The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-17 00:00:00

GREAT NORTH ROAD.

A collision of conflicting interests is about to
take place regarding proposed improvements o❑
the Great North Road betwixt Edinburgh and

Perth. A meeting of all interested, and, in
. .

particular, ",the public bodies in the North of
Scotland," is called to take place at the Royal

Exchange, Edinburgh, on Tuesday next, when
the survey will be submitted, and " the best
means of carrying the improvements into effect
considered." As this road will be the means of
bringing Perth nearer to the metropolis by about
five miles, as well as of improving the state of
the high-way which leads to it, we conceive it to
be highly worthy the notice of our readers in
this quarter, and interesting to the North of
Scotland generally.
Instead of the devious and uneven track by
which we proceed to Edinburgh, either by
Queensferry or Burntisland, the survey exhibits
nearly a straight line from both. The principal
improvement is proposed to be in that part of
the country lying between Glenfarg Inn and the
Inn at Cowdenbeath, where the junction of the
Burntisland and Queensferry roads takes place.
From that point the proposed new line runs by
a gentle curve to Lochend, where the river Leven
leaves the loch of that name, at its east end, and
thence in an almost straight line, on the west
side of the West Lomond, by Kinneswood, Bal-
gedie, West Gospetrie, passing Balvaird Castle
on the right, towards Glenfarg Inn. The length
of the new road will be 134 miles, 11- of which
is_already made and turnpike, while the distance
between the same two points by the present road
is 164. There will be no acclivity exceeding
one foot in 26, and this only at one or two
places for a short distance, being a saving of
three miles, in addition to the advantage of
avoiding all the rough and steep places, between
Kinross and Glenfarg.
The proprietors through whose estates the
proposed line runs, are, as might be supposed,
warmly supporting the undertaking, knowing
that it must increase the value of their property,
and, we understand, have signified their intention
to give the ground the road will require gratis. 'The
expense is therefore estimated not to exceed 6001.
per mile, so that the whole improvement may be
effected for about 80001. ; and the projectors ex-
press their opinion that the revenue derived from
the increased resort to the collieries and lime-

works through which the line passes would be so
great, " as would of itself be sufficient to pay the
interest of the money, and to maintain the road."
This is perhaps too sanguine. The remaining
part of the improvement is a projected line from
the point where the present road from Burnt-
island passes the west end of Dunearn hill above
that town, running in nearly a straight course,
and communicating with the line above described
at or near Lochgelly, about a mile north-east of
Cowdenbeath Inn, by which many of the steep
hills upon the existing line would be avoided,
and the road shortened by a mile and a half.
The most strenuous opponent of the proposed
measure is the Lord Chief Commissioner Adam,
through whose estates the existing line passes—
and it is not to be wondered that his neighbours
in that district and the town of Kinross should
join in opposition to it. All their influence will
be combined to prevent the alteration, and as a
set off, his Lordship urges an improvement which
neither alters the line nor shortens the distance,
but merely improves the difficult and dangerous
declivities between Damhead and Milnathort.
This is estimated to cost about 4000/., an ex-
pence wkich that party would eagerly embrace
the opportunity of laying out, as that of itself
would greatly increase the means of delaying the
'execution of any new project such as that pro-
posed. The projectors of a new and expensive
inn begun to be built at Kinross, among whom
; several individuals of influence ars understood to
be included, also support the opposition.—
• Perth Courier.

ANTELOPE SHOOTING.

The best time to shoot them is about da

break, when they they browse as if half asleep ;
or in the middle of the day, when they seem ,
unwilling to quit their shade or basking spot.
Our dress of drab assisted us in our approaches ;
but we had to lay many a half-hour behind stones
or tufts of grass, waiting for the move that would
give us the few yards we wanted. A man should
never show himself after his first shot, as the
antelopes, when alarmed by it, run wildly a few
paces, and then stop to look about. I have
killed with my second barrel, when I had missed
with my first, and more than once have killed
right and left. Young sportsmen fire too soon,
become irritated and nervous, and their anxiety
ensures their ill success. One shot within sixty
is better than ten at a hundred yards : for if the
antelope is not struck through the head, neck,
or loins, or has not two legs broken—unless the
sportsman's horse and dogs be near, it usually
escapes. A man must learn the sound his ball
makes in striking, for though antelopes some-
times drop off the gun, they often take a wound
without showing it. Their tenacity of life and
power of endurance are wonderful. I once fired
at a doe moving away, and as she continued
her route, my companion, whose eyes had been
fixed on her cried " You've missed." We fol-
lowed her into the long grass, and found her
dying ; but she had gone two hundred yards,
though the ball had traversed her from the haunch
to the chest. When we were pitched amongst
the ruins of Baugnagur, I fired from behind a
pillar of the noble scrai in which we had stabled
our horses, and struck a buck. I had to follow
it, and lost it in the grass. An antelope started
from beneath the rock, I ascended to look out,
and shot it. It proved to be my buck, through
whom the first ball had passed within two inches
of its heart. We were puzzled to account for a
kind of coat which was on a ball we cut from its
thigh ; it was thick and tough as a piece of
parchment, but glutinous : some thought it was
leather, in which the ball had been wrapped that
had undergone this change, while others con-
jectured that it proceeded altogether from some
provision of nature to secure the animal from
the irritating effect of the ball, which purpose,
however it came there, it effectually answered. I
have lost many
wounded antelopes, even when
inounted,Month/q Waffazine.

MIDDLETON, LANCASHIRE.--On Saturday
last, about noon, this place was visited by heavy showers
of rain, accompanied by bursts of loud thunder, Pre-
vious to the last and loudest explosion, the electric fluid
struck a pile of chimneys belonging to some cottages, one
of which it entered, and ins'iantaneously penetrating the
floor, gave a loud report just above an infant which was
aslep, in a cradle. A young woman sitting near had her
cheek slightly scorched, but no person was italttred. On
examination it was found that the lightning had struck a
Died at Swansf,?a, JQSEPH SEWELL, COM- weaver's steel reed, many parts of which were melted
monly called the Lincolnshire Giant. The deceased was like lead. The lightning was perceived to separate into two
seven feet four inches high, and weighed 37 stone, or streams, one of which struck the chimneys, and the other
siBibsior SEvexu.'s dress required five yards of broad- entered the front door of a house oopsite, passing out at
cloth his
coat, five yards 'of cloth and lining for his the back door, and within half a yard of the good woman;
waistcoat, seven yards of patent cord for his trowsers; his who was busy baking, without doing her any injury.
shoes were 14- inches long, and 6 inches wide. Whilst r•,,
alive and exhibiting in public, he was accompanied by a ne Jamaica Courant of the Ist inst. says,
" That an attempt will, ere long, be made to destroy the
dwarf, who weighed only 681 b.
Colonial Legislaturi;ls there can be no doubt; and the sue,
ANTIQUITIES..—The remains of ancient cess of thin attempt is sanguinely anticipated by the Colonial
roman buildings are so numerous at Bavai, in the de; faction." It then alludes to some reinar:tis made by a
partment of the north of France, that the inhabitants London Journal, and goes on to state, "the property of the
who want building materials have only to dig some depth West Indies has been deteriorated to one-third its value.
in the fields or gardens to find great quantities of stone Estates which were sold at 16 years' purchase can new
ready cut, and fit for immediate use. —Literary Gazette. hardly be sold at live