The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-26 00:00:00

PARTIAL OPENING OF THE GLASGOW AND

AYRSHIRE RAILWAY.

(From the Ayr Observer.)
The private opening of the southern portion of this rail-
way—connecting Ayr and Irvine—took place on Friday last.
A number of the directors, and a party of friends were con-
veyed in the steam-carriages along the line, in a style which
promises well for the future prosperity of the undertaking—
certainly one of the greatest, and likely to be the most bene-
ficial ever attempted in connection with this section of the
country. Through the medium of our own and other
journals, the public have, from time to time, been made
aware of the progress of this railway, and it must be grati-
fying to every one interested in its success—and who is not ?
—to know that the work is approaching so rapidly towards
completion. Though some time ago announced that the
line so far as Irvine, was expected to be ready early in
August, few, we believe, were inclined to give credit to the
statement—thinking such expedition somewhat beyond the
bounds of credibility. It is, therefore, the more satisfactory
to witness the pledge not only redeemed, but considerably
anticipated. As mentioned in our last, one line of rail be-
twixt this town and Irvine was completed some days ago.
while the other is in rapid progress ; and we have no doubt
that by the first of August, when the public opening is to take
place, the arrangements will be so far perfected as to admit
of uninterrupted communication in future between the two
burghs and the intermediate localities.
At the meeting Mr. 'Watson said, that when Mr. Miller
promised to open this portion of the line in twelve months,
they thought it impossible, and were inclined to believe that
this year would turn out like some other engineers' years,
which were sometimes found to consist of 730 in place of
365 days. Backed, however, by the contractors, he had
kept his promise and given them the best guarantee they
could wish that the whole line would be opened by this time
twelve months. He believed the contractors on this portion
of the line had proceeded with a rapidity almost unparalleled
in railway-making. He was glad to find that some of those
who had finished their work there were now engaged on the
other parts of the railway, and that the whole of those en.
gaged were most respectable individuals.
In reply to a question regarding the truth of a paragraph
which had gone the round of the newspapers, somewhat in-
jurious to the company, regarding a " bottomlessi meadow,"
Mr. Miller replied that a report had also prevailed of lire
eels having been found in the solid rocks. He believed there
was as much truth in the one as in the other. (Laughter.)

MR. R. S. SOWLER AND MR. JEREMIAH
GARNETT.
Dear Sowler,—With only one comment, (and that I think
necessary, to explain your application to Mr. Garnett in pre-
ference to his colleague,) I forward you an account of all
the facts, with which I am personally acquainted, arising out
of the attack made upon you in the Guardian of to-day.
You are at perfect liberty to snake what use you like of it.—
Very faithfully yours, CHARLES WILKINS.
Trafford Vue, Wednesday, July 24th, 1839.
R. Scarr Sowler, Esq.
On Wednesday morning, at eleven o'clock, having occasion
to call at Mr. Sowler's, in St. Ann's-square, I found my
friend, Mr. Robert Scarr Sowler, very much excited, in con-
sequence, as he informed me, of an article which had ap-
peared that morning in the Guardian newspaper. He placed
the paper in my hands, and requested me to read the offensive
paragraph ; having done so, in reply to his enquiries as to
what line of conduct should be adopted by him in vindication
of himself, 1 stated at once that the laws of society were
peremptory, that, upon ascertaining who was responsible
for the article, prompt demand must be made of recantation,
or of the satisfaction by which, in the present state of
society, wounded honour can alone be healed. Mr. R.
Sowler, immediately acceded to my views, and wrote the
following note, at my suggestion, to Mr. Jeremiah Garnett,
for, after Mr. J. E. Taylor's declarations, on a former oc-
casion, relative to a similar attack upon Mr. Crossley, any
appeal to him, as it appeared to me, would have savoured
of pusillanimity.
St Ann's Square, July 24th, 1839.
Sir,—The Editor of the Courier, in the Manchester
Guardian of this day, is charged with " trying to escape
the consequences of a base unfounded attack upon his inno-
cent and youthful sovereign, by a crawling and cowardly lie.' '
I wish, before taking conclusive steps upon this statement,
to be informed whether you hold yourself responsible for the
article in which the above charge upon the Editor of the
Courier appears. This will be delivered to you by my friend
Mr. Wilkins, who will wait your reply.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
R. SCARR SOWLER,
Editor of the Courier.
Jeremiah Garnett, Esq.
I found Mr. Garnett at the Exchange, and delivered to him Mr.
R. Sowler's note. Having read it, he stated that he had written
the article himself. I then said, there remains now but for
me to request that you will name some friend to meet me,
preparatory to some final arrangement of this matter. Mr. •
Garnett replied, " I do not think I shall," and began to re-
criminate upon the Editor of the Courier. I replied, Mr.
Garnett, my duty is merely ministerial ; I cannot enter into
any controversy ; I merely wish to know whether .you will
name any friend or not. Mr. G. then inquired my address,
and upon being furnished with it, stated that he would write
me his intentions. Accordingly, a little after one o'clock, I
received the following letter from him :
Guardian Office, July 24, 1839, one o'clock, p.m.
Sir,—ln reference to the communication put into my
hands by you this morning, I beg to say that the editor of
the Manchester Courier, (whether Mr. R. S. Sowler or
not, of which I do not pretend to know anything,) has by his
own scurrilous, offensive, and personal attacks upon me and
my partner, forfeited all right to complain of any remarks
that may be made upon his conduct ; and I decline to notice
any communications purporting to proceed from him.—l
have the honour to be, sir, your most obedt. servt.,
JER. GARNETT.
Charles Wilkins. Esq., Town Hall Buildings,
The foregoing narrative is substantially correct.

' *VI

C. Wuxi:vs.

When Mr. Wilkins read Mr. Jeremiah Garnett's note to
me, I at once perceived that it was utterly vain to expect
either honourable or manly treatment at his hands. It was
plain, from the tone and style of his note, that whilst he was
mean enough to cast a foul aspersion on my character, he
had not the inanly grace and courage either to retract it, or
avow himself ready to take the consequences. In effect, he
declared himself to be uninfluenced and uncontrolled by the
rules of genteel society, and under these circumstances, my
only course was to fix public disgrace upon him. Accord-
ingly, I provided myself with a hand-whip, and went twice
on Change with the intention of applying it to his person,
and publicly denouncing him as a coward and slanderer. For
some time my search was fruitless, but at length, about
half after two o'clock, I observed him walking along the east
side of St. Ann's-square. I immediately crossed the square,_
and met him face to face, nearly opposite Messrs. Peacock
and Pilling's shop. Addressing myself to him, I said—
" You are Mr. Jeremiah Garnett, I presume." He replied,
" I am." Raising my voice, I rejoined—" Then, Sir, you
are a mean coward and slanderer ; ' and I then PUBLICLY
HORSEWHIPPED HIM.

These appeared to me to be the only measures by which I
could effectually vindicate my honour and loyalty against the
aspersions of Mr. Jeremiah Garnett. If there should appear
to be anything unseemly or unusual in my mode of proceed-
ing, let it be attributed to its real source—the cowardice of
my assailant. And above all, let it be remembered, that in
the first instance I was prepared to maintain both my honour
as a man and my loyalty as a subject, at the risk of my life.
On these grounds, I think I have some right to expect that
I shall stand excused by the community in which I have the
honour and privilege to live.
R. SCAILR SOWLER-
Wednesday night, July 24th, 1539.