The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-04 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Yesterday a Court was held for the purpose of discussing
the subject of the introduction of railways into Farringdon- I
street. It was numerously attended, and was fof several I
hours a scene of great excitement.

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. R. L. JONES. the Chairman of the improvement Com-
mittee, brought up a report of the Commit teo appointed to
consider the best means of carrying into effect the resoluti
of the Court for appropriating the sum of 20,0001. annually
for public purposes, which stated that having taken the re-
ference into their consideration,and had before them various
plans for the improvement of he City of Loudon, they pro-
ceeded to consider the subject, and finding it was necessary
that the notices for an application to Parliament, to be
passed in the next session, must be given in the month
of November next, they thought it desirable that some
improvement should be carried into effect in the next year,
and they had selected two plans which they considered would
be great improvements, and beneficial to the inhabitants of
the city of London—one for forming a street from the south-
end of Water-lane, now called Blackfriars-street, and the
other in the Old Bailey, from the south side of the New Inn
to the south side of Prujean-square ; and they recommended
that they should be empowered to give the necessary notices
of an application to Parliament for an Act to carry the same
into effect. _ _

Mr. JONES observed that these two projects would operate
most advantageously. The first would, by the opening to
the transit of carriages, afford great relief to Ludgate-hill,
and would be formed upon part of the site of the Fleet Prison.
The second would, although of small dimensions, productive
of much public convenience, as it was well kniwil the traffic
from the wharfs in the neighbourhood of the gas-works seri-
ously interfered with the transit through Fleet-street and its
vicinity.
A long discussion took place upon the merits of the recom-
mendation of the report, some members arguing that there
existed a more pressing necessity for widening narrow old
streets than for making new ones, and others insistin4 that
the large improvements suggested by the objectors ~ould
cost an enormous sum of money, while the inipr.mement to
which the report referred could be effected without any con-
siderable outlay, and would be the most judicious precursors
of the extensive changes which must rapidly take place.
The report was ultimately agreed to by a vast majority.
RAILWAYS IN FARRINGDON-STREET.

Mr. R. L. JONES said that, he had never upon any occa-
sion within his recollection brought up a report of greater
importance to the city of London than that which he had to
present to the Court upon the present occasion. The
committee bad most strictly investigated the subject of the
introduction of railways into Farringdon-strcat, as suggested
by the petitions which had been presented at a former Court,
and they came to the opinion that there was no part of the
city so well adapted tbr a great terminus as Farringdoo-
street. The great breadth of the street, and the palpable ne-
cessity for the removal of the miserable and filthy habita •
tions in the vicinity, including Field-lane, Saffron-hill, and
the adjacent courts and alleys, in which di,4ease was engen-
dered, independently of the advantages derivable in a great
many ways from changing the face of the locality, were un-
deniable arguments in favour of the plan of favouring the
reception of railways there.—(Hear, hear.)
The following report was then read by the clerk of the
court :
" To the Right Hon. _ the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Com-

mons, in Common Council assembled,

" We whose names are hereunto subscribed, your commit-
tee appointed on the 9th day of October inst., to consider the
best means of carrying into effect the resolution of this hon.
Court of the 25th day of September last, for appropriating the
sum of 20,0001. annually for public purposes and improve-
ments, to whom, on the 9th inst. it was referred, to examine
the allegations in the petition of the directors of the
Direct London and Manchester Railway Company for leave
to purchase Farringdon-mark et for a great 'central terminus,',
and also to examine the allegations on the petition of the
Birmingham Railway Company for leave to purchase the
north side of the site of the late Fleot Prison, with other
premises, for the purpose of a city terminus, and to report
our opinion thereon, do certify that we have proceeded in
the due consideration of both references, and were attended
by Mr. Dillon, the chairman, with Messrs. Deacon, Wells,
and Shepperson, directors of the Direct London and Man-
chester Railway Company, accompanied by Mr. Rastrick,
their engineer, when Mr. Dillon fully explained the views a: .d
wishes of the petitioners, and Mr. Rastrick submitted plans
and sections of the intended railway, and was heard at con-
siderable length in explanation of the same; and more parti-
cularly that part which affected this city, by which it ap-
peared that the Company proposed to take the entire side of
Farringdon-market and all the adjoining housesand buildings
extending from Harp-alley to Holborn-hill, north and
south, and from Farringdon-street to Shoe-lane, east and west,
and to form a viaduct from Holborn-hill to Skinner-street.
That we were attended :by Mr. Stephenson, the engineer,
and Mr. Creed, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Mordigan, on behalf of
the London and Birmingham Railway Company, when Mr.
Stephenson was heard in support of their petition, and sub-
mitted a plan and section of the proposed line of railway,
and particularly showing the portion of ground they were
desirous of obtaining within this city, by which it appeared
the said company contemplated purchasing an area of about
five acres, situate between Skinner-street, the Old Bailey,
and Farriogdon-street, including a portion of the site of the
late Fleet Prison ; that their olject was to form two levels,
the lower to be approached by a tunnel front Camden-t( we,
so as not to interfere with any of the streets and houses,
except those immediately connected with their proposed site,
anal the upper level to be approached through Skinner-street
and the Old Bailey, and any new street that might be
formed in that neighbourhood. •
" That we, your Committee, after carefully inspecting the
several plans, and considering the statements of the respec-
tive parties, with all the circumstances connected with this
important subject. are of opinion that it is desirable b ith for
the prosperity and advantage of the citizens of London to
have railway termini within this city, that the sites pro •
posed to be purchased by both companies are desirable, as
they interfere but in a small degree with the public streets
within the city, and that the plans will afford great accom-
modation to the traffic passing east and west.
"All which we submit to the judgment of this llon. Court.
Dated this 23d day of October, 1843.
" J. C. Prior,
" J. Dixon,
" T. Challis,
" R. Taylor,
" H. Burn,
" B. Massey,
" J. Hartley,
" T. B. Simpson,
" J. G. Cope,
Mr. R. L. JONES moved that the report be agreed to and
sent back to the Committee. to b's carried into effect.
The motion having been seconded,
Deputy BEDFORD propose, as an amendment, that the report
be referred back, with instructions to the Committee to take
into consideration the petition of the tenants of Farringdon-
market, and also to consider the propriety of confining the
termirus to the north side of Holborn-hill. He cau-
tioned the Court against permitting such an outrage upon
the population of the City as the terminus of the Blackwell
Railway constituted, and expressed his decided opinion that
very great disadvantages must arise from the intrusion of
termini into Farringdon-street.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. DE JERSEY seconded the amendment. After a long
discussion, two other amendments were proposed, negativing
the report, but the report was ultimately agreed to, with Mr.
Wire's amendment as a rider.

" R. L. Jones,
" J. Johnson, Ald.,
" W. Stevens,
" W. Christie,
" B. Bower,
" D. W. Wire,
" D. Cook,
" J. Britten."