The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-17 00:00:00

No. 16,642. LONDON, EDNESDANE
..:4'l S Ny DECEMBER 17, i 8450

UDLEY,. MADELEY, BROSELEY, AND
• IRONBRIDGE RAILWAY, WITH EXTENSION TO
SIIREWSB URY.
. .At a meeting of ihe Managing Committee.of this Company, held
at the Siork Hotel, Birmingham, on Thursday, the 10th of Decem-
ber, 1845,
- • WILLIAM COLLINS, Esq., M.P., in the Chair,

The following Report of the Committee was read :
The Managing Committee of the Dudley, Madeley, Broseley, and
Iroubridge RailwassCompany, with extension to Shrewsbury, feel
that it is due te themselves and to the Shareholders, to lay before
them, at the earliest possible period consistent with due inquiry, their
present 'position, consequent upon the circumstances which will be
found detailed in the following Report :
Mr. Francis Giles became the engineer of the Company on its for-
mation, and the Committee were induced to place confidence in hirn
from the fact of his having been employed by Mr. Robert Stephenson,
in his absence, to lay out several important lines in the vicinity of
the line of railway projected by this Company.
Mr. Ones attended a meeting of the Committee at Birmingham,
early in October, when he gave positive- assurances that he was ra-
pidly proceeding with his work, and had made such arrangements
as would enable him to complete it in good time; and from that pe-
riod till the end of November he constantly reiterated those assu-
rances to the Committee, to the respective solicitors, and to the as,
cretary, both orally and in writing. Every assistance was rendered
which he required, and extracts from the correspondence will abun-
dantly testify that all was done by the Committee and the oflicers of
the Company to enable him to complete his work by the 29th of No-
vember. His applications for money were, in every case, complied
with, and the sum of 4,000/. was at various periods advanced to hint,
on account of his own and the surveyors' charges ; the last payment
of 2,0001. having been made, at his own solicitation (though not with-
out considerable hesitation on the part of the Committee), in order to
avoid the possibility of his operations being retarded for want of
funds, or to afford any possible pretext for their being inefficienly
performed. Of this sum, Mr. Dugdale Houghton, the Company's
surveyor (Mr. Giles's brother-in-law), has accepted his (Mr. Giles' s)
liability to him for 2,0(0l., and Mr. Giles has paid Mr. John Brettetl,
another surveyor, 3001., thus leaving him (Mr. Giles) the suns
of 1,700/. . •
The anxiety, expressed that all should be ready in time was oily
equalled by Mr. Glles'j assurances that there were no grounds for
apprehehsion, as the following extracts from the correspondence on
the subject will show: •
- On the 17th of October, Mr. Collis, one of the Company's solici-
tors, thus addressed Mr. Giles-
- -" Great anxiety is entertained as to the sections and surveys be int
ready in time. I do hope you will use every exertion to get them
done, and well done."
On the 28th October, Mr. Collis writes to Mr. Giles-- •
" I trust you will get-the sections of the Dudley and Madeley line
completed without delay, as time runs on. I am glad to tell you
that all goes on favourably, and everything now rests with you. You
have, of course, made proper arrangements as to the engraving."
On the 31st, Mr. Collis says in a letter to Mr. Giles—
" I assure you most unpleasant rumours are abroad amongst our
proprietors that our sections and plans will not be properly done or
ready, as Dugdale Houghton will have told you. Now I have done
all in my power to put a stop to these reports. I entreat of you to
have the sections of the whole line from Dudley to Ironbridge and to
Shrewsbury, as well as the surveys, most carefully done. You have,
of course, made due arrangements as to the engraving of the sec-
tions." •
In a letter to Mr. Collis, on the 9th of November, respecting the
Oldbury branch, Mr. Giles says, in reference to the plans which he
had received—
" The plans are, as I consider, in good condition."
On the 10th of November, Mr. Collis thus writes to Mr. Giles—
" I know you will pardon my expressing deep anxiety as to every-
thing being done in due time, particularly that we may have the Sec-
tions and surveys finished, as the middle of November is nearly
arrived."
Three days afterwards, viz., on the 13th, Mr. Collis says—
" I hope you will use every means to complete the sections with
the least possible delay. I assure you we all feel extreme anxiety on
the subject. Should you want me, or if I can do anything to for-
ward you, pray send for me, or let me know immediately."
The next day, the 14th, Mr. Collis again urges Mr. Giles onward,
by saying—
" We quite rely upon your having all ready,. and that the sections
are in the hands oi the lithographer. Bear in mind that the 29th is
only twelve days off, and that the sections must' be sent before then
to us, and be m eady to deposit. I trust you will excuse my most
earnestly beseeching you to use every possible exertion to complete
everything as quickly as practicable. The general impression is, that
we shall not be ready. We must not spare exertion of any kind ; in
fact, we must keep faith with the public."
On the 19th, Mr. Collis writes—
" I have just heard that Houghton thinks there is some misunder-
standing between you and the lithographer. If there be the slightest
inundation for this, I beg and pray of you not to lose an instant in
setting this matter right. Excuse my personally entreating you to use
every exertion, as I am daily pressed on the subject."
To this Mr. Giles replies on the 20th—.
" I know of no misunderstanding between me and the lithographer.
Don't give credit to such nonsense."
The same day, the 20th, Mr. Collis writes to Mr. Giles as follows—
" I am desired by the Committee to beg and entreat you to see that
the sections are completed, and placed in the lithographer's hands as
speedily as possible. I do hope you will excuse my writing se ur-
gently to you. I do seriously assure you that we all feel that our
honour and characters are at stake, to say nothing of the large sum
of money that would be sacrificed if our plans and sections are net
duly deposited."
On the 21st, Mr. Giles replied as follows—
" I beg that you will not be in any anxiety about lithographing the
sections. Mr. Houghton will get some done in Birmingham. I will
get all the rest done, and have provided for it. You shall deposit on
the 29th. I come to Birmingham to-morrow night, by express train,
to meet my troops, who are all to assemble at Dee's to-morrow
night."
Mr. Collis's next letter to Mr. Giles is dated November 21st, in
which he says—
" I know you will not like my troubling you with these repeated
urgent letters, but I confess I am so strongly pressed by numbers of
people daily, that I feel painfully anxious that we should not fail in
keeping good faith with our shareholders."
Mr. Giles replies on the 22d—
" If you come to me to-morrow, in order to be made certain of my
work being done, I will even show you my plan and arrangements
for it—otherwise be assured of it
The Committee, feeling that the foregoing extracts abundantly
confirm the assertion with which they set out, will now refer to the
statements made to them by Mr. Joseph King and Mr. Heath, two
isetive members of the Committee, who were in Birmingham, watch-
ing the later proceedings.
Mr. King states that he went to Birmingham, at the urgent re-
quest of Mr. Collis, in company with him and Mr. Heath, on Thurs-
day, the of November, and that he remained there till Satur-
day night, se!th the exception of a few hours on Friday, during which
period he had every reason to believe that the business was pro-
ceeding satisfactoiNY,
Mr. Heath reports !bat he accompanied Mr. Collis to Birmingham
on the lath of November, at his request, to have an interview with
Mr. Giles, who had stated that he should be there that night. They
and Mr. Wainwright saw :Mr. (tiles after midnight, at the Royal
Hotel, when he gave them the most positive assurances that every-
thing would be ready in time. The following Monday, the 24th, Mr.
Heath again went to Birmingham with Mr. Collis, when Mr. Giles
repeated his former assertions that everything would be ady.
Three days afterwards, Thursday, the 27th, Mr. Heath, at Dlr.
Collis's request, once more went to Birmingham, accompanied by
Mr. Collis and Mr. Joseph King, and remained there until he had
seen the various gentlemen start on Sunday night to make their re-
spective deposits.
About five o'clock on Sunday afternoon Mr. Heath saw Mr.
Houghton deliver the plane to the several solicitors, in doing which
