The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-30 00:00:00

COURT OF PASSAGE-SATuRDAT.

(Before CHARLES CROMPTON, Esq., Assignee.)
ROBERTS AND ANOTHER V. WYLIE.
Mr. Mansell appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Murphy
for the defendant.
The plaintiffs, in this case, are the widow of Mr-Roberts,
whn formerly kept a small public-house, and rented a wind-
mill near the bottom of Islington, since carried on by the
widow and another person, as executors of the late Mr.
Roberts, against Mr. Pringle Southern Wylie, the master of
a vessel in the African trade, for a debt of £2OO incurred
by hies during a loug period, tot a score at the public-house.
It appeared that the defendant first went to the house of
Mr. Roberts in July, 1832, and boarded there about lour
months, when he went to sea; was absent about eight months,
aid again returned, and lived about the same period at the
house of Mr. Roberts again. Ile then was absent about
eight mouths at Jersey, and again returned, keeping up these
domiciliary and intermitting visite, till March 1838. The
whole of the charges for this long board had been unpaid,
girt} were scored up behind the kitchen door ; and the chalk-
ing, is process of time, covered both the bar and kitchen
door. It appeared that this long credit had been probably
allowed on account of the defendant, after his first visit,
having paid his addresses to Miss Roberts; and had kept up
the cunnexion till May of the present year, when he got mat--
tit dto another person. It was attempted to prove, that these
ling visits were properly visits, and ought nut to be, and were
not unders.nod to be, charged.
Miss Ellen Roberts was examined, and deposed to the
'ftriuus stays of the defendant at her father's house, and that
he paid his addresses to her. Her father never knew that
the defendant came there as her accepted lover; nor was her
mother aware of it either. Her father rented a neighbouring
Windmill, as well as kept the public-house, on which he had
laid out ,£7OO. The score chalked up on the door amounted,
she won:d think, to from £l6O to £2OO. There were eight
"coot children all dependent upon her father's exertions.
Me defendant, on one occasion, paid her mother £25, and
*Ma trek a towel and wiped out the long score behind the
dint, lad said it would be all right.
Crleetzarnined.—She made another engagement, and the
defendant bearing of it, posted horn Jersey, and obtained an
ittereieir with het ; and promised her, if she would give up
her other suitor, he would settle the interest of £5OOO upon
her, whirl he expected to obtain at his mother's death. The
defeadant had since got married iu the early part of the
;trews* year. She had gone to the defendant's hotel when he
arrived in Liverpool with his wife, and upbraided him in a
tones where his wife arid other ladies were present. She
never said she would take vengeance on him for her disap-
pointment. She did not show him in the hotel any rings he
bad given her; she showed him a broach.
Thomas Roberts, the brother of the.lest witness, deposed to
the defendant stopping at his father's house and getting his
meaie there for various long periods. and to his mother Ire-
seemly lending him motley, and also frequently asking him
for payment.
Cross-examined.—Has not Mr. Wylie brought in joints
of meat to be dressed for dinner ?—He has brought in a few
shrimps now and then. (Laughter.)
But ao meat?—No meat; he has brought people in to dine
wish very often.
Stephen Dempsey, joiner, deposed that he knew the de-
fendant to he living at Mr Roberts'e. He had known him
get four meals a day there fluting long periods. He had
hreakfusted with him, and hid himself gone to fetch hint six
eggs for his breakfait. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. XIMPHT—A good suitor. ( Loud laughter.) lie lived
there satirely. He bad heard Mrs. Roberts ask him for
M• used to borrow-monev from Mrs_ Roberts.
aiigibeth Glever,..servant at the public-house, deposed
that'sli had frequently heard her mistress ask the defeedaet
far mosey fee his board and washing. The defendant one
dav teak a cloth and wiped the score off from the two minors,
Mr! said if he saw it there any longer it would drive him mad,
sad that he was going home amid would settle it all. He
had paid her mistress £25.
This was the plaintiff's case.
Mr. MURPHY, fur the defence, said he should be able to
prove that his client having come into the possession of pro-
perty, and baring the ability and the willingness to pay what
was owing by him, in May fast asked Mrs. Roberts what was
Swing to her, and was told by her that £2O. would cover all,
and that he gave her £25. Two thousand years ago the chief
Female vice had been said to be revenge, and that, it was his
_Keller, had instituted this action ; that Miss Roberts having
kern disappointed of a matrimonial alliance had got up by
means of her friends, this demand, out of revenge. And so
far was this feeling carried that the defendant on his revisit-
hie Liverpool, immediately after his marriage, was called
upon by Miss Roberts and violently upbraided in the pre-
sence of his wife, and next day he was arrested fur this alleged
debt, without having been served with any particulars of
demand. He called
Mr. Benjamin Southern, who deposed, that he was cousin
to the defendaut, and went with hint in May last to Mrs.
netterts's house and saw his cousin send off his luggage, end
he:lard hint ask what was to pay, and Mrs. Roberts said that
£2O. would cover all. Upon which Mr. Wylie gave her
£25. and they parted very friendly. Mr. Wylie had at the
time ;shwa £3OOO. on his person. This was before he was
Married.
. Other witnesses were called to prove that the defendant
had not been the period at the plaintiff's house, which it was
*Wed he had, and that therefore the bill of particulars was
*that.
Mt, MANSFIELD, in reply, contended that the payment of
25, was a payment fur spirits and only a payment in part.
The A ebeSette summed up at considerable length, going
b•er the Whole of the evidence. The Jury expressed a wish
to retire, and atter an absence of ab mut seven hours returned
with tl ierdict fOr the defendant. The trial occupied from
one o'clock till five, and the Jury did not return with their
verdict till ten o'clock.
There was another case by Mrs. Roberts against the sante
defendant, for debt for board and washing and money lent
since the death of Mr. Roberts. The debt was £lOO. Simi-
far evidence was gone into to prove the debt, and the Jury
'3'4ld for the plaintiff, damages £25. This was tried by
- •Itmther Jury.
are Court broke up at ten o'clock.

