The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-24 00:00:00

CONIPETITION OF LOCONIOTIVE

CARRIAGES.

(From the ..Ifechanie.s' Magazine.)

The prize is not expected to bepositively awarded
for some little time yet to come. It appears that
the gentlemen who were appointed to act as judges,
have had only the name and not the usual powers of
jNdgcs conferred upon them. All that they.,have
been required arid permitted to do is to• make an
exact report to the Directors of the performances of
the competing engines; the Directors reserving to
themselves the power of deciding which is best en-
titled to the premium. From the manlier in which
such reserved powers have been exercised in other
cases (witness the conduct of the New London
Bridge Company to Mr. wilt), we should not be
inclined to indulge in any favourable anticipations
on the present occasion ; but it so heppens, that
this competition has taken a course which makes it
difficult for the Directors to go far wrong in their
decision. What all the tests were by which the
comparative merits of the competing engines were
to be tried, it would be hard to say, neither the
original " Conditions and Stipulations," nor the
" Ordeal," which was subsequently substituted in
their place, being separately considered sufficiently
full and explicit on the subject; but this much is
certain, that the performance of seventy miles for a
continuance was one criterion of excellence to which
all the competitors expressed a willing submission.
" The Rocket" started on this understanding, and
performed the distance at a rate of speed which, for
a continuance, stands as yet unrivalled in the annals
of railway-racing. " The Sans Pareil" next made
the attempt, but in consequence of part of its machi-
nery-giving way, only performed about half the dis-
tance. " The Novelty" followed, but had scarcely
started when it was brought, by a similaraccident, to a
death stand.. Now, though we are of opinion that
" The Novelty" is the sort of engine that will be
found best adapted to the purposes of the railway,
and_ are inclined to think that " The Sans Pareil"
is at least as good an engine as " The Rocket,"
yet us neither the one nor the other has equalled
" The Rocket" hi a performance, which had the
winning of the prize of 500/. expressly for its ob-
ject, WQ do not see how the Directors can in justice
do ocherwise than award that prize to Mr. Stephen-
son, Besides, whatever may be the merits of
" The Rocket," as contrasted with either of its
rivals, it is so much superior to all the old loco-
motive engines in use, as to entitle Mr. Stephenson
to the most marked and liberal consideration, for the
skill and ingenuity displayed in its construction. If
a Parliamentary reward of large amount was justly
conferred on Harrison, for being the first to bring
the measurement of time within certain desired
limits of accuracy—or on Parry, for penetrating to
a higher degree of northern latitude than any pre-
ceding navigator—the Directors of the Liverpool
and Manchester Railway cannot do wrong in award- '
ing to Mr. Stephenson a premium of 500/. for pro-
ducing an engine which has done what no locomo-
tive engine ever before accomplished—gone seventy
miles continuously, at an average rate of about twelve
miles an hour, with a load of three times its weight
attached to it, which has realized a degree of speed
and power, which, though much desired, had
scarcely been anticipated even by the most sanguine.
As the timekeeper of Harrison has been excelled
by others of more recent construction—and new
dist..tive.:y ships may be expected to penetrate still
farther than the Reda and Floy—so may the
" Rocket" be eclipsed by other locomotive engines,
by the very engines against which it tried its powers
on the present occasion ; but probable though this
may be—nay, almost a matter of certainty—there is
merit enough in what Mr. Stephenson has thus far
effected, to cause the reward of the premium to him
to be regarded with unmixed satisfaction by the
ve101,.; scientific %voila.

The proprietors of the Liverpool and Manchester
Rail•+•ay would be no losers were they to grant a
liberal indemnity to the competitors, one and all, for
the trouble and expence which they have incurred
o►► the occasion. Such has been the good effect of
this competition on the public mind, that the selling
price of the Company's shares has advanced no less
than ten per cent. since the day on which it com-
menced. Now, ten per cent. on a total capital of
1;50,0001. makes the nett sum gained by this judi
cious scheme of competition, no less than 65,0001.;
minus the 5001. premium, and any further sum
which may be awarded in gratuities to the unsuc-
cessful competitors.

SPEECH OF THE KING OF THE

NETHERLANDS.

The following is a translation of the whole of the
perch of the King of the Netherlands :
" llis Mhjesty the King of the Netherlands opened
th Session of the States-General at the Hague, on
Nionday, the 19th instant, and delivered the follow-
t Speech

