The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-03 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

Whatever truth there may be in the report of ad-
vances made by the Bank of England on railway
, debentures, or to whatever extent those advances
may have een carried, for there is nothing certainly
known on the subject, it has had the effect of giving a
new stimulus to all dealings in property of that
description. As a banking operation it is hardly ne-
cessary to observe that such advances are not of the
strictly legitimate kind, since on the occurrence of a
general pressure for money it would be impossible to
dispose of any large amount in them ; but as an aid
to the railway undertakings now in progress, it comes
very seasonably, and will insure the completion of
some which, without it, might have failed entirely.
The present abundance of unemployed capital,
which is likely to extend all over Europe, cannot but
be most beneficial in this point of view. Among the
incidents of the week, as regards foreign countries,
may be mentioned an interesting debate on the French
railway system which took place in the Chamber of
Deputies on Thursday, wherein it appeared to be the
opinion, that private enterprise should be allowed to
take off the weight of the responsibility which by the
proposed system would attach to the Government.
To give support and encouragement to such under-
, takings, it was admitted, on all hands, was most
seasonable, in order that France might compete
in an improvement of the age so manifestly advan-
tageous to large commercial communities ; but that
any Government should sanction the application of
funds to a national system of railways was deemed
highly prejudicial and embarrassing to the other
many and pressing demands upon its financial
resources. The good result which had followed the
construction of railways in England and Belgium
by private enterprise was pointed out, to show that
without Government interference in the laying out
of a general project, capitalists would be ready
to take up the idea energetically, and carry it
into execution at a profit, only requiring from
the Board of Public Works regulations to
prevent 'rivalry and the instructions necessary for
public safety. The debate on this subject, which
appears likely to be prolonged for several days,
concluded with an animated speech from one of the
Deputies, M. Berryer, who regarded the question
involved in the articles of the Report as most mo-
mentous to the country. While regarding the
project in the light of financial power, as well as its
importance connected with political and general
matters, it was necessary not to lose sight of the
point where Government ought to commence opera-
tions. Although it was true that the advances which

it was proposed should be made by the Bureau
would weigh much on the public purse, the impera-
tive necessity which existed, and which was admit-
ted by all parties, for the construction of railways,
made such a consideration of mere secondary im-
portance, and brought him to the great point to
which he Wished to draw the notice of the Cham-
ber. It nevertheless was his wish that first expenses
should be limited to the execution of those lines of
the most essential service to the country, and the
resources of which would enable them to complete
the succeeding ones. Looking at this in a defensive
point of view, he suggested that care should be taken
not to allow France to lose her admirable position be-
tween the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the
Rhine ; and seeing that Belgian enterprise had already
set on foot a railroad from Antwerp to the Rhine, and
that Austria was carrying her railways even to the
Mediterranean, the north-east appeared to him to be
the quarter which claimed first and immediate at-
tention. On the other hand, regarding the question
in a commercial point of view, France had already
suffered in this respect from the competition of
other nations, although the system of railways ge-
nerally was at present imperfect. In the sea-ports
of the south they had felt the decrease of their
commerce, and the more they delayed, the greater
the decrease would be. It was this consideration
that suggested to his mind the next extension of the
general line from north to south, so that communica-
tion might be had .with the British Channel before
it was united with the Belgian frontier. If this were
not the case, France would be the receptable for the
imports of Ostend and Antwerp, while her own ports
would be wholly neglected. Irom all that has trans
pired in the Deputies, relative to the national project
for the construction of railways in France, there can
scarcely be a doubt of the undertakings being com •
menced with spirit immediately the articles have
passed, which is exceedingly probable, considering
the large majority in their favour. The progress of
England in these undertakings, and the good divi-
dends yielded, in most instances, from such invest-

r,

ments of capital, have evidently created in our Gallic
neighbours a zeal for competition and advancement.
The Directors of one of our English Companies,
the South-Eastern and Dover line, are watching
with some degree of anxiety the adoption of the
project for the extension of the railway system
throughout France, and should either of the proposed
adjuncts of the one general line have a branch
or termination at Calais, they will no doubt have a
great increase in profit from the traffic which would
result from this close approximation of two leading
points. Hence it was that the topic was referred to
at the meetiug on Thursday with satisfaction, under
the hope of raising among the shareholders ex-
pectations of an additional access of income when
the line is in active operation. This Company have
found it necessary to appear before the public for a
further supply of capital, to the amount of 700,0001.,
to finish the undertaking, which is to be raised by
the issue of 28,000 shares at 251. each, with certain
advantages attached. These, from the feeling ex-
hibited at the meeting, we should say will be readily
taken up, as the shareholders seem to have great
faith in the ability and management of the directors,
notwithstanding the first estimates have been ex-
ceeded. The railway is to be opened to Tonbridge
next month.