>v,,•• The George Washington made Holyhead in 17 days from
eb York, was telegraphed on Friday afternoon, and news
pi later arrival sent to Bristol the seine day. 'the Great West-
.,
t.P:Tronld take out the intelligence of the packet's arrival off
‘l7writsoul, and it may be expected to reach New York in
tt4sla after Ore George Washington's sailing hum
"ti3Utckyl

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE REV. DR. TATTERSHALL.

MY DEA a SlR,—Allow me to address a few words publicly
to you, as the chairman of our late anniversary meeting of
the Liverpool Protestant Association.
You are aware that, ever since I carne to Liverpool, I have
been assailed by the unfounded assertions and unscrupulous
abuse of what is very erroneously called the liberal press ;
and that I have uniformly allowed such attacks, though easy
of refutation, to pass without continent. Meantime, my
exercise of that liberty of conscience and liberty of speech,
which are the birthright of Englishmen, has continued to
excite the wrath of these writers, who are loud in their praises
of liberty so long as it is all on one side—that is, so lung as
they have liberty to do and say as they like, and no one else
takes the liberty of doing and saying as he likes. But when
the exercise of liberty becomes mutual, and a bad cause is
wade to feel the inconvenience of free discussion, then these
eulogists of a one-edged freedom are converted into railers—
angry, personal, abusive, and (in my case at least) false
railers—against the sharpness of the other edge. They can-
not let me alone.

I find that during my absence at Hereford and Wolver-
hampton, at each of which places I have been for a few days,
much has been said both in the public prints referred to, and
in private, o❑ the subject of the occurrence which I men-
tioned at the conclusion of my speech on the 4th instant.
The accuracy of my statement has been arraigned in no
measured terms: evidence purporting to overthrow it has
been adduced on the authority of certain residents in Fisher-
street, who, it seems, cannot sign their own names; and
because I have not taken any notice of these attacks, a joy-
ful readiness to fasten a charge of falsehood upon me has
been manifested.

