The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-23 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

We are glad to find that the works upon the South-Eastern
railway are proceeding with great vigour. On the 2d instant,
six contracts were let—completing the distance from the
Brighton railway to a place on the other side of Tunbridge.
These contracts were let on the most favourable terms, the
prices of the earth-work being in four cases 124, and in the
remaining two 16 per cent. less than the parliamentary esti-
mate, with a considerable reduction, also in the cost of the
brick-work. The contracts in question, if not already begun
upon, will, it is understood, be commenced in the course of
a few days. The works in the vicinity of Tunbridge, namely,
at Penshurst and Leigh, are going forward most rapidly,
there being in one contract upwards of 1,000 yards of earth
moved per day. In the portion of the line between Folke-
stone and Dover similar activity prevails. The constituency
is daily improving in wealth, respectability, and numbers.
This is strikingly shown by the fact that last week the whole
of the shares, the forfeiture of which was confirmed at the
late meeting, were disposed of, principally, we learn, among
new connections. In common with many others, this com-
pany suffered much from the large number of shares originally
accumulated in comparatively few hands, thus occasioning,
during the late monetary difficulties, forced sales, to the great
loss of the holders, and the general depression of the com-
pany's stock. The shares are now diffused more generally,
and more beneficially for the stability of the undertaking in
the market, a circumstance which cannot fail to be gratifying
to the proprietors at large, notwithstanding that the price of
shares is no sound criterion of the intrinsic value of any line.
—Railway Times.

The Birmingham and Gloucester railway will be opened
on Wednesday next from Cheltenham to Bromsgrove. Only
two trains each way per day will run for the present, and there
will be no Sunday trains. How is this ? It is expected that
the line will be opened to within 11 miles of Birmingham in
the course of a few weeks.—Railway Times.

As soon as the necessary arrangements now going on can
be made for the acceleration of the night mails to Hull by
railway, it is understood that the benefit of a day mail will be
eitended to that important district.
FACILITY OF RAILWAY TRAVELLING—GREAT WEST-
ERN RAILWAY.—The important advantages attending this
mode of travelling were put to the test by a butcher residing
six miles from this town, and ten from the Great Western
railway station at Steventon, who, being in want of a supplY
of beasts, proceeded on Monday morning last, by the mail
train, from that station to Smithfield market, where he pur-
chased four fine oxen, and had them conveyed the same day,
via railway to Steventon, and snugly deposited the following
day in his slaughter-house, as free from fatigue as when be
purchased them. How this may operate to the prejudice of
graziers, we will not hazard a conjecture, but merely state,
that it is confidently anticipated by those better versed in such
matters than we profess to be, that by this means of commu-
nication advantage will be taken of the overstocked London
markets, which will have the effect of very materially reducing
the price of beef, and consequently decreasing the grazier 'b
profits in all parts of the country where railways are in opc-
ration.—Berks Chronicle.

CUNNING OF LUNATICS.—The case of the lunatic who
indicted Mr. Munro for confining him in his asylum has
often been cited. He brought an action against the doctor
at Westminster ; and, although the man was subjected to a
most severe examination, his insanity could not be detected.
The trial was on the eve of being concluded, when Dr.
Simms entered the court, and knowing the man's peculiar
delusion, he 'was requested to ask him a question. He did
so, and his insanity instantly became apparent. He brought
another action against Dr. Munro in the city of London ;
and, knowing that he had failed before by acknowledging his
love for an imaginary princess, so remarkaule a degree of cun-
ning did he exhibit that one of the severest examinations to
which a man was ever subjected in a court of justice could
not induce the lunatic to disclose the delusion under which
he was known to labour. This curious feature of insan'tY,
must be taken into consideration in forming an estimate of
the presence of derangement in cases of suicide, and we must
t
not hastily conclude because insanity is not self-evident that
it does not exist.—The Anatomy of Suicide.