The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-05 00:00:00

YORK, SEPT. 4,

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Eastern Union Ex ten •
Lion, 3/. 14s.—North British, New:, 10% —Chthe.oe Junc-
tion, 6—Grand Union, 3/. I ls —Great Grimsby and Sheffield
Junction, 18 ja—Laincashire, Yorkshire, and North Eastern,
37g—Leeds and York, 103—Leicester and Bedford, 4--
London and York, 61—Manchester, Buxton, tze., 93:j
Newcastle and Berwick, 251,2—Nottingham. Ercwash, and
Alnbergate, s,4—North Staffordshire, 617!:—North Western,
6 I/2—Welsh Midland, s—West Yorkshire, IS%—York and
Carlisle, 534

SHEFFIELD, SEPT. 4.
Szocx ENCHANGE.—The sales are—Birminghlm and
Gloucester, 133—Eastern Counties, 21—Sheffield and Man-
chester, I -131,4—York and Selby 501. shares, 77122—Cam-
bridge and Lincoln, 5 1-16—Goole and Doncaster, 3
Grimsby and Sheffield, 17%—Ditto, Quarter shares, 41A—
Grimsby Railway and Deck Extensiun, 7—Grand Union
(Nottingham to Lynn), 3%—London and Windsor, 2
London and York, 7—Leeds and Bradford, 6O—Leeds and
Dewsbury, 39—Not tingham,Erewash, and Ambergate, 5 1-16
—North Western, 7 V2—Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 61. Is. 6d.
—Wakefield and Harrogate, 3% p.
EUDDERSFIELD, SEPT. 4.

STOCK EXCHANGE. —The sales are—Cambridge and Lin-
coln, s—Essex and Suffolk, 31s. p.—Grand Union, 31/2--
Glasgow and Dumfries, 2—lludderstield and Manchester,
251/2—Leicester and Birmingham, 7%—Liverpool, Ormskirk,
and Preston, 7—Manchester and Birkenhead Continuation,
355. p.—North Western, 7—West Yorkshire, 18.

EDINBURGH, SEPT. 2.

STOCK EXCITANGE.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 31. 155.-
Aberdeen, Banff. and Elgin, 24 10s.-Arbroath and Forfar,
251.-Ditto, Half Shares, 151.-Armagh and Portrush, 2/.-
Banffshire, 2/. Os. 6d.-British and Irish Union, 3/. 14s. 63.
-Belfast and County Down, 3/. 155.-Cambridge and Lin-
coin, 3/. 10s.-Caledonian, 12/. 55.--Caledonian Extension,
3/. 12s. 6d.-Caledonian and Dumbarton, 31. 17s. 6d.-Clydes-
dale Junction, 91. 2s. 6d.-Direct Northern, 2/. Its.-Dundee
and Arbroath, 371. Is. 6d.-Ditto, New. 181.-Dundee and
Perth, 61.-Edinburgh and Bathgate, 3/. as.-Edinburgh
and Glasgow, 90/.-Ditto, Quarters, 211. 155.-Ditto, New,
VV.-Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dumbarton, 1/. 10s.-Edin-
burgh, Leith, and Granton, 261.-Ditto, Preference, 17!. 10s.
-Edinburgh and Northern, 2/. 165.-Ditto, New, 1/. 10s. 6d.
-Edinburgh and Peebles, 3!. Is.-Edinburgh and Perth,
1/. 165.-Glasgow and Ayrshire, 73/.-Ditto, New Stock,
221.-Ditto, 17/. IN.-Glasgow and Belfast Union, 4/.-
Glasgow and Garnkirk, 411.-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Car-
lisle, 31.-Glasgow and Greenock, 211.-Ditto, New Stock,
10/. 55.-Ditto, Preference, 2/.-Great North of Scotland,
3/. 55.-Inverness and -Elgin, 11. 65.-Kilmarnock. and Ar-
drossan, 5/. 155.-London and York, 6/. 103. -Munkland
and Kirkintilloch, 33/.-Morayshire, 1/.-North British, 29/.
-Ditto, Halves, 91. 55.-Ditto, One-fifth, 8/. 10s.-North
Wales Mineral, New, 64 55.-Perth and Inverness, 21. 7s. 6d.
-Scottish Central, 71. 145.-Scottish Midland, 21. 45.-
Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester, 5!. 35.-Shrewsbury
and Hereford, 1/. 18s. 6d.-Slamannan, 18/. 103.-South
Midland, 9!. 2s. 6d.-Stirling and Dunfermline, 1/. 175.-
Teen and Dove Valley, 3/. 7s. 6d.-Waterford, Wicklow,
and Dublin, 1/. 165.-Wishaw and Coltness, 39/.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

THE CROYDON ATMOSPHERIC.

