The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-04 00:00:00

GROUP L.

PORTSMOUTH ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY.
The Committee resumed the inquiry this morning, Mr. E. B.
Denison in the chair.

Mr. Denny, a proprietor of East India ships, stated that a direct

line to Portsmouth would be a great convenience in shipping their
passengers, as the vessels of the firm to which he belonged all
called at that place for that purpose.
Mr. Chambers, a merchant at Portsmouth, testified to the charge
for carriage by the South-Western Railway. His evidence con-
firmed that of the previous witnesses, with the addition that there
was a less charge made to ceptains of ships than was made to other
persons. By goods carrnd coastwise there was a charge of lgs. fid.
a ton, while by railway they cost '2 s. 6d. a ton.
To the cross-examination of Mr CI'ItNEV, the witness replied
that a hogshead of s-g .r, R hicl, weighed 18 cwt., was sent ton (is.
by water, but Ss. a ton by railway would be a sufficient iuuuce-
ment to send this sort of heavy goods by rail.

On the re-examination by Mr. TALBOT, Mr. Chambers stated that
there was a considerable delay in the carriage by water, and that
the expenses in addition rendered a railway communication very
desirable.

Vice-Admiral Sir John Ommaney testified to the general feeling
at Portsmouth, and the favourable nature cf the country proposed
for the Atmospheric Railway. The population was considerable on
the line, and there was now no coach for the accommodation of the
public. On that line there tv zo the forest of Woolner, which had for-
merly been disforexted in consequence of the obstacles which existed to
the carriage of the timber from or to Portsmouth. It had, how-
ever, lately been inclosed, and it would be very desirable to obtain
a good means of access to the south, co that the timber that was
grown there for the navy might be easily obtained_ He thought
that it was very desirable that there should be a communication
with Deptford and Chatham, and also along the coast from Dover
to Plymouth, so as to give a facility for the conveyance of troops
and artillery to any particular point.
Major White, Town-major of Portsmouth for 22 years, whose
business was to circulate the orders for the defence of the port_
He had had considerable experience in the removal of troops, es-
pecially during the war. One great instance, the arrival of
the troops from Corunna, showed the inconvenience of the want
of sufficient communication with the interior. Had they possessed
railway communication at that time, the shipping would not have
got in shore, and the men would have been moved into other
quarters without the sickness and loss at ':lat time sustained
To the examination of Mr. WADDINUTON, Major White replied
that Portsmouth could not hold out long with its present garrison,
but an increased garrison might be obtained by a railway along the
coast. In the event of a descent by a hostile steam navy this
convenience would be absolutely indispensable. There was
a great want of conveyance for troops. During the com-
mand of Sir Hercules Pakenham there had been only one
regiment moved from Chatham to Portsmouth, but there had been
considerable communication with Winchester and Weedon, and
he thought that the circulation of troops on the coast was about
16,000 a-year. It would be a great saving to be able to send
troops by land. There was great delay at present in going round
by the coast, he himself having when engaged in the expedition to
Sicily been detained six weeks, and his family who were with the
store ships were detained 17 weeks, the stores at that time being
very much wanted in the Peninsular.
Mr. Hoskins, formerly a merchant and now assistant tide-keeper
at Portsmouth, testified to the utility of the London-bridge station,
and the great convenience whioh the third-class trains would be to
sailors paid off at the port. The mercantile intercourse had greatly
decreased since the establishment of the railway to Southampton
and the establishment of the docks. The Gosport branch had, in
his opinion, been an injury rather than a benefit, and in his expo i.
ence the Southampton line was the dearest and the worst in the
kingdom. Before the competition the second.class carriages espe-
cially were of a very miserable description. The witness
also gave testimony respecting the termini similar to that
of all the other witnesses. The houses building at Landport
would bear the comparison with those in course of erection at
Portsca. On the whole he thought the atmospheric line passed
through a district far superior to that through which the other
line went.

Mr. Wyse, Mr. T. Whyte, a ship.builder at Portsmouth, Mr. Prlng,
Mr. Colebrook, and Mr. Russell all gave similar testimony as to the
utility of the proposed line, and the facilities which it offered
for the communication ',with the Isle of Wight, but there was
nothing of any particular moment elicited, and the Committee was
adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.