Another meeting of the Liverpool and Manchester
lines, on the subject of a general junction, has been
held this week, and from what then transpired there
appears to be every prospect of this desirable end
being accomplished.
A correspondent has forwarded some statistics on
railways which give a comprehensive view of the pro-
gress of the system all over the world.
England, he says, possesses 29 principal railrOads,
and 108 branches. Amongst these there are only
30 railroads of 5 to 7 miles in length, the average
length of the others being from 30 to 40 miles. The
Great Western is 140 miles long, and the Birming-
ham 130 miles. There are several other undertakings
from 70 to 90 miles in length. It is calculated that
during the present year the money received by the
various railway companies in England for passenger
traffic on their lines will amount to little less than
1,500,000/. The total length of rrilways in England
is estimated at 2,336 miles, which cost on an average
12,0001. per mile. The Manchester and Liverpool
cost 27,0001.
In France there are at present sixteen railroads,
the most important of which is that between Basle
and Strasburg, and the Paris and Orleans line. The
railway that cost the most for construction is the line
from Paris to St. Gerinain, which, in consequence of
the value of the ground, &c., required an expenditure
of 17,0001. per mile, and the one which conveys the
most passengers is that between Paris and Versailles,
which has carried 40,000 persons in one day.
In the United States there are 5,000 miles of rail-
way, the State of New York alone possessing 800
miles alreptly completed, the principal line of which is
that from New York to Erie, which is 350 miles king.
In Germany twenty lines of railway are completed;
the most important line is that from Vienna to
Beckma, which is 140 miles in length. There are
also several other great lines constructing, viz., from.
Berlin •to Hamburgh, Frankfort-on-the-Oder to
Stettin, and from Magdeburg to Cologne. When these
are completed, the Prussian and German Confedera-
tion Wilt posSess 3,900 miles of railway.
Austria is forming five principal lines—from Vienne
to the frontier of Poland, to Lintz, Hungary, Trieste,
Milan, and Venice.
Russia is constructing railroads. from -St. Peters—
burgh to Varsora,' Odessa, and • Moscow, and from.
Moscow to Varsora and Odessa.
13elgium his six railroads the principal line is
from Ostend to Aix-Xa-Chapelle.., -
The Milan and Marza railway sties opened in 1840,
.and the line between Naples and Nocera, is now
completed.

It
is not one of the least features in the progress of
railways abroad to notice the favourable manner in
which a project called the " Imperial Brazilian
Railway Company" is making way in Rio Janeiro
on native capital. This undertaking has before been
alluded to, and the last letters by the Magnet packet
from the directors speak in the most sanguine terms
of ultiniate success. There it no doubt takes with
the public now chiefly perhaps for its novelty, but
when brought into operation, it will, from its very
locality, which is right through the planting districts
down to the port for shipment, give something more
substantial to the shareholders. The Government, it
is said, continues favourable to the scheme, and does
not despair of the further extension of the system in
the Brazils.

