The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-03 00:00:00

Braithwaite s line commences 21 miles to the east of
the Colchester station, running out of the Eastern Coun-
ties Railway, and terminates in a pier at Harwich, the
length of the line being 15 miles 30 chains.
Iloskins's line has a double commencement ; one
forming, a junction with the Eastern Counties Railway,
and the other with the Eastern Union Railway near to
Colchester : its length is 15 miles IS chains.
Mosse's line commences close to the Colchester station
of the Eastern Counties Railway, and terminates in a
proposed pier: its length is 17 miles 17 chains.
The Easteri, Union scheme, though called the Ipswich
and Harwich Railway, has no immediate connexion with
Ipswich. It branches out of the Eastern Union Railway
about three quarters of a mile from Manningtree, passes
through that place, and along the right bank of the Stour
to Iferwich, having its proposed termination at the ex-
tremity of an intended pier: its length being 11 miles.
The accompanying map shows the direction of the
several lines.
These lines are easy of construction, and without any
engineering obstacles of-importance.
Braithwaite's line and Hoskins's line save re-ape:lively
about half-a-mile in the total distance between Colchester
and Harwich, when compared with the Eastern Union
scheme, but require about 4-i miles more of new railway
to be made. Mosse's line saves about three-quarters of
a mile in the total distance, but requires about t miles
more of new railway.
Two of these schemes are put forth by independent
parties, and two by established companies. Iloskins's
and Mosse's are independent lines, but Braithwaite's
line is to he leased and worked by the Eastern Counties
Railway Company, and the Eastern Union scheme is in
fact a branch from the Eastern Union Railway.
Where the traffic is so great as to enable an indepen-
dent company to run numerous trains, and the receipts
are sufficient not only to maintain the line, but to enable
the proprietors to deal liberally with the public, its inde-
pendence forms certainly no objection ; but, where the
traffic is inconsiderable, an independent company
must economise to the utmost ; its stock of
locomotive engines and carriages must be re-
duced to the lowest limit of what is absolutely neces-
sary to serve the traffic : the servants of the company'
-will be barely sufficient to fulfil their duties, and con-
sequently both the convenience and safety of the public
may be compromised. Besides a short line cannot, under
ordinary circumstances, be worked so economically as a
long line, and there is scarcely an instance of a short
railway having existed without the proprietors either
seeking to extend it, or desiring its amalgamation with
some more powerful company. But a line which par-
takes of the character of a branch, connected with a
powerful company, which has the means of extending its
accommodation without crippling its resources or injur-
ing its rate of dividend, can give to the public advan-
tages beyond what it is possible for the less powerful
company to afford.
The limited district between Colchester and Harwich
is but thinly inhabited ; its local traffic cannot therefore
be large. It is, on the whole, likely to be better served
by the branch or extension of a large company than by
an independent company.
If this be conceded, the question is narrowed into
whether Braithwaite's or the Eastern Union scheme be
the best ; and if it depended on their being considered
solely as railway schemes, irrespective of other cir-
cumstances, it would be reasonable to suppose that the
line which requires only 11 miles of new formation ought,
ceteris parilotx, to be preferred to that which requires
15 miles.
But when the circumstances of the port of Harwich
are taken into consideration, national interests become
mixed up with, and form important ingredients in, the
question, especially as each project contemplates the
erection of a pier. A communication has therefore been
made by this Board to the Lords of the Admiralty en the
subject, and they have stated, that though they do not
consider their objections to the Eastern Union scheme of
such vital importance as to be at once fatal to it, they
think Braithwaite's is, upon the whole, the most expe-
dient and the best for the public interests.
Therefore, notwithstanding the Eastern Union scheme
only requires 11 miles of new railway, we are of opinion
that the statement which we have received from the Ad-
miralty is conclusive against it, and that on public
grounds Braithwaite's Harwich Pier Railway is prefer-
able to either of the others.
COLCIIESTER JUNCTION.
The length of this line is six miles, and it has a branch
to the port of Colchester of half a-mile in extent.
It leaves the Eastern Counties line about 21 miles
from its present terminus mar Colchester, and slantieg
in a south-eastern direction, passes through that towi'.
It then curves round in such a manner is to join the
Eastern Union line ; thus forming an alternative line or
loop through the town of Colchester, with so much of
the Eastern Counties Railway as is already made, and a
portion of the Eastern Union Railway now in course of
formation.
The earthworks are moderate—apparently about an
average; but as it is proposed to pass through the town
of Colchester in cutting, and as there will be a covered
arching or tunnel 220 yards long in that part, the line,
for its length, cannot be otherwise than expensive.
The deposited plans and sections are very imperfect,
and the scheme has the appearance of having been
hastily and imperfectly got up.
If the through connexion between London and Ips-
wich were made, and experience had shown to parties
interested in developing to the utmost the traffic of the
district, that it was necessary to construct a line in this
direction for the accommodation of Colchester, the case
would be different. But here is an independent party in
the field, anxious to make a short and rather costly rail-
way, not likely by itself to be remunerative, and if made,
coming into competition with a portion of the already
constructed line.
In these circumstances we beg to report that there are
public reasons why the Colchester Junction Railway
scheme should be postponed.
