The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-03 00:00:00

AILWAY IMPROVEMENTS.

We had yesterday an opportunity of witnessing some
expeaiments, conducted at the New-cross station of the
Dover Railway, before Mr. Cubitt and several other
gentlemen of scientific celebrity, with the intention of
testing the value and action of an apparatus invented by
M. Felix de Witte, of Brussels, in order to ease and
smooth down the shocks and jars experienced at the
starting and stopping of railway trains. M. de Witte
was present himself, accompanied by two friends, and
the operations were conducted under his immediate
superintendence.
Without wishing to say anything in any degree harsh
of the invention, it is but truth to state that the trial of
yesterday was a failure—that is to say, that the appa-
ratus, in two suceessive experiments, broke. This, how-
ever, the inventor contends by no means derogates from
the soundness of the principle of the instru:nent ; the
failure having, he says, been occasioned solely by mbar of
iron not having been constructed of sufficient thickness.
By Mr. Cubitt's permission, the experiments 'will be re-
newed in a few days. Another apparatus will be con-
structed at New Cross, under M. De Witte's eye, and
until it has been tried again, it would not be fair abso-
lutely to condemn it. We must say, however, that the
general opinion of the scientific men present on Thurs-
day was against the machine, both as to its construc-
tion and its capability of being practically useful.
The purpose of M. De Witte's apparatus we have de-
scribed to be that of softening down the' incidental
shocks and jars which a railway train is always liable
to. Spring buffers have been the means hitherto in use,
in order (comparatively) to attain this desirable consum-
mation. M. De Witte proposes to do away altogether
with the buffers, and substitute his own apparatus in
their stead. It appears simple enough, being constructed
of bars of iron joined together 'by means of joints or
hinges acting horizontally and vertically, and which
joints or hinges are intended to yield as pressure is
applied, thus counteracting the shock of carriages
bumping against each other when a train starts or
stops. The apparatus is, of course, attached be-
tween every two carriages, forming the connect-
ing link by which the vehicles are fastened
to each other, as well as the ageicy which is in-
tended to communicate a smoothness of motion to the
whole. In both the experiments tried, a comparatively
slight shock snapped the main bolt of iron asunder; the
joints yielded to a certain degree, but then the leverage
which fell upon the iron proved too much for it, and it
straightway broke off like a carrot.
As, however, the experiment is to be again renewed,
we shall not at present offer any decided opinion on the
feasibility of working M. De Witte's invention, content-
ing ourselves with recording its comparative failure as
far as it has yet been tried, and the unfavourable opinion
of those best able to form a judgment.
A new lamp was also exhibited at New-cross station
yesterday, which seems calculated to be very useful in
railways. It is a portable self-applying gas lamp. The
gas is produced from naptha of tar, and burns with a
most clear brilliant light, having none of the dimness,
and requiring none of the trimming or tending of ordi-
nary oil lamps. It was exhibited by Mr. Piper, iron-
monger, Shoreditch, and was generally approved of as
I an excellent light to be exhibited by trains.

SOUTH SEA HOUSE.

- _
Yesterday a Quarterly General Court of the Propri-
etors of South Sea Stock was held at the Company's
house, for the purpose of declaring a dividend.; Charles
Franks, Esq., the Sub-governor, in the chair.
The minutes of the last court having been read and
confirmed,
'lhe CHAIRMAN acquainted the court that it had been
convened for the purpose of declaring a half-yearly
dividend on the Company's stock. He had to state that
the guarantee fund was now completed, and the amount
had been invested in Government securities, but had not
yet been transferred into the name of the Company.
Their proceedings, therefore, with reference to the
dividend, would be the same as they had hitherto been,
and the accounts would be read, as they had formerly
been.
The accounts were then read by the Secretary, from
which it appeared that the sum required from Govern-
ment to make up the usual dividend of the Company was
5,2421. 2s. lid.
The CHAIRMAN, after a brief explanation of the pre-
sent state of the Company's funds, moved that a dividend
of one-and-three-quarters per cent. be declared on the
Company's stock, and that the warrants be payable on
the same. day as the Government securities, which was
carried.
Mr. JONES inquired whether it was intended that there
should be a distribution among the Proprietors of the
surplus funds of the Company, or was it intended to carry
on its affairs as hitherto.
The CHAIIaIAN, to the last question, replied in the
affirmative ; the Directors had no power to dissolve the
Company, even. if they should deem it for the advantage
of the Proprietors. which they did not.
Mr. POYNDER then moved a resolution to the fallowing
effect:—" That no further aura be allowed by the Pro-
prietors for the management of .the affairs of the Com-
pany than that allowed by the Government—namely,
3001. a year for each million of the Company's stock.
After some discussion, Mr. JoNns moved the following:
—" That a special Court of Proprietors be summoned