In private I am always ready to give courteous explana-
tion to every enquirer, whether rich or poor. With respect
to the public prints, I may well continue to hold myself ex-
cused from noticing the appeals of anonymous writers who,
having, to their own credunius and complacent satisfaction,
proved me to be a liar, and having, to the utmost of their
moderate ability, held me op as such to public odium, then
call upon me as a clergyman, a Christian, and a gentleman,
to plead at their bar. Ido refuse to lend my name and time
to forward the views of such paragraph writers, whose trade
it is to write paragraphs, and whose chief object—to wit, an
increase of the sale of their papers—is greatly promoted by
any respectable person taking notice of what they say.
But that no man whose good opinion is worth having may
misunderstand this, and to meet the wishes of some of my,
friends expressed in private, 1 trouble you with this letter.
Satisfied from my own observation, that a system of petty
but grevious intimidation ; petty in appearance when it
comes to be made the subject of a public statement, but very
grevious in itself to the poor people who have no ready re-
dress when suffering under it; a system long practised, and
with disastrous success by the subjects of the court of Ronne
resident in Ireland, is now in operation in this town. Con-
vinced, after repeated inquiries, that there is neither personal
liberty, nor, indeed, safety, to any poor Roman Catholic, who
dares to exercise his right of private judgment by renounc-
ing his false creed; but that, on the contrary, he inevitably
incurs exclusion from employment, followed by personal
insults, nafficted in the presence of those only who are ready
to swear that no such insult. was ever given : and feeling
strongly for the hardships so incurred, and silently endured
by some, as well as the tyranv exercised over others, through
the apprehensions of such hardships, should they dare even
to make inquiries upon the subject of spiritual religion, I
determined to bring the matter before the public, in the hope
that the noise occasioned by it, and the consciousness that
public attention was called to the subject, might, at least,
diminish the evil, and procure for my poor neighbours, not the
name only, but the reality of liberty,
The case of Stephenson's wife was selected, nut because it
was peculiar, but because it was recent, and had been point-
edly brought before me. I was not satisfied with her oral
statement, but had it committed to writing; after it few days
she was put to the test of repeating it. This she did, varying
in language sufficiently to show, that her statement had not
been committed to memory, but not varying at all in sub-
stance. This, sir, is a happiness which neither madness nor
falsehood can hit upon. But I was not content with even
this, I went to her husband, and put tine subject before him
in the way of cross-examination. to detect, if it existed, any
disagreement between his account of it, and his wife's. There
was no disayreement.
I did not seek for evidence pro or con, from their neigh-
bours, who were themselves the guilty parties, but on the
evidence now described I made the s:atement at the Pro-
testant meeting.
For this, a new, and I cannot say a wholly unexpected
attack. has been made upon me. It is assumed by my
assailants, without a shadow of proof, that Mrs. Stephenson's
account to me was false, and that Mrs. M`Onvell's account to
some one else (it does not appear to whom) was true. In
order that a just estimate may be formed of the accuracy of
Mrs. M'Onvell's statements, I must transcribe her testimony
as given to some unknown inquirer, and published in the
Mercury.
"Catherine M'Onvel.—" I live next door to where Ste-
phenson lived. I recollect, a lady and gentleman coming to
Stephenson's cellar on Wednesday last, (the aid inst.) They
remained there about half an hour. On Thursday morning
Mrs. Stephenson came to my house and said, ' Did you know
we had quality visiting us yesterday?' I said, Who had
you?' and she said His Reverence.' I asked who his •
Reverence was. She said, ' Mr. APNcile, belonging to
Jude's Church.' I said, What fetched M'Neile to see Your
husband ?"Incleed,' said she, • I had to tell him he was
sick.' I said Oh,' and was about to leave her, when she
said, I have not told you all. A lady was with burn; and
what do you think she did on leaving the cellar? She
reached her hand behind her, and gave me a five shilling piece;
and who in the street but would take it?' She said the
female was a Mrs. Johnson. lam confident that Stephenson
had not been sick, neither was he silt/eying from any injury •
which he had received at the quarrel."
(Signed) CATHERINE APONVEL,
her mark.
Such is her statement. But what is the fact ? The fact is
that on the Wednesday when I went to Stephenson's house,
his wife was not at home. I did not see her at all, neither
did the lady who accompanied me. The witness brought
forward by the Mercury says that Mrs. Stephenson had to
tell us that her husband was ill. The fact is she was not at
home. The witness says the lady gave blre. Stephenson live
shillings on the occasion. The fact is the lady did not see
het at ail. We found the man himself, with only a little
boy, in his cellar, and he told me the same which had been
some days before taken down in writing from his wife's lips,
and which on the day following I read in the Amphitheatre.
I am confident that the statement so taken down and read
was perfectly true. It did not pretend to say how the dis-
agreement first began. On the contrary, it conveyed dis-
tinctly that a state of hostility against Stephenson's wife had
existed at least for weeks Refine.