ALURIMR IN FRANCE..
The Court of Assizes was occupied two days in
,he last week with a case of murder, of which we
gave a short account at the time. We think it ne-
cessary, however, to state the circumstances more
fully, as they have just been proved in evidence. In
the night of the 19th of September last, between
eleven and twelve o'clock, the attention of some per-
sons passing along the Rue d'Areole, was attracted to
the ruins of some houses, which had been pulled
down to make the opening into the Rue Constantine,
by feeble cries of distress, and, searching the place,
a man was found lying without his coat, who, on
their speaking to him, declared that he had been as.
sassinated. lie was irnmediaiely carried to the Hotel
Dieu, where it was discovered that he had five severe
wounds, from one of which, in the abdomen, the
bowels were protruded. He was in a desperate state,
but lived two days, during which he had the use of
his speech. Questioned by the Magistrates, he gave
his name as Charles Thaveny, a printer, of the Rue
Gracieuse, and stated that on entering the Rue d'Ar.
cole, he was attacked by one or more persons, who
wounded him, arid from whom he fled, taking off his
coat to expedite his pace. lie did not say that he
had been robbed, and, indeed, there were found in his
pocket a napoleon and several pieces of silver. He
never gave any indication of his having any know-
ledge or conception of the persons who had made the
attack. After his death it was discovered that the ac-
count this person had given of himself was fallacious,
that his real name was Charles Augustus Pachoux ;
that he was thirty-three years of age; that on coming
to his majority he inherited a property of 40,000 f.,
all of which he dissipated in twelve months ; and,
during the succeeding years, had been nine times
under sentence for robberies, and other crimes and
offences, and was under the surveillance of the police.
It was subsequently ascertained that Pachoux lived on
terms of close intimacy with a Spaniard named
Salcedo, a journeyman hair-dresser, whose reputation
was not much better than his own, that they lodged
together in the same room, and were seen together at
ten o'clock in the evening of September 19, drinking
at a public-house in the Rue de l'Arbre Sec, in com-
pany with some loose women. Salcedo, however,
was able to exculpate himself from all participation in
the murder, and was discharged. In the course of
his examination, he stated that he left Pachoux at the
public-house with a young man, about seventeen
years of age, who came there to join him, 'but who
was unknown to Salcedo. After some time suspicion
fell upon a person named Dutertre, confined in the
prison of La Force, on a charge of robbery, and who
had been previously condemned for similar, offences.
On being interrogated, he denied all knowledge of
, Pachoux, and attempted to set up an alibi ; but as
this was immediately disproved he told the following
tale admitted-being in company with Pachoux
and Salcedo on the evening in question, and added
that they all three left the public-house together, that
he wished to leave them, but knowing he had money
about him, they both set upon him, and Pachoux held
him by the throat while Salcedo rifled him of 60f.
They then ran off, followed by him, towards the
Place du Chatelet, near which he found them 'di-
viding his money—that in his rage he drew his knife
and attacked them, giving Pachoux a wound in the
back, and, as he believed, striking Salcedo in the
thigh—that he then returned to the spot where they
had seized and robbed him, in the hope of finding
some of the money scattered on the ground in the
struggle, but finding none, he took up the
coat of Pachoux, which he found there, and '
put it on, and returned home to a girl named Duron,
with whom he lived, in the Rue Percee. This girl,
however, was interrogated, and gave accounts which
materially contradicted the statements of Dutertre,
and confirmed all the suspicious circumstances against
him, particularly stating that he came home in a coat
much too long and too wide for him, and which ap-
peared like a disguise. This woman, in her depo-
sitions, inculpated another man, named Collin, who,
the said, accompanied Dutertre to the Place du Cha-
telet, and afterwards assisted him in conducting Pa.
choux, each taking an arm, to the Rue d'Arcole,
where they threw him on the rubbish where he was
found. Upon this testimony Collin was included in
the indictment against Dutertre for the murder. The
witnesses were very numerous, their evidence was
very long, entirely circumstantial, and in • some in-
stances contradictory, but the Avocat-General ex-
pressed his conviction that the guilt of both the pri-
soners was fully established, and called upon the jury
to deliver a verdict accordingly. They retired at
five o'clock on Saturday, and after an hour's delibera-
ration returned, declaring Dutertre guilty, and ac •
quitting Collin. Dutertre was sentenced to hard
labour at the hulks for life, with exposure on the
pillory. Collin was discharged. Dutertre, when
removed back to the prison, was in a violent state of
exasperation against what he called the injustice of
his condemnation.—French Paper.

SUFFOLK STREET GALLERY.—The second ma.
versazione of the season took place on Saturday, at these
elegant rooms. The company was more numerous than we
have seen it for some time, and as we had occasion to natio*,
when referring to the first conversazione, everything was of the
most recherche order, and went off with considerable eclat.
We cannot but regret., however, that the lectures, which used
to form ;so great an attraction in the preceding seasons, have
not been renewed.

