The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-22 00:00:00

SCOTCH LINES.
DUNDEE AND ARBROATH.

On Monday a special meeting of the Proprietors of this
Company was held in the Town Hall at Dundee, Mr. Wil-
liam Thorns, Dean of Guild, one of the Directors, in the
chair, to receive a requisition for the formation of a branch
from Broughly Ferry to Forfar. There was a numerous
attendance.
The report of the Directors stated that after considering
the subject fully, and having a report by a deputation from
their number before them, they had come to the determina-
tion that it was inexpedient for the Dundee arid Arbroath
to undertake the proposed extension.
Mr. ARCHIBALD HAsTIE, M.P., said he had expected that
some of the requisitionists would have have come forward,
and have stated the grounds on which they subscribed to the
requisition, and moved the approval of the report, which was
seconded by Mr. D. BAXTER.
Mr. GEORGE KINLOCII, thought the Directors had come
to a wise decision in rejecting it. But he would have liked
to know what led the Directors to that conclusion. At the
same time lie thought it very likely that such a line would
be take up in these days of railway speculation, but still he
considered that the Dundee and Arbroath Company should
stick to the good concern which they already had by the
hand, and endeavour to increase their revenue by lowering
the fares and otherwise promoting traffic on their line.
Lord KINNAIRD differed in opinion from the gentlemen
who had already spoken. He thought that a direct railway
communication betwixt Dundee and Forfar was of great im-
portance, and that in the hands of the existing lines it would
pay. He was most anxious, as a Director of the Dundee and
Perth Railway, to promote a good understanding amongst
all the local lines, which he was satisfied would be for their
mutual advantage. He would not divide the meeting on the
subject, but he thought it proper to state his own views, and
he was afraid the shareholders might hereafter regret the re-
jection of the present proposal.
Mr. P. H. THOMS thought that, if taken up by the Com-
pany, which had already the necessary machinery for work-
ing it, and where the expense of a separate management
would be saved, the concern might yield a fair return upon
the capital. Mr. Thorns then went over various calculations,
in which he assumed that the expense would be 150,000/.,
and that upon this capital there would be a return of not less
than 5 per cent, He moved that a special committee be ap-
pointed to investigate and report.
Mr. HASTIE thought that Mr. Thorns had greatly over-
estimated the traffic—that it could not be made a paying
concern ; but, at all events, the Dundee and Arbroath should
not involve themselves in it.
Mr. BAXTER considered that the scheme was wild and
visionary. Instead of 150,000/., it would cost 300,000/., and
would not return 500/. a year.
On a show of hands being taken for the motion and
amendment, there was a majority in favour of the former.
CALEDONIAN EXTENSION. _ _ _

The Committee of Management, in their report just issued,
relative to the progress and future prospects of the proposed
extension of the Caledonian line, state that the whole line
has been now carefully considered. A section has been
prepared by the engineers, and, although they state that
modifications may be required for the accommodation of
landowners, yet the Committee have much satisfaction in
announcing that the section fully verifies the expecta-
tion of an easy line. By far the largest portion of the line
is no steeper than 1 in 300, while the steepest gradient
does not exceed 1 in 100, and that only for a small
portion of the whole distance. The cuttings and
embankments are light, and it is not expected
there will be any tunnels, nor are there any bridges or other
works of an extraordinary character. Under these favour-
able circumstances, and having fair reason to calculate that
the capital which the Committee considered it prudent to
provide will suffice for the construction of some works not at
first contemplated, they have directed surveys to be made of
a short branch to Selkirk, and of one to Jedburgli and Ilawick,
for the accommodation of those towns. The Committee also
intend to undertake the formation of a line from the extension
line through the Lesmahagow mineral fields, to the Clvdes-
dale Junction Railway at Hamilton. This will be a profitable
; line in itself, and an important feeder of the extension; and
arrangements have been made which have secured the entire
support of the parties most interested in the formation of the
line. Other parts of the Caledonian system are in course of
' being rapidly developed. Various branches, leading to the
north and west, have already been, or are speedily to be
brought before the public. These, by adding to the importance
of the main trunk line, will necessarily increase the prosperity
of the extension. But the portion of this development in
which that undertaking is more immediately interested, is
the Ayrshire and Caledonian Junction Railway, projected by
an independent company, to connect Kilmarnock with the
main line. The Committee viewing this connexion as one
of the greatest importance, have resolved to give to the pro-
moters of it every facility and assistance in their power.
The main line of the Caledonian Extension will go direct to
Ayr, while the proposed junction branches off to Kilmarnock,
and, by means of these, an outlet in all directions will
be opened up for the vast resources of Ayrshire. That
important county will thus have a direct communication
from every point to the capital of Scotland by a line of
railway, which will at the same time, by a short branch to
the Caledonian-main trunk at Abington, afford the most
convenient access to Carlisle and the manufacturing dis-
tricts of England. The whole mineral fields will also be
connected by railway with the seaports of Ayr, Troon,
Irvine, Saltcoats, and Ardrossan. Altogether it is scarcely
possible to conceive a railway system better suited to the
wants of this district, and attaining, by simple means, so
many important objects. The prospects of the Caledonian
Extension towards the east coast are eqully flattering.
The Committee had the good fortune to effect an arrange.
merit for a joint station at Kelso with Mr. Hudson and the
promoters of the line between Newcastle and Berwick. The
complete success of that line with its branch to Kelso, is
therefore another subject of congratulation. In this district,
the interests of these two lines are identical, and their
success will be mutual. A proposal has been made to form a
communication by railway from Edinburgh to Peebles,
which, in the opinion of the Committee, merits their appro-
bation; and they have offered to unite in the formati n of a
joint station at Peebles, and otherwise to co-operate with
the promoters of that project in measures of mutual advan-
tage. These encouraging prospects, as well as a careful
review of the resources of the districts to be opened up by
the Caledonian Extension, fully confirm the highest expecta-
tions entertained by the Committee when the prospectus was
issued. The important objects to be obtained, embracing
the connexion of the rich agricultural and mineral county of
Ayr with England, with Edinburgh, and with the seaports
of the west of Scotland, the connexion of the agricultural
counties of Berwick and Roxburgh, and the manufacturing
districts of Galashiels and Hawick with Glasgow, and the
mutual interchange of traffic between all parts of the king-
dom intersected by the Caledonian system, hold out the
surest prospects of profit to the shareholders.
Last week a splendid dinner was given to Mr. Ross, su-
perintendent of the Greenock Railway Station, by a number
of the most influential gentlemen who are in the habit of
travelling by that railway. There were about sixty gentle-
men present, and the Company was presided over by Sir
James Campbell.
AIRDRIE AND BATITGATE.—The applications for shares in
this line were 60,000, with only 12,000 for allotment. The
shares have been principally divided amongst local parties
engaged in mineral end agricultural produce,
Scornsit WESTERN.—Notwithstanding the large capital,
we hear that shares were applied for to nearly five times the
requisite number, and in Glasgow alone 45,000 shares were
applied for, the applicants being, for the most part, persons of
the first respectability.—Scotsman.