Our accusers are compelled to admit that an affray took place
on the day in question, but in order to change its character,
they allege that it originated in the mischief of a little boy.
This may or may not be true. It is alleged on the authority
,f some of the accused. Judging by one of the witnesses
whose testimony I know to he false, I would of course incline
to doubt it. But whether it be true or false, it does not affect
the accuracy of lily statement, for however the affair may
have commenced, the facts which I stated as having occurred
did occur. They have not been disproved, and cannot be
disproved. Every one knows how, when a state of irritation
exists, small matters which would otherwise be overlooked
are made excuses for quarrelling, and how expert those who
quarrel are to conceal the real cause of their animosity, by
pleading some proximate and ostensible provocation. The
real cause of this, and of multitudes of similar quarrels is the
systematic tyranny of the Papal system, which uses, as it
ever has done, blows instead of arguments, wherever blows
can be inflicted without a counterbalancing danger to the
interests of their church. In England this requires manage-
ment and adroitness. Such management mainly consists in
what is expressively called picking a quarrel upon some ap-
parently accidental or indifferent circumstances, and then
(having supplied themselves with that excuse fur English
law) proceeding con amore to do the work of the " Inquisitors
of heretical pravitv."
And now sir, a word to my newspaper assailants, whose
standing topic of gross vituperation is a charge of desecrating
my pulpit with political harangues. I challenge one and all
of them to produce one single instance since I came to Liverpool,
of. one sentence 01 party politics uttered in my pulpit. THEY
CANNOT Do IT, and yet they will continue to reiterate the
charge, entitling themselves full well to such treatment as
neither you nor I, sir, can condescend to inflict upon them,
but which I do not despair to see inflicted in the way that
they will feel it most, by every respectable Protestant of every
party who now takes their papers.
Politics supply the excuse, their real cause of animosity
against me is the pungency of my exposures of Popery, and
the power (which they can't answer) of my arguments
against infidelity. It has pleased God so to bless my minis-
try in the town, that the enemies of the Gospel are "mad
against me." Be it so. The friends of the Gospel are my
friends, and thanks to our Gracious God, their number is en-
creasing around us every day.
I am, toy dear sir,
Very faithfully yours,
IltiGll APNEILE.
St. Jude's, 29th October, 1838.

P.s.—Do you suppose that the editors in question, the par-
excellence defenders of liberty and fair play, will honestly
and without garbling, print this letter?

INCREASE OF CHURCH ACCOMMODATION.

The Churchwardens of St. Jude's Church have issued the
following circular to the members of the congregation, calling
upon them to imitate the noble example of their affectionate
pastor, and provide church accommodation for those who
are living in a state of spiritual destitution. We hope that
this eminent minister of Jesus Christ will receive every en-
couragement in this laborirof love.

Liverpool, 24th October, 1838.
Sir —We beg to hand you the annexed copy of a letter
from 'Mr. M'Neile, and to request the favour of your attend-
ance at a meeting of the congregation at the School-room,
under the Church, on Monday morning next, at half-past
nine o'clock, for the purpose of considering the proposal of
our beloved Pastor, and we trust his wish will meet with a
response which will mark our sense of the privileges we enjoy.
WILLIAM JONES,
JAM ES LAUGHTON,
Churchwardens.
TO THE CONGREGATION or ST. JUDE'S CHURCH,
IIVERPOOL.
My dear Friends and Brethren,—We are intrusted with
the Gospel, the glorious Gospel of the ~race of God : to em-
brace it, to enjoy it, to adorn it, to propagate it. Many thou-
sands of our fellow-townsoo never hear it. They are be-
yond our reach, beyond the reach of all the Christian minis-
ters and congregations in the town. They have no oppor-
tunity, uo church room, even if they were willing to seek it,
and they are oat ut ally un willing. They must be sought; and
there is no one to seek them.

I have brought this subject before you. I have explained
its causes, and urged its claims. One late occasion, encoura-
ged by your affectionate confidence, I proposed that as a con•
gregation (but not or course to the exclusion of any of our
friends) we should build a church, and by so touch diminish
the

The object of this paper is to bring this proposal practically
before you. That we should build a church somewhat simi-
lar to our own, St. Jude's; not quite so large, not nearly so
expensive • but under the management in detail of the same
trustees.Also,—That our contributions should be all free do-
nations; looking for nothing in return but the happiness of
seeing another thousand or fourteen hundred of our fellow-
towasinea enjoying %%hat we enjoy in time and for eternity
—the happiness of ministerin, of our substance in furtherance
of the cause for which Christ died.