he (Mr. Houghton) expressed his obligations to them and the other
gentlemen connected with the Company, for the assistance they had
rendered him, adding that the sections would be ready in half an
hour.
After this interview with Mr. Houghton, the party left to prepare
for starting, and returned to Mr. Houghton's office about half-past
five o'clock in the afternoon, where they remained meek twenty
minutes to nine in the evening, and during this period, fears of such
importance are spoken to, that the Committee feel bound, not-
withstanding its length and the reluctance of Mr. Heath,
to give a large portion of his report in detail. After stating that they
found Mr. Joshua John Peele, of Shrewsbury (solicitor to the Wor-
cester and Crewe, and also to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Rail-
way Companies), and Mr. Hood (a relative of Mr. Roy, the other so-
licitor to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company), in Mr. Hough-
ton's waiting-room, ready to convey the Worcester and Crewe plans
for deposit, Mr. Heath thus proceeds :
" Between seven and eight o'clock Mr. Peels was sent for by Mr.
Houghton, and he remained in Mr. Houghton's room until after the
delivery of the sections by Mr. Houghton to the respective solicitors.
At this period I became very anxious, and requested Mr. Collis to see
Mr. Houghton. Mr. Collis accordingly went into Mr. Houghton's
ree.-n on time first floor, but immediately returned and told us that
Mr. Voughten positively insisted on his leaving the room. Shortly
after ti's Mr. Giles came out of Mr. Houghton's room, and on my
asking hisn respecting the sections, Mr. Giles said that they had
been out of his hands some time, and that they were under Mr.
Houghton's c‘are, upon which I again requested Mr. Collis to go to
Mr. Houghton, Mr. Collis, consequently, went a second time, but
came back direCtly aad said that Mr. Peele (whom_ I saw in
Mr. Houghton's mom when the door was opened) refused to admit
him, telling him (Mr. Collis) that Mr. Houghton would soon hand out
the scalene. Mr. Collis further said that he had remonstrated with
Mr. Peele on the impropriety of his being in Mr. Heughton's room at
such a moment. Thus matters stood, the solicitors and myself remaining
in a small room adjoining Mr. Houghton's, in a state of great anxiety ;
a person being then stationed in the passage leading to the door of
Mr. Houghton's room, who positively refused to allow any one of us
to pass to it. Soon after eight o'clock Mr. Peele, from Mr. Hough-
ton's room,' called the respective solicit Ors of the Company, who ac-
cordingly went into the room, whither I followed them; and where
I saw Mr. Houghton give to each of them certain rolls, which he
said contained the sections of the Dudley and Madeley line com-
plete, except the section of the branch from Rudge to Wolverhamp-
ton, which he said should be delivered out in a few minutes, if it
could be found, adding that they were then engaged in looking for it.
We then left Mr. Houghton and went into the anti-room, where we
consulted together as to the propriety of the solicitors at once pro-
ceeding to their respective destinations (the evening being so far ad-
vanced), to deposit such sections as they had ; but it was at length
agreed that Mr. Houghton should be again distinctly asked if the
rolls he had given to each of the solicitors contained the sections of
the whole line, except the Wolverhampton branch ; for which pur-
pose Mr. Collis once more went to Mr. Houghton's room, Mr. Wain-
wright, another of the Companyely 's solicitors, following him.
Mr. Collis returned immediat, and reported that Mr. Hough-
ton had told him, contrary to what he (Mr. Houghton) had
previously stated, that the respective bundles did not contain the
whole of the sections with .the exception of the before-mentioned
branch. Upon this the solicitors and myself held another con-
ference, during which Mr. Collis partially unrolled one of the
bundles of Sections, and it appearingthat Dudley was upon one sheet
and Shrewsbury upon another, the solicitors and I came to the con-
had received comprised the sections
elusion that the rolls which they
of the entire main line, contrary to Mr. Houghton Peele 's last statemefrom nt.
Immediately upon this discovery being made, Mr. called
Mis Houghton's room for Mr. Collis, whither he went, returning
directly, and stating that Mr. Houghton had now informed him tnat
their respective rolls did contain the whole of the Sections of the line,
with the exception of the Wolverhampton branch. The same state-
ment as to the correctness of the rolls was made y
b Mrhis c. HOuolleaguesghton to
the other solicitors of the Company. Mr. Collis and
then started, at twenty minutes before nine o'clock."
thaMtra.titelemaptllschonavcleubdeesenams
afodlleowsto
m—plOtelAbelrvaireglow:hthe solicitors, in
lint;
reference to their conduct ,on Sunday, the 30th of November, and
preceding days, and particularly that a scene of gross confusion and
disorder occurred in the surveyor's room, in which they are impliedly
charged as participators, I feel that though I have shown they were
rigidly denied access to Mr. Houghton's room, I owe it to the Com-
pany, to these gentlemen, and to myself, as a member of the Manag-
ing Committee, to declare that a more unfounded calumny wholeot
have been uttered. I was with these gentlemen during theof
Sunday ; I had many opportunities of observing their unremitting
exertions on the preceding days—l may say nights also ; and I have
in stating that, with whomsoever the blame of this
grfaielautrePimefylrleee t, it was in no way attributable to any want of f ire
rangement or zeal, or activity, on the part of the solicitors, or
o
secretary, their conduct throughout, and especially during the most
critical period, having been praiseworthy in the highest degree."
The Committee have also received reports from the solicitors, re
ferring to the circumstancee detailed by Mr. Heath, and speaking
in the highest terms of the exertions made by Mr. Houghton to com-
plete his portion of the work in good time, up to the period of the
delivey of the lans ; but they do not think it necessary, a fter quot-
ing atr so great p a
length front Mr. Heath's statement, to allude to
them further at present.
Notwithstanding the foregoing facts show it was next to an impos-
sibility to make the deposits in time at Shrewsbury and London, the
Committee think it no more than justice to state, that the most
strenuous exertions were made to do so, Mr. Anstice posting to the
former place, a distance of forty-five miles, in threehours and twenty-
seven minutes, and Mr. Wainwright arriving at the Board of Trade,
in London, upwards of one hundred and fourteen miles, by the aid of
a special engine, in three hours and forty-six minutes, both gentle-
men having been retarded on their way by accidents on the road.
The journey to Stafford, twenty-six miles, might have been readily
accomplished by Mr. Collis, but he was detained a long time on the
road between Birmingham and Walsall, in consequence of the great
misconduct of hie postboys, which was such as to induce suspicion
By
great exertion Mr. Collis ultimately reached Stafford in d time.
Mr. Houghton made the deposit at Worcester also in good timeue .
As soon as the failure in the deposits was known, a meeting of the
Committee was hastily summoned at Dudley, when Mr. Giles and
Mr. Houghton attended. The former offered no excuse for his con-
duct, further than that he had been disappointed, adding that no
parties could have behaved better or acted more handsomely, than
the Committee and the officers of the Company head behaved
thentowrds
him; and he at once admitted, that even if the lateness of de-
posits could be got over, his sections were in some instances so de-
fective, that:they would not bear a searching exam'mnati Th aon. In an-
swer to questions which were pressed upon him, heaid " t the
sections of the cross line from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton were
strictly correct ; in fact, he believed the sections of the whole scheme
were complete, with the single exception of the branch to Wolver-
hampton." Mr. Houghton expressed his sorrow at him a
Mr. to de-
posit, and his regret at the mis-statement riled by`him to Collis
on Sunday evening ; justifying himself, nowever, by saying that lie
was greatly excited at the time, from his previous exertions,
and that he corrected himself immediately. This, the
Committee may remark, is opposed to Mr. Heath's statement, by
which it appears that same time elapsed before Mr. Houghton re-
called his previous answer, and Ws gentleman is conihmed by the

