of Mr. Morris,
of Exeter College. Mr. Seeger was formerly joined
with Mr. Morris in this recommendation, but he—as our
readers know—is now in communion with Rome. Mr,
Morris is also at Rome, but is yet nominally with Eng-
land. It is now generally known that the opposition to
Dr. Symons, and the manner of it—unexampled in the
history of the University for literary ruffianism—is, to
a very great extent, referable to Mr. Morris, the re-
commended of Dr. Pusey. Truly, snares and pitfalls
besot the undergraduates on every hand. —Orford
Chronicle.
DUNCOMBE TESTIMONIAL.—Last night a. public
meeting was holden of the inhabitants of the parish of
Islington, at the Swan Tavern, llighbury, for the pur-
pose of furthering the object of providing a testimonial
to be presented to T. S. Duncombe, Esq., M.P„ for his
services in Parliament as one of the representatives of
Finsbury. J. P. Burnard, Esq., took the chair. The
pageant in the City did not much assist the muster; but
the Chairman in stating the object of the meeting, in
tone that could not be easily resisted, at some length
his
sowtoTtdal tihndatiffethreenniendteoppeenrdsconncseizotf
righteda or rightsary
013,ildr,i. Duncombe,orto p andt
as a body, where wrong
to be
flinching to the
of resolutions were pro-
posedm a
rightsi maintained, ionf e dt
h,
e always
pepl
e. had
A adhered
awe
raises
appointing Committees and other
and agreed
to, appointing
to carry into effect the great
et,oEpsr(oi
arrangements
mthaes
object that had become a matter of general attention
kingdom
Dnuanmcoeml3l
testimo-
nial
It is our unpleasant duty to announce the death of
throughout the
Theobald Spottswood, Esq., J.l'., of Cnherciveen, and
two boatmen, father and son, by drowning. On Satur-
day last these parties went out to fish near Valentia,
and, unfortunately, the boat upset, and they all met with
a watery grave.—Kerry Evening post,
ACCIDENT ON THE BRIGHTON RAILWAY.--AS an
engine, which had carried down a special train on Batur-
day, was passing through Folly-hill Cutting, a short
distance from Ilayward's-heath, on its return
to town, a
jolting motion intimated that the wheels had passed over
some obstruction on the line. The engine was at once
stopped, and, on the driver returning to the place he
found that a man, who must have been lyinc, on the rails,
was nearly cut in two by the wheels, which had pased
over the abdomen. lie was quite dead. The man
turned out to be a labourer, named Mitchell, and on in-
quiry we learn that he had been drinking at several
public-houses and beer-shops during Saturday, and that
he parted from a companion at ten o'clock on Saturday
night, in order to go home, and he had probably taken
the railroad as his nearest road, till, overcome by liquor,
he probably lay down to sleep.
`3-113p PILCHARD FISHERY.—A sean was shot at
Sennen, Land's-end, on Tuesday, and enclosed a mode-
rately largo shoal. It is said that 150 hogsheads have
been taken up, and it is supposed 200 hogsheads more
remain in ttig on,--Cortiwa/i Gazette,