There are difficulties i❑ the way of every good work in this
fallen world. But be not deterred. External difficulties
vanish like summer clouds before the rising sun of a resolute
mind. It is a lingering reluctance within that avails itself of
the cry, "There is a lion in the street." Be resolved. Sup.
ply the funds. And the deterring mountain connected with
site, patronage, &c., will become a plain.
To the poor among you, I would say, do thy diligence
gladly to give of thy little. To the rich, I would say, leave
our pourer friends but little to give.
1 am, always, my dear Brethren,
Your faithful servant for Christ's sake,
HUGH 11`NEILE.
St. Jude's, Oct., 1838.

coNTutuuTtoss.
Rev. Hugh WNeile ...

.. £lOO.

In consequene4 of this letter from the Churchwardens, a
meeting was held yesterday morning. The weather was un-
favourable, but those who attended contributed above Two
Thousand Pounds in the room.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST,INDiIRD.

Slit,—From the ready manner with which my last com-
munication was complied with, I am induced to trouble you
again, iu the hope that. I shall meet with a similar favor.—
The proprietors of the Great Western Railway have been al-
most worn out with assertions and reports prejudicial to that
undertaking, upon the imbecility and want of talent exhibited
both in the Directory and gargineer. For my own part, I
have never given credit to them, knowing the cause why they
are circulated. As a proprietor, I look with extreme regret
at the conduct pursued by Mr. Huyes (and that "gentleman
with whom he had the honour to act") at the two last meet-
ings held in Bristol; and I have no hesitation iu saying, that
in my opinion, they carry their interference too far, and that
the language made use of by Mr. Hayes, to degrade and in-
sult the directors and Mr. Brunel, was perfectly uncalled for,
and unbecoming a gentleman. The government of the Great
Western Railway could not possibly be placed in the hands
of any body of men, of higher standing in society for honour
and integrity, than those who hold the helm at the present
moment; and what better security could the proprietors have
for the accomplishment of the great work without either fraud
or jobbing ? It is, therefore, that I admit sonic little credit
is due to Mr. Hayes for his candour in argument, as ha plainly
shows, and declares his object to be, the superseding of Mr.
Brunel, by some Scotch engineer: and, acting with a strong
power, he fancies, that it is the duty of both engineer and
directors, at his command and decree, to become subject, and
obey. To say the least of Mr. Noyes, it is palpable, that
he is a bold, ambitious, and aspiring man : but who, or what
he is, I know not; but this I know, that he shall never make
me subservient either to his caprice or designs. I confess
that I was considerably surprised, and not a little disgusted
with Mr. Heyworth, because he is a man who pretends by
precept to give instruction on moral and political philosophy--a
man who protests against persecution in all its forms; and yet
he condescends to lose himself, by inveighing in the bitterest
wanner against Mr. Brunel, under the smoothest language,
and aids in obliging that individual to abandon those designs,
which in his conscience he believes to be true; and upon
which be stakes his reputation, that the best interest of the
proprietors is to be protected. What else can this be called
but an act of persecution, and not one iota less than that
which Galileo of old suffered from the bigots of that day. It
may be said that the distinction of principle adopted on the
Great Western may admit of this rancorous piuceeding, but
though that may he urged ostensibly as an argument, yet I
do not believe the question to be one of economy or expense,
but who is to become the first railway engineer in the king-
dom. Shall it be Brunel ? I say yes, if the directors awl a
majority of the proprietors stand to his support like men.
He is no doubt, in the mind of every thinking man, designed
to arrive at that climax. Messrs. Hoses and Co may say
that they are acting for a general good ; but before 1 can
place implicit faith upon their assertions, let me see what
mischief has been done. Have they shown it? Will they
show it ? I think not, for although the consideration of Mr.
Brunel's report occupied their attention for upwards of six
weeks, yet they could not sustain one single objection. Mr.
Heyworth did attempt something like entering into par-
ticulars, but displayed (as a Grand Junction director) such a
want of knowledge, that they may he called, with propriety,
nothing but assertions; and, when he arrived at that point,
whereia he attempts to prove that a locomotive engine will
travel up a gradient of ten feet per mile with as little diffi-
culty and expense as up one of tour feet, he must have ap-
peared perfectly ridiculous. (Allow me to refer him to a re-
port drawn up by Locke. and Vignotes some time ago, upon
a North Manchester line, and he will learn something to his
advantage noun gradients and inclined planes, and resistive
power.) Notwithstanding these assertions were made, it is
believed, more writs a disposition to hint, than to substantiate,
how did Mr. Brunel reply ? Why with the temper of a Fe-
nelon, and in the most satisfactory manner, he explained
away every objection that had been advanced ; and still not
without letting Mr. Heyworth know, that he could appreciate
the spring of action, and the desire of affecting the worst feel-
