The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-21 00:00:00

IRISH RAILWAYS.

(From the Dublin Evening Packet)
We learn from the letter of our London Correspon-
dent, that Government is about to issue a Commission
to inquire into the merits and demerits of projected
railways for Ireland. This is as it should be. Specu-
lations are running fearfully high, and a re-action
would prove ruinous to the country. We are desi-
rous that every scheme shall undergo a scrutinising
investigation by a competent tribunal, and be disposed
of according to its merits. It is our first duty to cau-
tion people against gambling—that is to say, against
the purchase of shares of scrip at a premium, where
they are not competent judges of the intrinsic value
of the undertaking wherein they are about to embark
their money.

The worst consequences are likely to result from
Stock Exchange gamblings. After giving this cau-
tion, our next duty is to bespeak for each project its
due share of consideration from the Government. The
rejection of some lines by the Board of Trade has
given satisfaction to many, while the rejection of
others has caused loud complaints in very influential
quarters. We do not intend to do more than report
progress. Our opinion as to the propriety or impro-
priety of any of these rejections would be of no value,
as we do not comprehend their schemes, and we
shall therefore carefully abstain from the expression
of our opinions, merely premising that caution
should mark every step taken in these great under-
takings, which, if conducted with skill and honesty,
must lead tosgreat -public good. In the way of re-
porting progress, we may mention that the rejection
of the line called " the Royal Canal Scheme," has
caused very general dissatisfaction at this side of the
channel, as 14,000 out of the 20,000 shares issued
were held by parties resident for the most part in
Dublin, who entertained a favourable opinion of the
project, and reposed confidence in the directors, many
of whom are highly respectable and esteemed to be
wealthy, as merchants and landed proprietors. The
disappointment felt in this respect seems to have been
augmented by the circumstance of the Galway project
having been more fortunate, though in bad odour
among our merchants generally, not one of whom be-
longs to the direction, which presents the names of but
few landed proprietors.
The proprietors of the stock of both the Grand and
Royal Canals (between which lies the ( ource of the
proposed Galway line) are loud in condemnation of
the report of the Board of Trade, whilst the public
are completely at sea respecting the grounds upon
which the decision has been founded. The Galway
line, from its junction at or near Sallins, (twenty
miles from Dublin), traverses a barren and waste
bog, more than forty miles in length, while
he Mullingar project follows the bank of the
Royal Canal, running through some of the
richest lands in Ireland, towards Mullingar
and Longford, near which latter town it forms
a junction with the Shannon. The reasons of the
Board of Trade for the rejection of this line are
looked for with considerable anxiety, as no-Irish rail-
way project appeared to attract more general atten-
tion. It is an extraordinary fact, that the shares of
in the market, and
ision of the Board of
thhaev
eGfaallwl
eany
ns c
value
e since
htehtiev
dye c
Trade was announced ; while the determination of
the Directors of the Mullingar Company to proceed
to Parliament, in opposition to such decision, has
caused the shares of the latter scheme to advance.
The Board of Trade and the Railway Commissioners
for Ireland have, within an interval of a few years,
pronounced the most contradictory opinions respect-
ing three of the principal projects now before the
public. We have said so much, for the purpose of
drawing the attention of the Commission about to be
formed to all the circumstances of the case.

'We understand that the marriage of the Right
Hon. Lord Gifford with Miss Berkeley, daughter of our
lion. and Gall Ant Representative, Captain M. Ber-
keley, R.N., will take place early in the ensuing 'pond],
and that a family Fey will shortly 2,.,semble at the Ridge
on the happy occasion —Glouce.t.,. Jourfidt
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—THE EARL. OF ALDROROUC:II
AND HOLLOWAY's Pirt.t,s ! AN ASTOUNDING CURE BY
THIS MIRACULOUS MEDICINE, AFTER EVERY OTHER MEANS
HAD FAILED I—See extract of his Lordship's: letter, dated
Villa Messina, Leghorn, the 21st February, 1845. To Pro-
fessor HollOway. Sir,—l beg to acquaint' you that your pills
have effected a cure of a disorder in my fiver and stomach,
which all the most eminent of the faculty at home, and all
over the Continent, had not been able to effect, nay, not even
the waters of Carlsbad or Mamenbad.—Signed, Aldborough."
These wonderful pills will cure any disease of . the liver or
stomach. Sold ,(also Holloway's Ointment) at Professor
Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand (where advice may be
had gratis), and by all medicine vendors throughout the civilised
world.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, THURSDAY.—The Queen, accompanit d by
the Princess Ro) al, and attended by the Dowager Lady
Lyttelton, to & an early airing this morning in a pony
cart iage and four, in the Great Park.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out in the
forenoon on horseback, attended by Major-General Sir,
Edward Bowater, Equerry in Waiting. The Prince also
walked out this morning.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the
Princess Alice were taken for pony and walking exercise
in the pleasure grounds and Home Park.
In the afurnoon her Majesty, attended by the Vis•
countess Canning, Lady in Waiting, took an airing in a
pony phaeton. The Honourable Colonel Grey, Equerry
in Waiting, was in attendance on horseback.
Prince Alfred and the Princess Royal were taken out
walking.