" With satisfaction I see myself again surrounded
by the Representatives of the People of the Nether-
larrds, from whom I have received, in the different
quarters of the country which I have visited since
your last Session, the most undoubted proofs of at-
tachment, and have been convinced anew that they
bear towards me those feelings of love and confi-
dence upon which my heart places the highest va-
lue, and to which 1 have a claim by my ceaseless
rare for their happiness. Those cares have, by the
blessing of God, been amply rewarded. For some
years past the situation of a great portion of the
kingdom had not been personally inspected by me.
Latterly I have been a witness of its considerable '
improvement in the chief branches of industry, and
of the welfare consequent thereon. I have thus ob-
tained the certain knowledge that the measures
adopted for accelerating the flow of all the springs
of public wealth have borne good fruit. This re-
sult makes me cherish the hope, that, with the con-
tinuance of peace, the prosperity of the Netherlands
and the happiness of its inhabitants will be more
and more augmented.
" Since your last meeting I have contracted an
engagement which promises me much happiness,
and which I flatter myself will receive your ap-
proval. It regards the intended marriage of my
beloved daughter with Prince Albert, youngest son
of the King of Prussia. I may, on every ground,
anticipate that this union will secure not alone the
happiness of my only daughter, but perpetuate the
many and intimate relations which have connected
the two houses from remote times.

" It is pleasing to me, Noble Sirs, to be able to
give you, on the opening of this Session, the assu-
rance that the Netherlands cont►nue to be united in
the bonds of peace, friendship, and good understand-
ing with all the Foreign Powers.
" A well-founded hope exists that the measures
of the Government of our East Indian possessions
will bring to a happy conclusion the troubles of
that country. At home all the necessary measures
are in operation to support those endeavours, and
to add to the national force in that quarter the
strength which will give confidence to men whom
long experience has approved.
" Various projects of laws will, by my command,
be submitted to your consideration. Those which
relate to the national expences, in their two di-
visions, and the means of meeting them, occupy
the foremost place, and will be followed by others
for regulating the manner of levying some of the
mposts.
" The result of your deliberations on the ordinary
Estimates which I laid before you in the penultimate
year of the decennial Term, have rendered a new
proposal necessary ; your deliberations in regard to
it will now be facilitated by the thorough knowledge
of the financial situation and interests of the king-
dom which were obtained in your preceding Ses-
sion. To meet the wishes you then expressed, you
will find that every possible endeavour has been
made. Having in all respect; done every thing that,
as far as I know, the general welfare permitted, I
may now confidently hope for the concurrence of
the States General; so that, in conformity to the
provisions of the Constitution, this important portion

of oar State policy may be settled, before the close
of the current Term, for the safety of our country.
" The Criminal Code, carefully revised, with re-
ference to the remarks upon it, shall be laid before
you, together with what yet may be necessary to
precede the organization of the judicial power; so
that I can repeat the assurance, that the introduction
of the new system of laws alone depends upon the
result of your own deliberations on this subject.
• " A law shall also be submitted to you relative to
public education, in order that, by our common ac-
cord, more thought and consistence may be given to
the liberal principles upon which, in regard to this
important subject, we must proceed.
" In regard to other subjects, which may require
legislative interference, during the present Session,
to insure the welfare and freedom of our fellow-
countrymen, I rely, Noble Sirs, upon your ready co-
operation. On my part, my subjects may be assured
that, in thought and deed, true to the motto of my
ancestors, I will use my uttermost endeavours to
defend and strengthen the community which Provi-
dence has committed to my care."
His 31,jesty was much affected when he ap-
proached the subject of hia (laughter's marriage.
The King was accompanied by the Crown Prince;
but Prince Frederick was prevented being present
at the opening of the Session by a slight indisposition.

FASCES OF STOCKS THIS DAT AT ONE O'CLOCK.
B .tak Ztoc!, • 2 i 16,1 South Sea Stock ..: ........... .
3 per Cent. Red 9O-7.54 Old 1innuiti5....,......:.,..
3 per Cent. Cons. ...... ...91!,.% IA New Ditto • • - ---
3. per Cent. Ex. Bills, £l,OOO 2cl. 1:. 15 pro.
Ditto Bed, 99%38 itto l-pl. '73 '75 pin,
3 per Cent. 1726 — Ditto 500 Id. 73 75 pm.
4 per Cent. Ann..... ....... lon%y, Ditto l,ld. 73 75 Pin.
Ditto, lf.ii
Ditto Scrip Ditto lO. 73 75 pm.
Bank L. Ann.

India Stock lndia for Account —
Ditta Bonds G 5 pm. Cons. for Account ...... 911'4i%

PRICES OF FOREIGN truNns THIS DAY AT ONE o'cLocr.
Austrian Bonds
Brazilian Bonds
Buenos Ayres Bonus — Portuguese Bonds .191,i 3i
Chilian Bonds ~, — Prussian, Old ..................
Colombian Bonds — Ditto, New ......................
Ditto, 1824 l9y, 20 1974 Russian ...........................
Danish -. Spanish, 18'21 ............... 9% 8•3,i
Greek Bonds
—, 1823. ....................
Ditto, 1825 19y2 French Rentes, sp. c. —f. --e.
Guatimala —
I— Exchange ...... —f. —C.
Mexican Bonds — 3 per cent....... —I. --C.
Ditto, 1825 - Exchange ...... —f. —,.