ings of the proprietary towards himself and the plans adopted
on the Great Western Railway. But truth is powerful, and
will prevail. The Great Western Directory have given the
proprietors an estimate of every section of the line, a thing
which no other railway directors have ever complied with, and
yet Messrs. Noyes and Co. (without showing fixed data,
that it will cost anything like the London and Birmingham
Railway) rant about the flights of Mr. Brunel's imaginative
mind, prowling upon their capital. Now it is admitted by a
great number of individuals, including many of the most
scientific, that the seven-foot guage and longitudinal timber
bearings, are developing that desideratum so long wished for,
viz., economy, safety, speed, and comfort. As regards
economy and safety, let it be borne in mind that the Great
Western Railway is to cost £4,750,000 for 1171 miles of
railway, commencing in London, and touching on its route,
the towns of Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead, Reading, Sciv-
enham, Wootton Bassett, Chippenham, and Bath, and ter-
minating in Bristol; and that it is proved, without a doubt,
that the maintenance of the road can be (and is) contracted
for at the rate of £6 per.week per mile. And it is also proved,
that the locomotive engines have run nearly six months with-
out a single axle having broken, or a single run off the road,
having taken place. This proves that the engines upon the
Great Western Railway are as superior in tbeir working parts
to those used in the London and Birmingham, and Grand
Junction, as a good English lever watch is fur keeping time,
to a Geneva skeleton. And why is this? Because the works
in both the former, have a greater freedom given to them,
than those of the latter. Perhaps Mr. Heyworth will give,
at some of the future meetings, a short lecture upon the loco-
motive engine, and on the watch, showing this not to be the
case ; although he cannot deity, that in six months, twenty-
live locomotive engines broke their axles on the Grand Junc-
tion line : and not unfrequently do the public hear of similar
incidents at the present time upon all the railways of 4ft.
guage. Professor Babbage states, that he had examined
twelve railways for the purposeof disabusing the public mind,
and the result of his experience was, that the Great Western
stood second for comfort and ease, and probably, when he
stated that, he was doing the Great Western an injustice, for
when lie travelled upon it, it was at the rate of Arty miles
per hour. In speaking of comfort, it may be said with safett,
that there is no comparison between the Great Western and
the other great lines in operation. You are not stowed like
pigs in the second-class roaches, and of the first class it may
he said, that the directors and engineer have calculated upon
the conveyance of the most respectable part of the cam-
triunity, for the most fashionably dressed lady may travel to
Windsor, or any other part of the line, without putting out
of form any part of her attire. Indepearient of this. the po-
lice and porters are much better managed than with the
Grand Junction or. Lotulon and Birmingham. Justice de-
mands, and I think Mr. Noyes (and those with whom he has
the honour to act) should show, that the 40. 81in. guage does
answer better than the 7-foot, or otherwise he should hold his
tongue. It don't follow as a matter of course, that because
the Grand Junction can pay a dividend of twelve or fifteen
per cent. per annum, it must be formed upon the best possible
principle; and the onus rests with Mr. Hayes to show that
five, six, or sevens feet had been adopted, the result would not
have been so good, but would have been ruinous. Without
this, he has no grounds for attacking Mr. Brunel, for expe-
rience is proving, that if the Great Western principle had
been adopted upon the Grand Junction line, the result would
have been better than it is. There is every reason for sup-
posing this, from the well known tact, that the Liverpool and
Manchester Railway has taken from fifty to sixty per cent.
upon the gross income to pay every incidental charge : that
of the Grand Junction is unknown from the refusal of the
directors (Mr. Heyworth is one) to publish a detail of their
expenditure with the report. Neither the London and Bir-
mingham, nor the Grand Junction can travel at a greater
average speed per hour than twenty-five miles, (1 don't saV
this is nut enough,) without jeopardising the lives of the pas-
sengers and the merchandize traffic. It has been found ne-
cessary, to satisfy Messrs. Floyes and Co., to employ an en-
gineer of the name of Hawkshawe, (to report with N. Wood
upon the Great Western,) of whom I cannot speak, not know-
ing anything fur or against him, with the exception, that he
has counteracted by his report, which is already known in
par', the proceedings of Mr. Brunel upon the Great Western
Railway. Although I cannot say what the result may be,
upon the two reports to be submitted for consideration in De-
cember next, yet 1 do think it will be a vain effort to try to
subvert the principles upon which Mr. Brunel and the di-
rectors have commenced and acted upon, and which it is to
be hoped, the proprietors will sanction as their onward course.
However, a dispassionate cousideratiou should be given to
the subject, that the directors may nut be paralyzed in their
exertions, as heretofore. Mr. Babbage states it as his opinion,
that little or no saving would accrue, by taking up the road,