THE LATE THOMAS MUIR, ESQ.,
JUN., OF HUNTERSHILL.

(From the Edinburgh Wedly Ch'onicle, Sept. 13, 1845.)
The Committee connected with the erection of the
Political Martyrs' Monument, now in progress on the
Calton Hill, baying long known that the mortal remains
of this accomplished and patriotic gentleman were in•
terred at Chantilly, near Paris, so far back as the month
of September, 1798, felt desirous that they should be
rerrocod to Scotland, and placed in a cavity of the
obelisk prepared for their reception. For this purpose
our venerable and respected townsman, Mr. William
Moffat, solicitor (the friend of Muir, and law agent at
his trial), lately entered into a correspondence on the
subject, and our readers will learn, from a perusal of the
following letter, addressed to him from a gentleman
resident in Paris, that the objt ct in view has been found
to be unattainable. In our opinion, however, the attempt
to remove the bones of our lamented countryman from
a distant part of the world reflects much credit on the
members of Committee. The exhumation of the remains
of the Emperor Napoleon and the celebrated Major Andre,
and their transportation to Europe, long after the period
of their into: went, are instances which show that the
practice has very recently been countenanced both by
the French and British Governments. In itself, the
question involves a great moral principle ; and when we
reflect that it is only a very few years since our criminal
laws were ameliorated, and that we have lately got rid
of the horrid evils arising from political judges and
packed juries, we sincerely trust that a new era is ap-
proaching more favourable to the best interests of
humanity :

" Paris, June 30, 1845.

" My dear Sir,—ln compliance with the request con-
,ained in your esteemed letter of the 17th inst., and
with every wish to accomplish the interesting object in
view, I went out to Chantilly last week, and now sit
down to report the result of my researches.
" Chantilly is a town in the department of the Oise,
within ten leagues to the north of Paris. It contains
about 2,500 inhabitants, and may he said to be composed
of a single street, terminated on the eastern extremity
by what remains of the chateau and the forest, for•
merly belonging to the Princes of the House of Conde,
and now to the Duke d'Aumale. and on the other by
the hospital built and endowed by the great Conde.
Behind the garden of the hospital, surrounded by a
high wall, and about half an acre in extent, lies the old
cemetery of the town. Owing to limited size and
the numerous interments that had taken place in it,
this burying-ground becoming unfit for use, was shut 1
up about two years ago, and a new one, being that now
in use, was formed in the environs of the town.
"In exploring the old cemetery the person who now
acts as sexton, having only held his place for about two
years, could render me no peculiar assistance. He had
succeeded another who had filled the situation for forty-
two years previous to his death, and whose appointment
consequently dated no further back than the first year
of the present century. Under these circumstances I
had recourse to the gardener of the hospital, who had
lived on the premises for more than twenty years ; and
on explaining
to him what I was in quest of, he pointed
out
anadP
pel,aascortiilleer, a few yards square at the end of the cha-
pel,
Protestants,that
heroht e
body
for the
obuurrimalaro_f
tyred countryman
strangers
there are four grave
erection ;but no atone or o,
mustt have been laid. In this corner
t ‘vhehrett, thebea mortal remains of the unfortu-
tiaiellromfatrhkemwasef
trbaetrhee rtoreincedni_t
cnaattee the
rsi
Peot may
cover any such vestige in other
; nor could I dis-
cover
it may be proper to spate parts of the cemetery,
tombstones were so encrusted Stl.tte
that many of th
lichen that it would have requiwriell a sort of blackish
Mortality " himself to render the •
the chel is
ti of "Old
way legible. In the register of leri
dseeatts-°n3 in
any
at the Town House, I was so far fortnn,a t&c., kept
find the act of the decease, of Mr. Muir,e as t° of which I
procured au extract, and now forward it with a trans.