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

MIDLAND RAILWAY ACCIDENT

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MR. BOTELER, Q.C.

After the examination of several of the officers of the Company
and other witnesses, whose testimony went to show that there
was great blame due to Wheatley, the driver of the assistant
engine, for neglecting the orders given him,
Mr. Palfreyman stated that Wheatley was ready to answer
any question that might be put to him, or to make a statement, if
desired.

Wheatley then described that he saw a white light and then a
red one. That on finding be was approaching them, he told his
stoker to put on the break. He immediately also reversed the en.
gine, but it was too late, and just as he was preparing to jump off
the collision took place. He was thrown on the ground.

The CORONER then read over the whole of the evidence, and
made some observations as he proceeded.

The jury were then locked up for half an hour, after which they
returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against Thomas Wheatley.
Wheatley had been present during the inquiry, but when the
verdict was delivered it was found that he had decamped.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
CITY, TIIIIRDAY EVENINQ.
•

TIMES.—The share market was decidedly better. Now that
the first excitement has passed, and much of the rubbish that
before encumbered business has been removed, prices exhibit a
healthier appearance, and are progressing towards a fair value. The
settlement in several of the new scrips to.day was effected with
ease. The account of the last fortnight, which will be arranged
on Friday, promises less difficulty than was at first apprehended.
The premium on gold at Paris is I I per mille, which, at the
English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10Id. per ounce fur standard gold,
gives an exchange of 25 44 ; and the exchange at Paris on London
at short being 25 54, it follows that gold is 0.53 per cent. dearer
in London than in Paris.

By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 430 per mark,
which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 101hd. per ounce for
standard gold, gives an exchange of 138. net. ; and the exchange
at Hamburgh on London at short being 13 71, it follows that gold
is 0.12 per cent. dearer in Hamburgh than in London.
The course of exchange at New York on London is 1091 per
cent., and the parof exchange between England and America being.
109 23.40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is 0.18 per cent.
in favour of England ; but the quoted exchange at New York being
for bills at 60 days' sight, the interest must be added to the above
difference.

On the amalgamation of the various French projects with the
Great Northern of France, it has been customary to return so
much of the deposits originally paid as exceeded the amount of the
deposit required on the shares of the "constituted" line appro.
priated to the original shareholders. The directors of the Pepin
Lehalleur project have, however, formed an exception in this
respect.. Instead of returning the whole difference, they have de-
tained Bs. 6d. on every " constituted" share (one of which is appro-
priated to the holder of every 12 orleinal shares), on the somewhat
indefinite plea that it is to cover "expenses." The other com-
panies not having required anything for "expenses," and it having
been generally believed that the interest on deposit and the state of
exchange between the two countries were quite sufficient to cover
all preliminaries, the holders seem to think that a particular ex-
planation of thisdeviation from an usual course is required.
What was anticipated with respect to the bankers giving infor-
mation about railway deposits proves to be quite correct. A cor-
respondent, who has applied to one of the leading houses in Lom-
bard-street, was referred to the " CoMmittee" of the Company in
question, with whose permission, but not otherwise, the state of
the balance would be made known. On the other band, few of
the companies seem disposed as yet to volunteer the information.
It will evidently therefore take some time to get at the truth,
though ultimately it will come out.

Parties in the City interested in railway stock are watching with
some solicitude the effect which the exposure and fall in price of the
mere visionary schemes and bubbles may have upon the old-esta-
blished undertakings which having got into steady work are
paying good dividends. In all such cases it is not to be expected
that they can wholly escape from the influence of the general
alarm, principally because persons who are in want of money to
fulfil obligations for scrip will part with solid stock rather
than allow their credit to be injured. In the ordinary state of
business buyers and sellers balance each other, and there occurs no
excess either way; but the best securities cannot stand under any
sudden pressure, and this seems just the case at present with the
tried descriptions of railway property. Unless, then, there exists
some reason to the contrary, they will soon regain their former
estimation, as the prudent capitalist who has kept aloof from the
prevalent infection will always have funds in hand to purchase
what the other, through his distress and folly, is obliged to throw
away, or to part with at a great sacrifice. Great fluctuations in
railway shares have necessarily, however, this injurious conse-
quence—that they prevent timid persons from resorting to them
for an investment, and even one instance of the kind may produce
both a deep and a general impression. None of the companies stand
in a much better position than the Great Western, yet the fact that
a purchaser of 10 shares in its stock, less than a year ago,
would be now at least 1,0001. the poorer by the transaction,
must render a return to the confidence formerly enjoyed a long and
difficult work. This great depression has not been wholly pro-
duced, as it need hardly be stated, by the present crisis ; though
the property has materially declined since the publication of the
Bank notice. Annexed are the variations which have occurred
within the last fortnight, and

it is gratifying to observe that some
ant, and that steadier markets may

of them are wholly insignia
therefore soon be expected :

October 14.

October 27.