The porcelain manufactory cf Plombieres has just
been destroyed by fire, says the Patriots des Vosges. The 10S,
ie enntiatwahit, as thas A.—

bPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
PROM THE EVENINO PAPERS or YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—Each of the three Conservative journals
of this morning devotes a leading article to Mr. Roe-
buck's motion, which was negatived on Friday last,
for a tax on the reduction of incomes derived from pro-
fessions or trades. Though we cannot impute a want
of harmony to the Premier's organs, their agreement
is unfortunately on the wrong side ; for they all
concur in condemning or regretting the conduct of
the Minister. The Post is the most reserved in its
expressions on the subject alluded to ; but, if it is not
strong in its animadversions, it is at least faint in its
praise, and founds its cold approbation of Sir Robert
Peel's course upon " the great sagacity " of
the man, rather than on the intrinsic merit
of his measure. It attempts to satisfy any
doubt of the soundness of his Income-tax policy
by observing that the Minister himself of course
knows best—a phrase which is usually applied when
it is seen that an individual is obstinately resolved on
a course which appears to be particularly injudicious.
The Herald, in a bold spirit of prophecy, undertakes
to say what Sir Robert Peel will do two years hence.
Though it is a difficult matter to calculate on any-
thing so uncertain as the Right Honourable Baronet's
future- acts or opinions, we are disposed to put faith
-for once in our Contemporary's prediction. " Sir R.
Peel," we are told, " will two years hence regret
the opposition he gave on Friday night to Mr.
Roebuck's proposed amendment of Schedule D ;" and
we think it very likely that such will be the case.
We need hardly say that if there is probable ground
for the future lamentations of the Premier in the re-
jection of the proposition made by the Hon. Member
for Bath, there must be in the same event some cause
for congratulation among the friends of Liberal Go-
vernment. Perhaps the most efficient enemies of in-
justice are those who suffer it to be felt in its fullest
force ; and it is probable that to apply the process of
tinkering to the black measure of the Income-
tax would only tend to prolong its existence,
.as well as to ward off the odium that will de-
servedly attach to the party that has resolved on im-
p osing it. "Rough justice" may be very well in its
ay ; but when millions are about to be wronged,
the partial exemption of a few from the contem-
plated injury adds greatly to the injustice done to
the many. We agree with the Times, that "if we
are to draw a line of exemption in the wrong place,
it will continually become a question whether it
w suld not have been even more just to leave it un-
drawn altogether." The whole plan of the Income-
tax is so oppressive, that it may be pronounced "past
mending" even at the present early stage of its ex-
istence. It is a piece of legislation which, like an
inferior article, will never be worth the trouble and
expense of repairs, but it had better be left in its
original state for the public to discover its worse than
svoithle sness.
STANDARD.—The proceedings at the extraordi-
sits ry sitting of the House on Saturday will, we are
s tt:e, go far to justify to our readers the attention we
,ave given to the progress of the Southampton Elec-
t ion Committee. From these proceedings it is mini-
-, est that the Committee has been acting illegally,
though in perfect innocence of designed illegality;
and that the law is at present in a very defective state
as regards the administration of justice by such
tribUnals. All who, with ourselves, are anxious
to put an end to the practice of corruption,
must regret this, and earnestly desire to see
the Committee armed with effective legal power,
and to see them cordially supported in the exer-
,cise of such power. This is the proper course for
putting an end to the evil, though it may not be the
popular one at the moment. The House of Commons,
always impressed with the truth of the maxim laid
down b 7 law writers, that to " define power is to
limit it,' has uniformly preferred the exercise of an ar-
bitrary authority to the exercise of power borrowed
from the law ; and though the consequence of this poor
jealousy has been to leave the House with less power
than for the common good it ought to have, there appears
tobe a strong disposition still to adhere to its indul-
gence. Undefined power is, however, tyranny, and
the tyranny of a collective body is always less tole-
rable than the tyranny of individuals. There have
been illustrations enough of this truth in the history
of the House of Commons, even within the last half
century ; but the cases have been generally insulated
and casual, so as to leave less impression of danger to
public liberty than a constant exercise of arbitrary
power must necessarily produce ; but when the House
is entrusted with judicial functions there is manifest
reason for fear, should it allow its arbitrary temper
to extend to the exercise of these functions.
Courts of justice must be bound by strict, inva-
riable, and well-known rules, or they cease to be
suited to a free people. If rules are to be proclaimed
at the will of an individual, or of an assembly like the
House of Commons, they will be neither strict nor
invariable, nor well known ; they will be loosely in-
terpreted, often departed from in obedience to the
feeling of the day, and, when inconvenient, " a breath
unmakes them as a breath has made." In a word, if
this country is to remain free, the House of Commons
must either abandon its judicial functions alto-
gether—which would be, perhaps, the wiser and
better course—or submit to allow the exercise of these
functions to be strictly defined and regulated by law.