Yesterday having been appointed for the purpose of
publicly testing the working qualities of the atmospheric
railway laid down from the Dartmouth Arms to Croydon,
a distance of five and a half miles, the public, or at least
that portion of it supposed to be interested in these mat -
ters, was invited to witness the experiments. Among
the many who were present, we noticed Lord Claude
Hamilton, M.P., and several other persons of high stand-
ing in the scientific world. The Chairman and Direc-
tors of the Croydon Company were also in attendance.
It had been amine'( d that the first "trip" should have
been at two o'clock, but some unforeseen circumstances
arose to defeat this intention, and it was nearly three
ere the train departed from the further terminus. The
last of the experiments concluded at about six o'clock.
The atmospheric principle is probably known to the
greater portion of our readers, but a brief recapitula-
tion of the principal features upon the present line may
not be considered out of place.
We have said that the length of railway completed is
five and a half miles ; workmen are, however, busily
employed in laying down tubes for the remaining five
miles to London, and next summer will probably see,
in a finished state, a through line to Epping (in
all eighteen miles), intended to connect with the railway
known as the Portsmouth Atmospheric, which received
the sanction of Parliament during the bygone session.
Throughout the length of line is laid down between the
rails a tube of iron, having a groove in its upper surface
into which a piston, some eighteen inches in diameter,
is sunk, the same piston being connected with the lead-
ing carriage of the train. Three stationary engine:,
(Itch of two fifty-horse power, at nearly equal distances,
the centre at Norwood, and the remaining two at either
extreme, exhaust the air from before the train, and a
valve behind giving it admission, the atmospheric pres-
sure upon the piston drives the carriages on in exactly
the same proportion with the vacuum formed before
them. To prevent any loss by leakage, a leathern flap,
protected by plates of iron, covers the groove. A wheel
going before the piston raises the flap, while, another
wheel following, closes it, and with a preparation of b( s-
ax and tallow, so to speak, so hermetically seals it,
that not the slightest loss is in this way sustained. The
ruling gradient is 1 iu 600, excepting at the crossing of
the Brighton line, where the engineer has, in the most
masterly manner, obviated all the disadvantages arising
from a crossing on the level by leading the Croydon
over the former line by a wooden bridge at an inclina-
tion of 1 in 50.

At fourteen minutes to three o'clock, by order of
Mr. Samuda, who directed the proceedings, the engines
were ordered to exhaust the tube. That at Norwood,
however, not being in working trim, was dispensed with,
and the further engine, at the Dartmouth Arms (a dis-
tance, be it remembered, of five miles and a half), was
alone required. The train, consisting of seventeen car-
riages, filled to overflowing, and weighing, probably,
above eighty tons, started from Croydon at the rate of
some thirty miles an hour, and continued that speed
till it reached the extreme end, thus silencing for ever
the scientific wiseacres, who before the Committees at
Westminster affirmed that any stationary engine at a
greater distance than three miles would be useless, be-
cause it could only insure a speed of 15 miles an hour.
After a few minutes spent at the Dartmouth Arms, Mr.
Samuda returned over the same ground at very nearly,
if not at the same, rate of travelling. It was then deter-
mined to test the principle at an increased speed, and
...:fter the lapse of some time the train, with only eight
carriages, was started, and with a vacuum of from 201bs.
to 261bs. on the square inch, it came up to 70 miles an
hour, and this too over the rising inclination of one in
fifty. The return trip was equally satisfactory. The
result amply verified the promises made by Mr. Samuda
before the Railway Committees, and it requires no very
keen perception to see, that before many years have
gone by locomotive engines, like the stage-coach horses
of yore, shall have left but a name behind them.
The advantages are manifest, for not only is there no
possibility of accident, but even with the greater, as
well as with the lesser speed, the motion was such that
we could write with the greatest ease, even in a third
class carriage, and it might in a first-class almost be
doubted whether there were any motion at all. With
respect to the stationary engine-houses, they are con-
structed in the best possible taste, a sort of Gothic-
Elizabethan, and with their high chimneys, like church
spires, forming not only a striking but a pleasing fea-
ture in the landscape.
Along the line there were crowds of lookers-on, who
seemed deeply interested in the result.
Mr. Samuda will continue his experiments until
the line is opened, which is expected in a fortnight
or three weeks. This much is evident, that the success
of the principle is decisive, and that Mr. Samuda, who
has been, if not the creator, certainly the improver,
deserves well of his country.

GREAT EASTERN AND WESTERN MEETING

AT LEDBURY.