several solicitors. Mr. Giles, after informing the Committee that lie
had known amended sections deposited after the 30th of November
to be received in Parliament, where notice of such emendations had
been given to the landowners, offered to make correct sections at his
own expense, to enable the Committee to apply fer their Bill ; and
Mr. Houghton also offered his personal services, free of eharge, in
the event of their determining to proceed. and the application proving
unsuccessful. Under these circumstances, taking into consideration
the fact that the cross line from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton
formed a very important, and to a certain extent independent por-
tion of the projected railway, and that it was probable, from what
Mr. Giles had stated, that they should be in a position to apply for a
Bill for it in the ensuing session with a reasonable prospect of suc-
cess, the Committee agreed that the solicitors should forthwith take
the opinion of the Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Dyson, Hall, and
Company, as to the course the Committee should pursue; and also
send competent persons to ascertain what sections had really been
deposited. Mr. Giles had stated that he should at once proceed to
make entire new sections of the whole line.
The deliberate written opinion of the Parliamentary agents has
been obtained, to the effect that it was " a very reasonable and
proper ease to bring before the Standing Orders Committee, with a
view of obtaining a decision in favour of the 13111 proceeding." But
information was afterwards received from the parties sent to search
at the offices of the Clerks of the Peace, that the sections of the im-
portant cross line from Stourbridge to Wolvehampton had not been
deposited, that sections of several miles: of the main line had also
not been deposited (despite the decisive statements of Mr. Giles and
Mr. Houghton, the latter of whom delivered out the sections), and
that those which had been lodged were extremely incorrect in detail.

In the altered circumstances of their affairs, the Committee were
at once convinced that their only course was to advise the share-
holders to abandon all thoughts of an application to Parliament for
a Bill in the ensuing session, and to consider what steps should be
taken to protect the shareholders from the consequences of the con-
duct which it has been their painful duty to detail.
With this object, as well as with respect to the fhture operations of
the Company, the Committee have called Mr. Sergeant Allen and
their Parliamentary agents to their aid, and they will most anxiously
and careinlly consider the propriety of taking such steps in reference
to competing lines in the next session as they may be advised.
One course which the Committee propose to adopt, is forthwith to
return to the Proprietors the sums of 21. per share, on such condi-
tions as counsel may deem necessary for the purpose of enabling the
Committee to prosecute the undertaking in the session of 1847,
should it be found expedient to do so.
The liabilities of the Company will be forthwith ascertained and
disc ed ; and the Committee beg to Inform the Shareholders that
eve regard has been paid to economy consistent with the progress
of the scheme ; and further, that no expenditure has taken place
since the 30th of November, saving such as was actually necessary
fur'ascertaining their real position.
The Committee desire to record their unabated confidence In the
intrinsic excellence of the line, and to express their regret that a
scheme, supported by sack an array of noblemen, Members of Par-
liament, landowners, ironmasters, and other gentlemen, whose in-
terests demand its construction, together with a large proprietary of
unexampled respectability, full one-half being local, should have
been frustrated by the circumstances which they have set forth.
They are consoled, however, by the conviction that a railway so im
peratively demanded by the locality, possessing gradients superior to
any other line in the district, accommodating South Staffordshire
and Shropshire in a manner that .no other scheme can do, bringing
the respective places in its course much nearer to each other than
any other project does, and gaining, as it has, so great an amount of
public favour by its undoubted merits, must shortly be carried out.
It now only remains for the Committee to say that they should
fail in fully discharging their duty, if they did not express their per-
fect satisfaction with the conduct of the solicitors and the secretary,
all of whom have paid the most unremitting attention to their re-
spective duties, and have used their utmost exertions to advance the
interests of the Company.
The .report having been read, the following resolutions were
unanimously carried:-
1. That the report now read to the Committee be adopted and
published, at the discretion of the Committee, in the local and daily
newspapers.
2. That the further services of Mr. Francis Giles, as engineer to
this Company, be at once dispensed with.
3. That the Committee of Management take such proceedings
against Mr. Giles, their late engineer, as counsel may advise.
4. That the warmest thanks of the Committee are eminently due
to Richard Heath and Joseph King, Esqs. for remaining in Birming-
ham during the eventful period ending With the 30th of November,
and lending their valuable assistance to secure the deposit of the
plans and sections

WILLIAM COLLINS.
5. That the thanks of the Committee be presented to Mr. Collins,
M.P., for his able and impartial conduct in the chair.
WILLIAM CHANCE.

INTORFOLKRAILWAY.-GOODS TRAFFIC.
The Directors respectfully giye notice to the public that the
goods trains are now running.
The Company undertake to forward all sorts of merchandise,
grain, cattle, Brx., between Yarmouth, Norwich, Attleborough,
Thetford, Brandon, and London.
The classification of goods, and scale of rates, may be had on ap-
plication at the Secretary's office, London, and to the Superintendent
of the Norwich Station. . _

RICHARD TILL, Secretary.

Guildhall-buildings, London

IJEEDS and CARLISLE RAILWAY.
Notice is hereby given, that an amalgamation, on terms
m utually advantageous, having been effected with the YORKSHIRE
and GLASGOW UNION RAILWAY COMPANY, by which an
expensive Parliamentary opposition is obviated, the Shareholders in
the Leeds and Carlisle Railway Company are requested to forward
their scrip to the offices of this Company on or before the 31st of
December, 1845, in order to have it stamped, agreeably to the ar-
rangement entered Into by the Directors.
__ _ _

By order of the Committee of Management,
CHARLES LOCOCK WEBB, Secretary
Gresham-rooms, Basinghall-street, London.

THE OXFORD AND SALISBURY DIRECT
RAILWAY.
Clutamax—Thontas Dowglasse, Esq.
Ettomszi-Is-CntsP—Samuel Charles Breen, Esq.
SeLICITOU—Messrs. Elmslle and Preston, 47, Moorgate-street.
fizcarraair—Z. Hubborsty, Esq.
. .