In conclusion, we beg to draw attention to the passage
of the Fifth Report of the Select Committee of last year,
in which it is stated, in recommending that reports
should be made to Parliament by this department upon
railway schemes, " That no such report should be held
to prejudice the claims of private persons, the examina-
tion of which should be altogether reserved to the houses
of the Legislature."
In submitting to Parliament, in conformity with the
recommendation of that Committee, the results at
which we have arrived, with a view to the information
and assistance of Parliament in forming a judgment
upon the schemes in question, in so far as our re-
port may be available fur that purpose, we are anxious
that it should be distinctly understood that we have ar-
rived at these results solely upon public grounds, and to
the exclusion of all considerations how far such results
might require to be modified by a due regard for private
rights and interests.
DALHOUSIE.
C. W. PASLEY. G. R. PORTER.
D. O'BRIEN.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.
Lo-soos, APRIL 2, e. e.—Wind N.E., fresh breeze, and
fine.
SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 1. ,Sid. Port Glasgow,. St. John's.
New Brunswick ; William .Lushington, Quebec ; Taps
steamer, Constantinople.
PORTSMBUTH, APRIL. I.—Wind E.S.E.—Arrd. Switzer-
land, London, and sailed for New York. Sld. Permiugham,
Pernambuco ; Aurelian, Quebec.
SUNDERLAND, Dimwit 31.—Sid. grown, St. John's, New
Brunswick.
LIVRRPOOL, Amt. I.—NO ind S.S.E.--Acrd. Ann Hall, St.
John's, New Brunswick. Put hack, Clydesdale, for Africa,
with loss of mainyard, C. Off Champion, La
guayrs Carnia, supposed from Barbadoes ; James Moran, from;
Mobile; Cockermouth Castle, Queen Dowager, and Diana,
---. Sld. Victory and Bahamian, Hong 'Kong ; Earl
Harewood, Ceylon ; Luna packet, and Wilson,ichaboe.
BELFAST, MARCH. 31.—The Harriet Matilda, bound to
Liverpool, was thrown on her beam-ends yesterday, in a
gale, and was obliged to cut away her masts at the entrance
of the Lough. A. steamer has gone to her assistance.
STRANRAER, MARCH 31.—1 t blew a gale 7esterday, at
S.W., suddenly shifting in the afternoon to IN.W., with in-
creased violence. The Thomas Parker, of and for Dublin, from
Whitehaven, got ashore near here at high water, but has not
sustained much damage. The David, from Shields to Car,
thagena, stranded in the roads in January last, has driven
higher up, and is now sunk five feet is the sand. The Mary.
of and for Clyde, from Liverpool, has driven ashore near the
David, and is somewhat strained.
DEAL, APRIL 1, A.NL—Wind E.S.E., P.M. S.E. by E., mo-
derate.—Arrd. Robert Fulton, Philadelphia ; Mary Frances
Boston. Ski. Elizabeth Adnett, Quebec; Canton, ditto;
Eleanor, Mauritius, and the whole of the outward bound.
STANDGATE, APRIL I.—The Hawkhill, Miller, arrived
here, picked up off Cadiz the crew of the Cypre4s, from
Alexandria, which was run down the previous evening by a
schooner, name unknown.
RAMSGATE, APRIL I.—The Rouennais, Bigot, from St.
Domingo, for Havre, which put in here leaky 29th ult., cow-
menced discharging to-day.
Cowan, APRIL 1-.—Arrii. Mary Puns, Rio Janeiro.
FALMOUTH, APRIL I.—Wind E.S.E.—Off, Europa,Ligert-
wood, Ichaboe, and sailed for Peterhead.
GUERNSEY, MARCH 30. Sld. Adelaide, Demerara.
JERSEY, MARCH 30.—Sid. Ulysses, Cape of Good Hope :
Jane, Auchat.
DUBLIN, MARCH 31.—Wind W.N.W.—Arrd. Britannia,
St. John's, New Brunswick. Sid. Simeon Hardy, Barbadoes ;
Industry, New York. The Jane and Susan, of Whitehaven,
Merryman, from Newry, missed stays, and drifted against
Dolly Mount Bull, capsized, and filled; crew saved.
WATERFORD, MARCH 30.—S1d. Cumberland, Quebec.
Cons, Marten 30.—Wind W.S.W., fresh breeze.—Arrd.
Janet Guthrie, Ichaboe. Sld. Tradore, St. John's, N.B.
LONDONDERRY, MARCH 28.—S1d. Fanny, Philadelphia and
St. John's, New Brunswick. 29. Sea Nymph, ditto.
LEITH, MARCO 31.--Sid. Glance, Montreal.
CI.YDE, MARCH 31.—Wind W.—Arrd. Jeanie DIMS,
Brown, Ichaboe ; Conqueror, Blair, Trinidad ; Brilliant.
Bair, Mobile. Sld. European and Erromanga, Montreal ;
Mandarin, Calcutta; Akbar, Mauritius and ditto.
BELFAST, MARCH 29.—S1d. Great Britain, Quebec.
Asrawax.l, Mama 30.-51 d. Spring, New Orleans.