Prin'c'e Albert walked out again this afternoon.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Royal Family at the Castle in the afternoon.
The Bishop of London held a Cjnfirmation ye,terday
(Maundey Thursday) of the juvenile nobility and gentry
in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Rev. Dr. Wesley,
the Rev. Mr. Pack, and the Rev. Mr. Povah assisted at
the ceremony.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was
present.
About thirty of the juvenile nobility and gentry were
confirmed. The Earl of Ripon and the Countess of
Jersey were among the nobility present.
Her Majesty's royal charities were distributed oh
Monday and Tuesday last (being Passion Week) to the
necessitous and aged poor.
There were upwards of one thousand persons relieved,
in various sums, from a crown to five pounds. These
persors had been previously selected by the Lord High
Almoner and by the Sub-Almoner, upon the recom-
mendation of the clergy, nobility, and gentry, in the seve-
ral metropolitan districts.
The Royal-gate Alms were also paid to 168 persons,
13s. each, being 6d. per week for six months. This
charity is of very ancienforigin, and was formerly paid
to the poor at the gate of the Royal Palace at Whitehall.
Yesterday being Maunday Thursday the distribution
of the Royal Charities was made in Whitehall Chapel
with the customary formalities. The company who at-
tended to witness this distribution king admitted by
tickets.

At three o'clock a procession walked from the
Almonry-office in Scotland-yard, cunsisting of the
Yeomen of the Guard (one bearing the alms), the Sub-
Almoner, the Venerable Archdeacon S. Wilberforce ;
the, Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry, Joseph
Hanby, Esq.; four children from the national school at
Westminster, and attendants.

The following anthems were performed :
" Hide not thou thy face."
" 0 Lord, grant the Queen a long life."
" Who is this that cometh from Edom ?"

The recipients were granted an addition to the ususl
bounties of money, and Maunday pennies, a sum of
thirty shillings, in lieu of provisions heretofore distri-
buted in kind.

There were present from the Chapel Royal, in addi-
tion to the choir, the following clergy :—The Sub-Dean
the Rev. Dr. Sleath, the Rev. Dr. Vivian, the Rev. Dr.
J. H. Dakins, the Rev. Mr. Packman, the Rev. Mr.
Povah, and the Rev. Mr. Clarke Haden.

One of the recipients has reached the great age of
ninety-eight years, but being too feeble to attend she
was represented by a deputy, as indeed were several
others who from age and infirmity could not attend
this highly interesting ceremonial.
A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon
at the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were Sir
Robert Peel, Lord Wbarncliffc, the Duke of Buccleuch,
the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Earl of Haddington,
Eair- of Ripon, Lord Granville Somerset, the Earl of
Lincoln, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert. The
Council sat two hours.

A Deputation of gentlemen connected with the Scotch
Banking system had an interview with Sir Robert Peel
yesterday.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Engl2nd had a
meeting yesterday afternoon, at the office in Whitehall-
place. There were present the Bishop of Bangor, the
Bishop of Chester, the Bishop of St. David's, the Bishop
of Hereford, the Bishop of Lichfield, and Lord Ashley.
Sir David Davies arrived at his residence in Berkeley-
street yesterday.
Dispatches for the Governor of the settlement on the
Gambia, and also for the Governor of St. Helena, were
sent off' yesterday evening from the Colonial-office.