The Committee of Management have the satisfaction to stnaeuace
that, in oorapliance with the applications and suggestions of several
gentlemen of experience, they have instructed the several bankers
named in their Letters of Allotment to continue to receive the pre-
liminary deposits from this time until the 7th of January next, in
order that those parties to whom Shares in this Company have been
allotted may consult their own convenience by paying the first de-
posit at the present time, or paying the whole deposit on or before
the 7th of January next. _ _ _ _

. ...
ity order of the Beard,
Z. HUBBERSTT, Beeretary.
Meorgat•-chambers, Ifoorgate-street, Dee. 9, 1645.

CITY of TORONTO and LAKE HURON
RAILWAY COMPANY.
The shareholders in the above Company are hereby informed that
the Deed of Settlement is. now ready for signature at the Company's
office, 13, St. Helen'Seplace, Bishopsgate-street, and they are requested
to attend to sign the same, between the hours of Ten and Four
o'clock, on and after Friday, the 19th inst.
By order of the Board,
W. T. SMITH, Secretary.
13, St. Helen's-place, Dec., 1845.

Elegant Pocket Edition, price is., by post Is. 6d.
CULVERW ELL ON MARRIAGE,
its HINDRANCES and OBLIGATIONS.
" To be or not to be, that is the question."—Shakspeare.
Contents :—On Matrimonial Eligibility and Unfitness—Laws of
Paternity—Phenomena of Gestation—On Maternal Influence—On
infelicitous and unproductive Unions—Curiosities of Medical Experi-
ence, Cases, &c. &c.
Also Companion to the same, prise Is., by post ls. 6d.
CHASTITY ; its ABUSES and DISEASES (72 Engravings).
These two interesting little volumes are not intended for idle or in-
discriminate perusal, but they are earnestly offered to the attentive
consideration of those who may be more legitimately and perhaps
painfully interested.
Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row; Carvalho, 147, Fleet-street
Mann, 39, Comhill, and all booksellers, or direct from the Author,
21, Arundel-street, Strand. At home daily till 2 ; Evenings, 7 till 9.

FOURTEENTH EDITION of the SILENT FRIEND on
Frailty, with Coloured Engravings.
Just published, prioe 2s. 6d., free by post (in a scaled envelope) 35.65.,
THE SILENT FRIEND ; a Medical Work on
the Infirmities of the System n both sexes ; and on the loss
of the reproductive powers, with means of restoration. The baneftd
effects of indulge- ce, Sac., are hilly pointed ant. Illustrated by En-
gravings; followed by observations on Marriage.
By It. and L. PERRY and Co., Consulting Surgeons, London.
Published by the Authors, and may be had at their residence
19, EfERNERS-STREET, OXFORD-STREET.
Sold by Strange, 21, Paternoster-row ; Hannay and Co., 63, Ox-
ford-street; Gordon, 146, Leadenhall-street; Purkisa, Compton-
street, Soho; and all Booksellers.
"We regard the work before us, the Silent Friend; as a work
embracing most clear and practical views of a series of complaint,
hitherto little understood, and passed over by a majority of the me-
dical profession, for what reason we are at a loss to know. We must
however confess that a perusal of this work has left such a favourable
impression on cur minds, that we net only recommend, but cordially
wish every one who is the victim of past folly, or suffering from indis
cretion, to profit by the advice contained is its pages. "—Age and Argus.
The CORDIAL BALM of SYRIACITM is exclusively directed
to the cure of nervous debility, irregularity, weakness, loss of ap-
petite, indigestion, consumptive habits, and debilities arising from
excess, Ike. In bottles, price 11s., or the quantity of four in one
bottle for 335., by which 11s. are saved. The five-peund cases may
be bad as usual.

Human

The CONCENTRATED DETERSIVE ESSENCE, a remedy
for searching out and purifying the blood from scurvy, blotches
en the head, face, and body, ulcerations, and those painful
affections arising from improper treatment or the effects of mercury,
removing secondary
symptoms, and all eruptions of the ski'. Price
l le. and 335. per bottle.

FERRY'S PURIFYING SPECIFIC PILLS, price Is. 94., 48- 64. r
and I Is. per box, are the most effectual remedy for strictures,
inflam-
mation, &c., without hindrance to business.
Consultation fee, if by letter, li. Minute detail sf cases neetamary.
Messrs. R. and L. Perry and Co., surgeons, may be eonsulted, as
usual, at 19, Berners-street, Oxford-street, London. daily, as id at
and at 10, St. John-street, Deansgate, Manche der, on Mondays,
Pool, cvery Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ;
106, Duke-s eet, Liver
Tuesdays. and Wednesdays.

Just Published, in a sealed envelope, price 2s. 6d.,
THE TWELFTH EDITION. I
and seat free, on
receipt of a Post-office Order for 3s. 6d.
P 1 op} ar Inquiry
MANLY HEALTH : a into
the Concealed Cause of its Decline, with Instructions
for its Complete Restoration. Addressed to th we suffering from
the destructive consequences of excessive indulgence, terminating in
Mental and Nervous Debility, Local or Constitutional Weakness, In-
digestion, and Consumption. Including a comprehensive Dissertation
on MARRIAGE. Illustrated with Cases, &e By C. J LUCAS
and Co., Consulting Surgeons, London.
CAUTION.—Complaints having reached ns that several persons
1 wishing to purchase our work, entitled "Manly
Health," have had
placed in their hands a fraudulent infringement of our copyright, pro-
r duced by illiterate and dishonourable man, and which, though bearing
a close resemblance of title, is utterly valueless; ye deem it a duty,
by way of protection, to caution the public against being duped :V
such base imitations.
Persons desirous of obtaining the above work, owl not wishing to
apply to a bookseller for the same, may, to insure secrecy, have to
I direct from the Authors, by enclosing 3t. 6 1., or Postage Stamps
I to that amount.
I May be had of the Authors, No. 60, Newman-street, Oxford-street;
adsold by Noble,Brittain 114,1 Chancery-fie; 1
CPhaantecernoter-r7 ; Hannay and Co., 63,
1 Oxford-street;
J. Gorden, 146, Leaden-
hall-street; G. Mansell, 3, King-street, Southwark, London; T.
Sowler, Courier-office, tl,.Eit. Ann's-square, Manchester; W. Howell.
75, Dale-street, Liverpool; W. Wood, 78, Ilishstreet, Birmingl.am;
W. and H. Robinson, 11, Greenside-street,, Ed.inhurgh ; T, Price,
Dame-street, Dublin; and all Booksellers.
" The best of all friends is the professional friend, and in no 41. ape
can he be consulted with greater safety and secresy than in ' Lucas
on Manly Health.'—The New Bell's WeeklyMossenger.
Messrs. Lucas and Co. are to be consulted frogs Ten till Two, and
from Five till Eight in the evening, at their residence, NJ. Emsew-
man-street, Oxford-street, London, and country patients ybe
Successfully treated, on minutely describing their case, and enclosing
Vie tuniA fee Of 11. fbr advice.

STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES and LIVE R-
POOL AND MANCHESTER DIRECT RAILWAY.
Notice is hereby given, that the SUBSCRIBERS' AGREEME NT
and PARLIAMENTARY CONTRACT will LIE for SIGNATUIIE,
from Eleven till Four each day, at the following places:—
London—At the- King's Head, Poultry, on Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday, the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of January, 1846.
Manchester—At the office of Mr. Burdett, solicitor, 6, Marsde n-
street, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 17th and 18th of December
inst., and on Monday, the sth, and Monday and Tuesday, the 19 :h
and 20th of January, 1846.
Edinburgh—At the Royal Hotel, Princes-street, on Monday a 1 id
Tuesday, the 22d and 23d of. December inst.
Glasgow—At the Black Bull Hotel, on Wednesday, the 24th, at id
Friday, the 26th day of December inst."
Liverpool—At the Wellington Hotel, Dale-street, on Tuesday, tl
30th of December inst.
Wigan—At the Eagle and Child, on Wednesday, the 31st of De-
cember Inst.
Preston—At the Victoria Hotel, on Friday, the 2d of January, 1846.
Lancaster—At the King's Arms, on Saturday, the 3d of Januarv,
1846.
Sheffield—At the office of W. H. Aldain; Esq., solicitor, on Mon-
day, the sth of January, 1846.
Leeds—At the Royal Hotel, on Tuesday, the 6th of January, 184 G.
York—At the White Swan, on Wednesday, the 7th of January, 1841; ,
Lincoln—At the Saracen's Head, on Friday, the 9th of January•,
1846.

Gloucester—At the Rams Hotel, on Friday, the 16th of January,
1846.
Birtningharn—At the Hen and Chickens Hotel, on Saturday, the
17th of.Janaary, 1846.
Manchester, 1, Hope-street, Piccadilly, 16th December, 1845.

OYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION,
A Lecture on the PREVALENT DISEASE In POTATOES,
and the Means of extracting the Starch as an Article of Food, will
delivered by Dr. Ryan, daily, at Half-past Three, and on the
Evenings of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at Nine.
Professor Bachoffner's varied Lectures, with experiments, in one
of which he clearly explains the principle of the ATMOSPHERIC
RAILWAY, a model of which is at work Daily. Mr. Downe, the
celebrated Flutist, will perform; at Three 'o'Cloc, on Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays. <';olentit's NEW AAP:RICAN LOCO-
MOTIVE ENGINE, for as ending and descending foclined Planes.
A beautifnl series of DISSOLVING VIEWS. New OPTICAL IN-
STRUMENTS, lie. Experiments with the DIVER and DIVING
BELL, &c &c.
Admission, One Shilling. Schools, Half-price.

Nir R. CARTER'S - M.A MMO TH HORSE.
IL. The colossal Horse, GENERAL WASHINGTON, the pro-
perty of Mr. Carter, the Lion King, has been visited by many thou-
sand persons, including the nobility and gentry, and numerous ladies,
who have declared that he is the most extraordinary horse in the
world. The principal journals have spoken in the highest terms of
this remarkable animal General Washington Is the largest horse in
the world—ho is twenty hands in height, and weighs twenty-five
hundred pounds.
He will be exhibited by Mr. Carter for a short time, previous to
his departure to America., at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, from
Eleven, a.m., till Nine, P.m.—Admission, ls.

rrIHREE HUNDRED FIR S T-RATE
A_ JOURNEYMEN TAILORS WANTED IN MANCHESTER.

The House of Call haying on two recent occasions withdrawn the
workmen from two large and respectable establishments, paying the
highest wages of the town, the principal master tailors of Man.
chester, deeming such proceedings unjustifiable, resolved no longer
to employ any men connected with the House of Call, but to offer
regular employment and the highest wages of the town to steady and
good hands, on application to their respective places of business,
which may be obtained from Messrs. J. S. Stubbs and Son, St. Ann's-
square, Manchester.

BA N 0 F AUSTRALASIA.
Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1535

London Office, 8, Austin-friars, Dec. 13, 1845.

The Court of Directors hereby give notice, that an EXTRA-
ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of PROPRIETORS will be
held at the office of this Corporation as above, on MONDAY, the 12th
day of January next, at One o'Clock precisely, for the purpose of
electing two Directors, in the room of Richard Norman, Esq., and
Bazett David Colvin, Esq., who have resigned, and that the pre-
scribed Half-yearly Meeting will take place on that day.
By order of the Court,
WILLIAM MILLIKEN, Secretary.

(Signed)