and relaying it upon the 4f. 81in. guage, as suggested by Mr.
Hawkshawe; and every unprejudiced person who has seen
the line will agree with him. I may here remark, that the
guage of 7 feet will take up very little more room (say about
2 feet) than the 4ft. 81in., for the two inside rails of the four
lines on the Western, are placed closer than they are upon
the Liverpool and Manchester; whilst in the letter, all four
lines are at nearly equal distances. There is every reason for
supposing the wide gunge to be more advantageous in every
respect, for it is well known by every engineer's apprentice,
that the greatest sources of the wear and tear of the loco-
motive engine, are the extremely rapid motion of its working
parrs, and the only way in which this can be remedied is, by
shortening the cylinder,. and increasing the wheel. It may be
easily seen from this, the great advantages Mr. Brunel has
gained upon the Great Western, and even his. enemies
(amongst whom I rank many engineers) are obliged to admit,
that by acting upon the principle of increasing the size of the
engine, the greatest saving in expense has been effected upon
every railway line in the kingdom. Mr. Wood, of the Liver-
pool and Manchester line, admitted at the late nieeting at New-
castle, of the British Association, that increasing the size of the
driving wheels of the locomotive engine to 54 feet diameter, had
been attended with economy, and was a great improvement.
Now sttpposethe Liverpool and Manchester or Grand Junction
wanted to carry the•improvement of enlarging the wheels of
their coaches and trucks to a greater extent than at present,
could they do so upon the 4 foot 81 inch guage? I think not,
for the laws of gravity- must • he consulted ere this could be
done, and this I believe to be one principal reason why, both
Stephenson and Mr. BOoth, ere converts to the-opinion that
a 5 foot 5 or 6 inch allege is the best. • In. support of • wider
guage than 4 feet 81 inches, we have the candid report of the
Irish Railway Commissioners, also the Dundee and Arbroath
Railway, which has just been completed upon a 5 foot 6 inch
gauge, an account of which appeared iu the papers a fort-
night ago. A most rapid change is taking place in the mind
of the public, and also in the opinions of many of the moat
eminent engineers, respecting the advantages to be obtained
by hying railways upon longitudinal wood bearings, and no
doubt can be entertained, that before 10 or 15 years are over
from the evidence which can now be adduced it its favour,
that it will completely supersede the stone block system. All
that is wanted by the Great Western directors is a fair trial of
the Brunel system, and it is to be hoped that they will never
submit to alter it, until it be absolutely proved to be wrong;
not by Pretorian tumult and passion, but by calm reason and
consideration. The Great Western, no doubt, will be open to
Reading. in June next, (if not impeded by Railway Jobbers
and trickery,) and the real comparative proof could be ob-
tained upon a six months trial, whether the expenses attend-
ant upon the Great Western principle, or that of the Liver-
pool and Manchester be the greater. To show this in a clear
light, and to put a stop to the continual jabber of many of
the northern proprietors, I would suggest, that the directors
should keep the account of income and expense upon the
36 miles to Reading distinct, and precisely in the same man-
ner and form as those of the Liverpool and Manchester,
(which is 31 miles.) It would be.a great satisfaction to the
preprietaty to see the advantages or disadvantages. The
Liverpool proprietors generally are too particular in their
opinions, and if Messrs. Hayes and Co. would only sat with
the same incessant assiduity in applauding that which is
really deserving in Mr. Brunel (instead of condetnuing,) they
would do infinitely more good, for the accomplishment of
that object, which they profess to have at heart, viz., the
restoration of confidence, and the completion of the road at
a moderate expense. Almost every body knows, that Robert
Stephenson, the much extolled, and justly celebrated engi-
neer, estimated the cost, and constructed the London and
Birmingham Railway, and that his original estimate was
£2,500,000. Now that stupendous undertaking has cost
£5.000,000, or £45,000 per mile to complete, and will cost
more. It is laid on the stone block system, 4 foot 8; inch
gauge, and is 111 miles long. Front this I should very
much like to know the reason why Mr. Hawkshawe should
recommend the Great Western line to be taken up and
relaid upon the principle of the London and Birmingham,
as a means of protecting, the proprietors from an enormous
outlay ; when the Great Stephenson has not been able to shew
the advantage upon that principle. Unless Mr. Hawkshawe
can prove satisfactorily, that the Great Western can be com-
pleted for £3500 per mile, upon the 4 foot 81 inch gauge,
(that is £5OOO per mile less than Stephenson's London and
Birmingham). I cannot see the use of taking his advice; as
abundant proof can now be obtained of the frightful expense
required in working the 4 foot 82 inch guage in comparison
with the Great Western. Besides, a lasting stiama would
be cast upon Mr. Stephenson, as a wilfully extravagant en,
gineer. provided Mr. Hawkshawe is enabled to lay a line
upon the same principle as the London and Birmingham, at
£lO,OOO per mile, less. I am of opinion, that Mr. Brunel has
been most unjustly coerced ; for la his eStizaating the Great