The deputation of the Great Eastern and Western
Railway attended at the Feathers, on Tuesday, for the
purpose of laying before the inhabitants the nature of
the accommodation it was the intention of that Company
to afford to the town and neighbourhood.
This meeting was taken advantage of by some parti,s
who have put forward a scheme for a railway between
Worcester, Ledbury, and Ross, running in front of Great
Malvern, through the beautiful valley immediately under
it, and from thence across the property of Earl Somers
and Mr. Biddulph, to Ledbury, and thence to Ross, for
the purpose of getting a demonstration in its favour.
This object they managed to attain.
Mr. Robert Biddulph having been placed in the chair,
Mr. WARD, M.P., explained to the meeting that the
object of the deputation was simply to pass the compli-
ment to the inhabitants of an explanation of the views of
the Great Eastern and Western Company in regard to
their town, and that he did not seek for any expression
of opinion. On the contrary, he wished them to have
an opportunity of weighing the merits of all the
schemes that might be ()tiered to them before they
pledged themselves to any in particular. lie then
stated that the GI eat Eastern and Western line would
run two miles to the north of Ledbury, where a first-
class station would be provided for the accommodation
of the district, and that a branch line would be brought
down the valley to any point of the town that the in-
habitants might consider most desirable. By means of
the Great Eastern and Western Railway, the markets
of Birmingham and South Staffordshire would be
opened to the neighbourhood, as also those of the
hills of South Wales. A great portion of the food
consumed by the enormous population in the mineral
districts was at present supplied by sea ; and the
Great Eastern and Western was the only lire that
would place Ledbury in direct and unbroken commu-
nication with them. In proof of this he showed that by
this line the distance between Ledbury and Merthyr by
rail would, with the branch, be under sixty miles ;
whereas, by those lines purporing to connect South
WTales with Herefordshire by the coast line, a distance of
120 miles would have to be traversed. On Mr. Ward
resuming his seat,
Mr. JONES, the solicitor of the Worcester, Ledbury,
and Ross line, stated that, in his opinion, the Great
Eastern and Western would not accommodate the town
so well as his line. He did not like branch lines—they
were very inconvenient ; which he instanced by stating
that in the event of the train on the main line being de-

tained for an hour and a half, the branch line v odd ale)
be detained. He thz-n pointed out that the Seuth Wales ire
,siarted:to Fishguard and got down to Swansea up to
2Teath,-"clown to Cardiff, touched at. Newport, and at pre-
sent stopp4 at. Chepstow, that it lied failed to pass over
t'.o Severn at iduc4 Cribb, and that the Company in-
t:Aided to try to "ass it next session ; that the
South Wales Company meant to go up to Monmouth
”nti thence to ; and that his line going from
Worces:er to Ledbury and 1103 s, was on the high road
to South Wales, and therefore to be preferred to the
line of the Great Eastern and Western. He then re-
glested Captain Jones to move a resdution pleding the
town in favour of his direct and independent scheme;
which resolution Captain Jones accerdiugly moved, and
it having bec n duly seconded,
Mr. MARTIN, the banker, reminded the meeting that
they had not met to discuss the merits of rival schemes,
hut to hear what were the intentions of the Great
Eastern and Western Railway in regard to their town;
that he had never heard of Mr. Jones's scheme until he
had come into that room; and he cautioned them against
stultif)ing themselves by a pledge until they had had
time to reli-ct on all tie schemes that were projected.
Ve concluded hy moving are amendment to the effect
that the meeting was not at present in a position to
come to any resolution on the subject.
This view of the case was also taken by the Rev. Mr.
Underwood, of Bostury, and Mr. Billulph Phillips ; but
Mr. Jones insistin4 on having the resolution put from the
chair, it was found on a show of hands that thirty-seven
o;dy were fur the amendment, whilst some fifty gentle-
men hod up their ban Is for the original motion.
Mr. JONES then called for three cheers to celebrate
h's tr:umph. We are informed, however, that every in-
dividual possessed of any portion of the property over
1h hich the pr of ace' lines purpose to pass was decidedly
opposed to the Worcester and Ross sch,,me, and that Mr.
Robert Biddulph himself had, that morning, d'rected its
projector to erase his name from the list of the provi-
sional committee, in which it had been inserted without
It's knowledge or leave. Mr. Ward and Mr. l)ouglasse
afterwards took some refreshments at Mr. Biddulph's,
having received their strong assurances that a branch
line, with a station just at *the outskirts of Ledbury,
a ould furnish all the accommodation reqUired by the
town, and would certainly, be the arrangement which all
the influential inhabitants would prefer.—Wetee:
Juno ned of yesterday.