THE BEST ENGLISH WATCHES,

A B. SAVORY and SONS, Watchmakers, No.
L 1 9, Cornhill, London, opposite the Bank, request the atten-
tion of purchasers to their stock of London-made PATENT LEVER
WATCHES, which are manufactured by themselves in their own
house. In Silver Cases, with the Detached Escapement and Jew-
elled, the prices are Four Guineas and a Half, Six, and Eight
Guineas each ; or iz Gold Cases, Ten, Twelve, Fourteen, and Six-
teen Guineas each. The very large stock offered for selection in-
cludes every description, enabling a customer to select that which is
more particularly adapted to his own use.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.
(From the Times.)
Notwithstanding the confident impression on the
minds of his partisans—that Lord John Russell has de-
termined to form a Ministry, it remains a matter of
curious speculation in what manner he will be able to
carry out this design—which section of his followers he
will exclude—as it is tolerably clear that his Cabinet
cannot include all the elements of which his party con-
sists. This makes the formation of a Ministry a diffi-
cult and delicate task to him. The example of the last
few days shows how easy and how ruinous is the de-
struction or desertion of a party by its chief. The labour
of years may be undone in an hour ; but the destructive
process sweeps in its train the character and influence of
the leader by whom it is executed. Lord John Russell
is bound to his party by stronger ties than those which
united the Conservatives and the ex-Premier. He is
bound to his little army not only by community of
danger and of fortune, by the success of former,
and the reverses of latter days, but also by old
associations of family and friendship. He, will, there-
fore, tend their interests with a more kindly care and
a more protecting solicitude than Sir Robert exhibited to-
wards those whom he led in evil, and abandoned in
prosperous fortune. The Whig leader will be cautious
not to commit his followers to a dilemma whence they
cannot extricate themselves, except at the cost of their
honour or their stability. But it is not easy to see how
he can fashion a Cabinet in the present position of affairs
without compromisieg his own integrity or theirs. His
recent letter to the electors of London now turns out to
have been less well-timed than it was at, first considered.
Instead of tripping up his rival it has entangled himself.
He has committed himself to a course which was easy
for him as leader of the Opposition, but is very diffi-
cult for him as a Minister. On the benches of the former,
and certain of a minority to support him, he might talk
loudly and vote boldly for the total and unconditional re
peal of the corn-laws. But as head of the Queen's Go-
vernment he is beset with difficulties whichever way he
turns. It will suggest itself to anyone who bears in mind the
opinions of his probable colleagues, that some of the
most influential and distinguished among them would
display the most positive repugnance to a scheme so
sweeping and immediate in its operation as that which
he has recommended. It is beyond the reach of imagi-
nation
to dream of making the corn-laws an open subject I
in the Cabinet. He would, therefore, in the first in-
stance, meet the strongest opposition from many among
his own friends, if he attempted to form a Ministry upon
the basis of instant and unconditional repeal, and would
be compelled to resign all hope of their support, or to
adapt his plans to theirs. In the latter case he would
forfeit his word ; in the former, his power ; in both
cases he would inflict a serious injury on his party ' • in
neither would •he further the cause of which he has
become the tardy, but not the least redoubtable
champion. But suppose that Lord John Russell,
after one whole week's deliberation, declines to un-
dertake the arduous embarrassments of forming a
Cabinet, on whom will that most delicate task devolve ?
In accordance with established forms, her Majesty
would probably send for some other leader of an ante
Peelite party. Perhaps, for the chiefs of the Protec-
tionists. Well, then, suppose Lord Stanley or the Duke
of Richmond intrusted with the composition of a Cabinet.
Would they accept the trust ? They are both bold men,
and they would be strong in the House of Lords ; they
would have a party formidable in numbers, atleast in the
Commons ; but that a Protectionist Ministry should, if
by any miracle formed, continue in existence six con-
secutive weeks, we hold to be a vision of the most
Utopian description. Meanwhile, what becomes of the
hero of the Peeliad ? Imagine for a moment that he
retires into the shades of Tamworth and Opposition ;
that he is succeeded in office by the Whigs ; that they
introduce a—but not a sweeping—Corn Bill. What course
will he take? He will support them in any moderate mea-
sure, not without some sly insinuations at their weakness
and his own generosity, with many long and oracular
sentences about the abstract principles of free trade
and the universal duties of moderation. But if they go
beyond this—if they propose a sweeping measure of in-
stant and unconditional operation—we believe that on
such a contingency he would rise in his place once more
as the " farmer's friend," deprecate intemperate baste,
reproach the " un-English and unfair precipitation with
which Hon. Gentlemen on the other side are hurrying
on a momentous decision," and amid the cheers of the
Commons and the gratitude of the country gentlemen,
quietly step into office once again—to follow his own
plans, and, it might be, to lead his late followers as be-
fore. But if, on the other hand, he made way for a
Protectionist Ministry—a
all, to bleed 'for the sliding-scale—what would be
his cue ? First of all, we believe that he would en-
joy the fun of the thing immensely ; hug himself over
he is so ducal difficulties, and chuckle over Ministerial blunders.
By degrees, tired of placid contemplation,
were alwaysgwhotu s o
seek thoseldn
bysorne
i
o
grave to gratify
irohumourny
for
which
cele-
brated. He would set his honourable
them
mnds b
failures in a strain of such vehement earnestness that
tvhe
er y
wo
rf toenngt h; ath people wouldn
dfancy theywith
be
their
they would wish him in Heaven all the time ; he would
unmask so many of their blunders in his plausible
efforts to defend them, that they would willingly ex•
change his dangerous friendship for open hostility ; and
then, perchance, if they did keep their seats a month
together on the Treasury benches—but we conceive it
superfluous to argue on such an hypothesis. To us he
still seems to have very good cards in his hands. What-
ever be the ultimate phase of events, he must throw away
great opportunities to escape from the possession of power,
if not of office. If he resume his Ministerial functions, he
resumes them under better auspices than when heresigned.
With a Cabinet purged of adverse colleags,itha
conscience purged of pledges and promises, and with
ehcasehbonaorhsreoalses
from;
embarrassing commodity--con-
fidence,of political
expanse
he will be tied to
measuresadheren adherents void
and
no
d iwd of
maximsthathave
to
t
none—pledged to none by implication or by promise.
The country will expect everything, but will have a
right to demand nothing. If, again, he prefer to repose
on the shady benches of the Opposition, he will—he can
—hardly remain idle: He has already broken up two
parties in his life; he may amuse himself with consoli-
dating a third. He will have plenty of elements
whereof to frame it; and experience has furnished bim
with skill enough to make him a dangerous antagonist
to any rival Minister—whether he be Whig or Tory—
Leaguer or Protectionist—Lord John Russell or the
Duke of Richmond.

Basil Montagu, Esq., the Accountant in Bank-
ruptcv, is to retire on a pension, and Mr. Richard Clarke,
the Chancellor's Secretary of Bankrupts, is to succeed him.
The salary is 1,5001. a year.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
CITY, TUESDAY EVENING.
TIMES.—The opinion that the decrease of bullion in
the Bank of England may in great measure be attri-
buted to a recent absorption by the Scotch and Irish
banks, seems to be considered the true one. This, how-
ever, is totally unconnected with the subject of railway
deposits. The Act affecting the Scotch and Irish
bankers came into operation at the beginning of this
month, and the notes which they have in circulation are
more in number than is allowed by its provisions, unless
the excess can be represented by a corresponding
amount of bullion. Under these circumstances they
have, it seems, collected together as much bullion as
possible to keep up their circulation at the existing
amount. As for the notion that gold has flowed out of
the country, that is entirely unfounded. There has, on
the contrary, been an uninterrupted influx for some time.
Some of the companies formed to bid for railway
lines in France have addressed circulars to their sub-
scribers, in which they claim the payment of Is.
on each share, in consequence of the impossibility
of making any profitable employment of the deposits
for the short period during which they hive held them.
This proposition seems to have been received with much
indignation by parties who were led in the first instance
to believe that, if unsuccessful in obtaining the line
contended for, the sums deposited would be repaid
without any deduction whatever. Though the suns
seems a small one, it is not the less a breach of the
original engagement entered into when those projects
were first announced in London; and it is generally under-
stood that, besides the use of the money, some profit
was made by the rate of exchange at which it was re-
mitted. Only the inferior companies, however, it is
probable, will resort to this course; and the parties ;on-
cerned ought not, it is evident, to consent to any s ich
deduction. The shares in all the French companies
being very numerous, in consequence of the small amount
of each ihare, even a 'Charge of Is. would produce a very
considerable sure.

The annexed remarks are from a correspondent whose
direct connexion with railways gives him the best means
of information:—

" You have frequently asked where are the 10 per
cent. deposits on the new railway schemes to come from?
But it appears from :a careful analysis of all the new
railway schemes quoted in the Liverpool market, that
out of 135 only 43 have paid the 10 per cent., even ac-
cording to their own statement ; and several of these, it
is notorious, have not got the deposit paid on near all
their shares ; and 48 have only paid 5 per cent., or
thereabouts. The standing orders of the House of Lords
require, without exception, that 10 per cent. shall be paid,
subscribed for, and deposited in the bank on every new
railway, before the Bill is introduced into their
House. The question arises, will this 10 per cent.
ever be paid ? The probability seems to be it will
not ; for, referring to the same list, you will see many
of these new lines are now at a discount, and others at
such a trifling premium that a call of 5 per cent.
would soon send them to a discount ; added to which, it
is not only the payment of the call that is required,
but a subscription deed with 10 per cent. entered by
the party subscribing as paid up, must be obtained.
Now, who will sign such a deed ? The original sub-
scribers will mostly have sold their shares, and they
will be too glad to get quit of all further liability, and
refuse to do anything. And the purchasers, who are
now the holders of the seep, will they be willing to pay
down an extra 5 per cent., and enter into a deed to pay
all future calls ? They will see that it is not only the
payment of this extra 5 per cent. now, which they can
most likely ill
_afford to pay, but it is also paving the
way for their having heavy calls made upon them after
the Act is passed. Will they not have the prudence at
once to see that the first loss is the least, and refuse to
pay any more money, or enter into fresh liabilities, but have
the concern wound up, the expenses paid, and the ba-
lance returned to them, having learnt by experience
that they have risked too much already, and that it will
be better to get a little back, or even lose all they have
paid, sooner than send good mone3Oto look after bad ?"
A railway company, which seems to find some diffi-
culty in getting in its deposits, has resorted to an ex-
pedient not new in principle, but stronger, according to
appearance, than any that has been tried yet. A circular
is sent to the applicants for shares, not simply telling
them that they are liable, but calling on them to pay a
portion of their deposits on a certain fixed day, or to
give the name of a solicitor who will appear for them
in Chancery. This looks formidable, and the threat has
created no little alarm among those who heedlessly be-
came applicants.