Weitern, he has calculated that it would cost from seven to
eight per cent more than if it had been estimated upon the
4 foot 8-1- inch principle, and yet, he undertakes to complete
the whole line, 117 miles'in length, (6 more than the London
and Birmingham) for £4,750,000, or £650,000 !! less than
the London and Birmingham, supposing it was upon the lat-
ter principle. If the crafty errors promulgated by deceit and
fallacy, were only rejected by the proprietors, and the di-
rectors and their engineer supported in their plans, no doubt
can reasonably be entertained, but, that the Great Western
Railway would be one of the best lines in the kingdom, both
as regards character and profit. It is to be hoped, therefore,
that Messrs. Noyes and Co. will discontinue thwarting the
directors about particular items in the expenditure, as it is
imposssible for any man in the present state of the Great
Western works to make a just comparison, either in the en-
gineering or any other department, from the circumstance
that no two Railway Companies keep their accounts item for
item, alike. Notwithstanding this fact, the method which is
taken by Messrs. Hoyes and Co. to display their erudition,
is a very extraordinary one, viz: that of perplexing, and
darkening everything which ought to be the province of
learning to simplify, and elucidate. There is at present, a
perfect unity of opinion and action, at the Great Western
Board, and I confidently trust, that Messrs. Hoyes and Co.
will not again attempt to disturb it, but, lend their assistance
dispassionately to brieg the matter to a permanent and satis-
factery settlement on the '2oth of December next; for be it
remembered, that if prejudice or passion be allowed to sit in
judgment upon the reports to he submitted, the ends of
justice will be frustrated, and an unfavourable termination
will be the consequence. In conclusion, I beg to refer to a
temperate, and well written pamphlet, " by a Shareholder,"
upon the merits of the Great Western Railway, as being
well worthy of the perusal and attention of every shareholder
in that line; and if Mr. Heyworth, or any of those who at-
tempt to vilify the Great Western, would only take upon
themselves to reply to it seriatim, I for one, would be a pur-
chaser. There is also a good letter in last weeks Bristol
Gazette, from Doctor Carpenter, upon the same subject. I
am rather surprised that Mr. Iloyes has never thought fit to
offer a reply to the cutting letter addressed to him by the
Editor of the Railway Majazine. Query. What can be the
reason ? I an), yours, &r.,
WILLIAM WATCH, Shareholder.
Liverpool, 27th October, 1838.