SHOCKING EXPLOSION AT BOL-
TON—NINE LIVES LOST.
BOLTON, TUESDAY.—Yesterday afternoon an explo-
sion of a steam-boiler, attended by a frightful loss of
life, took place at the cotton-mill of Messrs. Bothwell
and Kitts, in this town. The mill in question is an old
mill, to which, in the year 1833, a new end was built,
and about 250 hands were employed on the premises in
the various departments. During; the' dinner-hour
yesterday, it is understood—for at present nearly all is
conjecture—the engineer was preparing to start the en-
gine, for the purpose of the mill working after dinner,
when it was found that the air-pump was out of order.
At a little past one o'clock nearly all the hands were
upon the premises, and every exertion was being made
to get the air-pump in order, the engineer, Mr. Kitts,
and one of the overlookers, assisting at the work, when
one of the boilers—an old one—situate inside the mill
near the engine-house, blew up with a tremendous ex-
plosion. The entire of the new end of the building was
shattered to fragments, falling principally inside, and
burying great part of the persons employed thereabouts,
and in the rooms above in the ruins. The workpeople
in the old part of the mill being completely astounded at
the explosion, and imagining that the building was going
to fall about their ears, rushed to the main staircase, but
these being blocked up with bricks and rubbish, they
tore up the floors and got out at the lower windows.
Many of them were much hurt in their endeavours to
escape, but it is quite preposterous to attempt enumera-
tion or description of their injuries.
Of course the report made by the explosion drew
many people, including the county police, to the spot,
and the good-natured people of the neighbourhood used
their utmost exertions until midnight to extricate the
bodies from the ruinous mass. The entire of the new
end was a heap of rubbish, and the defective boiler was
hurled, torn into an indescribable form, into the yard of
the railway company, on the opposite side of the
mill wall.
Several surgeons, including Mr. Sharpe, of the Dis-
pensary, Messrs. Ferguson, Sampson, and Chadwick,
were speedily on the spot, and many persons were ex-
tricated from the ruins, some of them severely injured,
but we give a list of those found dead in the ruins, and
the others who were taken to the Bolton Dispensary,
where we understand they are doing well.
Mr. Taylor, the Coroner, has summoned a jury for to-
morrow, but it is understood that the examination of
the witnesses will not taken place until Thursday.
The following is a list of the dead and wounded, so far
as is known to the authorities of the police:—
DEAD.
Edward Bothwell, aged 23, nephew of the late owner.
His parents live at Carlisle. He was learning the
business, and was instantly killed in the street adjoining
the mill, by some missile striking him.
Alice Hampson, a young woman, taken dead out of
the ruins.
Peter Greenhalgh, the manager, taken out of the
ruins quite dead.
Priscilla Scholes, taken dead out of the ruins.
Alice Edge, a young woman, taken dead out of the
ruins. •
Thomas Mort, a boy, about seven or eight years of
age. Had taken his brother's dinner, and was warming
himself at the boiler door. His brother Richard was
also much hurt, and was taken to the Dispensary. A
young man, named William Fletcher, was also much
hurt, near the same place ; but it is believed that both
the latter will recover.

PRICE SD.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
THE BROAD AND NARROW GAUGE ENGINES.
—EXPERIMENTS, UNDER THE COMMISSION,
OF THEIR TRACTIVE POWERS.
Yesterday a series of experimental trips took place on
the Great Western, under the direction of the Govern-
ment Commission on the gauges, for the purpose of
testing their tractive power, and of ascertaining the
maximum speed attainable en the broad gauge, as
compared with the narrow. The occasion was one of
considerable scientific interest, and the experiments
having, it is supposed, originated in a sort of challenge
on th part of the advocates of the broad and narrow
gauges, who have been battling so long for the palm of
speed, and the supremacy of space. The idea of testing
the relative powers of the traction and velocity attainable
by the two systems, at alternate periods, on the Great
Western and Birmingham, arose during the inquiry
before the Commissioners on the gauge question, Sir
F. Smith and Professors Barlow and Airey, having
been sedulously employed throughout the recess in
/ taking evidence pro and con. from the principal en-
gineers and promoters of each system, with the view
of either removing or mitigating the evils consequent
on a diversity of gauge, and of ascertaining the
effect of its present want of uniformity at important
points upon the locomotion and commercial relations of
the country. These evils, arising principally out of
damages from transhipment and delay, are not to be un-
derrated in their magnitude and effect, since the delay as
regards both commercial and military emergencies, is
known to be very great, and tantamount to the crossing
of a ferry. The subject assumes still greater importance
when considered in relation to the proceedings in Par-
liament in the ensuing session, when so many lines, both
arterial and lateral, will have to be adjudicated, con-
nected with England, Ireland, and Scotland, completing
the international route of the railway system, whose
usefulness will mainly depend upon its simpleness and
Comprehensiveness as a whole At present the narrow
gauge has connected with it the major amount of the
country's locomotion, the broad gauge being indigenous
to the west, where it was first planned and planted by
Brunel. The general conjecture appears to be that to
the west the broad gauge will be confined, and that
Rugby will be its boundary to the north, thus re-
stricting it entirely to the geography of the
west. The nary ow gauge has at present territorial domi-
nion of 1,667 miles, the broad of 278. The length of
narrow gauge now constructing is 522. The length
of narrow gauge obtained last session was 2,386,
and for broad 455. It has been calculated that the narrow
gauge district embraces a population of 11 millions,
and the broad of three millions, exclusive of the metro-
polis. The question as to how the gauges work com-
mercially is the all-important point, and secondarily
comes the question as to how they work at relative rates
of velocity and speed. Mr. Bidder, one of the cham-
pions of the narrow gauge, asserted before the commis-
sion that the stamina and stout build of the Birmingham
engines on the narrow or 4-foot 81-inch gauge, were
capable of accomplishing as much as the Goliah engines
of the Great Western, running on its great gauge of
7 feet wide. This being disputed by Mr. Brunel and
Mr. Gooch, the commissioners determined on an experi-
ment= crucis, fixing yesterday for their trip on the
Great Western, and deferring for a future day that on
the Birmingham. It being impossible to run on parallel
lines simultaneously, or, in other words, to make a rail-
way race of it, it was resolved that trials of proportionate
loads should be made on the respective lines, and it is
understood that on the result sums of money are staked,
and will undergo mutation from hand to hand. The
route selected by the Great Western was probably on the
best appointed portion of their line ; namely, from Pad-
dington to Didcot, the departure point for Oxford, a dis-
tance of fifty-three miles, consisting principally of sur-
face line, but characterised by considerable curvatures.
The London and Birmingham, it is understood, do not
intend to select their own line, but some portion of the
Manchester and Birmingham.
The first experimental train, consisting of eight car-
riages, six first-class, two second, all six wheels, with 24
passengers, and weighted to a "gross load" with iron to
80 tons, exclusive of the engine and tender, which may
be taken at 26 tons more, and equal to a train of 342
persons, started from the first mile pest beyond Padding-
ton, at six minutes past ten, containing Sir Frederick
Smith, K.C.8., Professor Barlow, Sir John Burgoyne,
K.C.8., Major-General Pasley, inspector-general ;
Captain O'Brien, secretary of the Board of Trade ; Mr.
William Watson, secretary of the gauge commission ;
Mr. Brunel, Mr. Gower, Mr. Charles Saunders, Mr.
Bidder, C.E., Mr. Gooch, C.E., Mr. Windham Harding,
C.E., Mr. Berkley, Mr. Barlow, and several scientific
gentlemen. The engine chosen was the Ixion, with
machinery of immense power. She was driven by Mr.
Brunel and Mr. Gooch, with Mr. Bidder and Mr. Berk-
loy on the platform. As the engine was working itself
into rapid action, so as to accomplish the given distance
in a spell, a slight obstruction occurred after passing the
first mile post, and at tld junction point with the West
London, which crosses, in consequence of a transverse
train being in sight. The breaks had to be applied,
but the time lost was not more than half a minute
ere the steam was up again, and the speed reco-
vered. A perceptible retardation of speed was occa-
sioned by a high wind from the north-west, which of
course beat upon the broad base of the engine and the
breasts of the- after carriages; and this on a glance may
be gathered from the variable velocities indicated in the
tubular collocation below. Another probable cause may
have been the difficulty the huge wheels had in coping
with the curves, more particularly in the case of the car-
riages, which are six- a heeled. Looking, however, at
general results, and the minute observations made, the
speed was remarkable and steady. The maximum on
the first down trip being one mile in one minute and five
seconds; the maximum on the up trip, two miles in
two minutes and sixty-two seconds, or at the rate of
fifty-two miles in one hour five minutes and sixty-two
seconds, with the given amount of tonnage. On arriv-
ing at Didcot the party left the train, and corresponding
weights were placed in the carriages in order to keep up
the fixed tonnage. The return from Didcot was at eight
minutes past twelve. At the second mile from the Pad-
dington station the breaks were put on, and the train
reached the first mile post at one hour and nine
minutes, completing the fifty-two miles in one hour and
forty minutes, or at the rate of fifty-one miles an hour.
The second trip from Paddington to Didcot, with
seventy tons, was accomplished in sixty-four minutes,
and up, with wind in its favour, in fifty-five minutes.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, DEC,. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Boston, Newark, and
Sheffield, par-Chester and Birkenhead, 444-Derby and
Crewe, 134 p.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, 66%-Grand Junc-
tion, 233-Ditto, Quarter Shares, 83 p.-Ditto, New Quarter
Shares, 32 p.-Ditto, 401. Shares (L.M.), 52 p.-Goole
and Doncaster, par-Manchester, Midland, and Great Grims-
by, 2s. 6d. p.-Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland, par-
Midland, 140-North Union (A), 208-Ditto (B), 143-
North Staffordshire, 2% p.-Oxford and Birmingham Junc-
tion, 1% p.-West Riding Union, 3% p.-Whitehaven and
Furness, 10s. dis.-Dutch Rhenish, 2 p.
MANCHESTER, DEC. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Blackburn, Darwen,
and Bolton, 7-Cambridge and Lincoln, 3%-Edinburgh and
Glasgow, Halves, 12 4-Grand Union, 235. 9d.-Huddersfield
and Manchester Railway and Canal, 6-Lancashire and North
Yorkshire, 445. 6d.-Leeds and Thirsk, 934-Liverpool and
Bury, 211,12 c.-Manchester and Birmingham, 70-Man-
chester and Leeds, Fifths, 11%- Manchester, Sheffield, and
Midland, 4%-North Staffordshire, 955. 9d.-North Union
(A), 207-Sheffield and Manchester, Quarters, No. 3,5%-
South Midland, 925.-Trent Valley Continuation and Holy-
head, 2-West Riding Union, 51. 17s.
SHEFFIELD, tow. 16.
STOCK EXCITANGE.-The sales are-South Eastern, 34%
-Leeds and Dewsbury, 17-London and York, 3%-
Sheffield and Lincolnshire, 3L 35.-South Midland, 4%-
Wakefield and Harrogate, 11. 12s.
BRISTOL, DEc. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Manchester and
Southampton, 214-Midland, New, 25%-Wilts, Somerset,
and Weymouth,
LEEDS, DEC. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Great North of Eng-
land, 12 p.-Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 10/. 3s. 6d.
p.-Leeds and Thirsk, OA-Newcastle and Berwick, 10%-
Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, 31 a. n.-Cambridge and
Lincoln, 3X-West Riding Union, 51/2-Lantashire and
North Yorkshire, 2s. 6d. dis.-Leeds and York, 7s. 6d. dis.-
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 81s. p.-North
Western, 21,1x-Wakefield and Bradford, 12s. 6d. dis.-Wake-
field and Harrogate, 2HUs. 6dLL p,
DWelsh Midlands, 17i.
. 16.
STOCK ExcitANGE.-ahe transactions in our money-mar-
ket continue very limited, and until a new and strong Mi-
nistry is formed, which may indicate what is to be the result
of the great political questions now agitating the country, no
great improvement can take place, although persons are san-
guine that, under all ordinary circumstances, shares have
seen their lowest. As regards the new lines, it is hoped that
the present political crisis, by affording time for reflection,
will induce their promoters to examine well the plans, sec-
tions, finances, &c., and weigh well how far, as honest men,
they are justified in proceeding to Parliament. Where they are
not fully satisfied with their position, they would act the part
of honourable men, and immediately withdraw from prosecut-
ing their schemes, and return as early as possible such por-
tion of the deposits as may not have been expended. Out of
the quantity of notices given of new lines, a great majority
cannot at present have any ground to even suglpoorstehthßreyitclah,n
succeed. The sales are-Matlocks, 1%
22-Ditto, Carlisle, 2 -Ditto, Dalkeith, 0.1.-Hull and Selby,
p.-Boston, :Newark, and
100-Leicester and Bedford, ss.
Sheffield, 2/. Ils. 9d.
YORK, Dec. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-York and North Mid-
-Newcastle and Berwick, 11:10
land. Extension, 25% -Newcastle
British, New Carlisle Branch, 1 js-London and York 3i-
Grand Union, 11. 65.-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and
Midland, 3:A.
GLASGOW, DEC. 15.
STOCK EXCIIANGE.-The sales are-British and Irish
Union, 608.-Caledonian Extension, 50-Caledonian and
Ayrshire Junction, 355.-Caledonian and Dumbartonshire
'Junction, 455.-Dundee and Forfar Junction, 605.-East
Indian Railway, 175.-Glasgow Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 66/.-
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 425. 6d.-Glasgow, Kilmar-
nock, and Ardrossan, 535.-Perth and Inverness, 375. 6d.-
Renfrew and Ayr, 245.-Scottish Central, 131.-South Mid-
land,

SECESSIONS TO Rome.—Mr. Stokes, a distinguished
member of Cambridge University, and late secretary of the
Camden Society, was received into the Roman Catholic
Church on Sunday last, at St. Chads, Birmingham, in the
presence of a very large congregation. The number of re-
cent converts to the Church of Rome now exceeds 70, of
whom more than 30 are clergymen of the Establishment.