The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-30 00:00:00

THE LATE WILL FORGERIES.

On Monday, Mr. Baron Gurney called up the respective
prisoners in these important cases, to receive their sett.
tence. Barber entered into a long statement, alleging
himself to have been deceived by Fletcher. His lordship,
however, stated that the explanation had not altered the
case against him, and then proceeded to pass sentence.
Fletcher and Barber were each transported for life; Wm.
Saunders for seven years ; and Mrs. Saunders and Mrs.
Dorey were each sentenced to be imprisoned for two
years, and kept to hard labour.
Immediately after the sentences were In' tuvd on the
convicts they were re-conveyed to the different wards of
the prison, and kept as they were before the trial, separate.
The only time they saw each other was when bra ught up
into the court, and then they held no communication w
each other. Since the sentence has been passed, Barber
entertains the same confident hopes as he did before and
during the trials, that he shall yet be at liberty. The tie•
cessary steps, it is stated, are already being taken for the
purpose of preparing a case to be laid before Sir J. Gra-
ham, and thereby to obtain, through the right hon. the
Secretary of State, her Mejesty's free pardon. It is also
understood that, as no proof was given as to the forgeriet
of the different wills, a question on this point will be
raised, so as to obtain the opinion of the judges. Even t!II
this the friends of Barber are sanguine that the result will
be favourable, and terminate in the indictment being
quashed. Fletcher, who entertains no such hopes as los
fellow convict, is, from his state of health, not expected to
survive a very long period of time; for, since his commit-
tal, his disease, that of an affection of the heart, has in-
creased. The other convicts, particularly the two worttenr
consider they have been. most mercifully dealt with,
and it has been remarked, that from the time of the
committal, Mr. Dorey has not been once to see his
wife, nor have any of the parries been visited by any one
except their professional advisers ; and, although kee
separate from each other, not a single inquiry was in'!"'
by any one after each other ; the only instance of anything
like sympathy being exhibited was when Mrs. sandersheard the jury find her guilty. She burst into a violent
~
flood of tears, when her sister took her by the hand. and
Sanders put his I ft arm round his wife's waist. They
both begged of her to be composed, and to bear her fateie
with fortitude. Should the intended application on n
half of Barber prove unsuccessful, the three ntel,ek ,
co
will directly afterwards be removed to the
preparatory to their being sent to New Sou• vv
convicts
will

SYMPTOMS OF REACTION AMONGST FitEE"-
THE
returnCH u R Colif ma
EN
minister, rr h ew n
agndpa elders, ara graph o
noticing
great portion
congregation of a free Protestant church, to the bosom
.
the Establishment, we copy from a Dundee pairr o
here
week, and we are inf,,rmed that the di:position
shown to be satisfied with Lord Aberdeen's bill is one nu
at all singular in Scotland amongst those who have been
hurried into the late secession movement.—" On Monday
evening a numerous meeting of the Rev. Mr. Law's con-
gregation was held in their chapel, Reform-street, Dun-
dee,o ncgt.
t the e
t
Captain John Smith in the chair. Atter prayer by
Mr. Law, he shortly gave his reasons for resigning con-
nexion with the ' Free' Church, and returning into the
establishment. In his explanation he stated that he con-
sidered the non-intt usion principle secured by Lord Aber-
deen's bill ; and that that reason for separating was now
removed. He then retired, that the congregation might
decide for themselves as to how they were to act in the
circumstances. Mr. Ivory Kidd, one of the elders, after
stating that all the elders and deacons had agreed to join
the established church along with their pastor, moved a
petition to the presriytery, praying that the congregation
might be admitted into communion with them, which being
seconded by the clerk of Mr. Law's bession, was unani-
mously adopted. A few of the ' Free' Church party were
in attendance, and one elder made himself rath, r con-
spicuous in attest pang dissension, which was speedily pub
down. Mr. Law returned after the petition had been re-
solved on, and concluded with prayer. As we were Ivae
ing the members were pressing forward to sign the peti-
tion ; and we understand that in the space of half an
hour nearly 200 names were adhibited.

FATAL ATTACK BY A BOAR.—We have the melancholy
task of recording the violent, and almost instantaneous
death of a young inhabitant of Gloucester, who was ne
Friday afternoon hurried into eternity under very dread-
ful circumstances. Mr. Fisher, mealman, of Nothgate-
street who also occupies the first corn mill, at Upton St,
Leonard's near this city, has at the latter place a boar pig/
which he has had some time in his possession, and which
we believe has gained a prize or prizes at agricultural
exhibitions. On Friday afternoon, Mr. Fisher's son, Mr.
John Fi,her, a fine healthy young man about twenty-two
years of age, went to the mill, and the miller having occa-
sion to drive the pig from its stye, endeavoured to do sot
but as it evinced some stubbornness, young Mr. Fisher
said that he would get it out, and he opened the door for
that purpose, when the boar rushed furiously on him and,
seized him by the thighs, and the tusks of the infuriated
animal inflicted two most horrible wounds, both of which
it is believed, tore open the large blood vessel, of the
body, known as the femoral artery. The unhappy young
man exclaimed Oh Lord !" and a frightful gush of blood
immediately filled his trowsers. He walked a little vieV
towards the miller's house, the blood flowing in a conti-
nuous stream all the way, and when he reached the gate
he reeled in a fainting state, and was saved from falling
the miller's man, who caught him in his arms and carried
him into the house, and in less than five minutes he was e
corpse. The miller mounted a horse and galloped to
Gloucester, and returned almost immediately with Mr.
Charles Clutterbuck, of this city, surgeon ; but before big
arrival the vital spark had fled. The scene which ensued
in breaking the horrible intelligence to the bereaved
parents was heart-rending in the extreme ; and the dread-
ful event has caused a great feeling of deep sympathy for
the deceased, who was an only son, in the full vigour of
youthful life and strength, and was most respectable is
his character and conduct.—Gloucester Journal.

The " Bankers' Circular" has published a return of the
annual clearing payments made by the different London
bankers, who send their daily claims on each other to the
clearing house to be written off, and the final balance!
paid. This is an interesting document, but, as is observed
in the publication referred to, is no guide absolutely to the
relative rank and importance of the houses named in it.
None of the West End bankers, for example, are in the
list, their demands upon the city being cleared by the Cit.'
banks, and swelling by that amount the returns of till
houses employed as their agents. 'The bill and stoc
brokers' accounts have a similar effect, without being 13
true index of the amount of general banking businesti"
The following is the list referred to : of
Amounts passed by the principal Banking Housee
London at the Clearing House-1840.

~..,
Barclay and Co.
Glyn and Co.. .... .
Jones, Loyd and Co 104,000,000
Masterman and Co 90,000,000
Robarts and Co.
Smith. Payne, and Co
Williams and Co. _ ...
Barnett and Co
Lubbock and Co . ••• 33,760,000
Stone, Martin, and C 0......... 33,700,000
Prescott and Co.
Denison and Co. ... 26,863,000
lianbury and Co 24,700,000
Ladbroke and Co.
Willis and Co. 20,500,000
Curries and Co.
Spooner and Co. 16,000,000
Price and Co.
'llankey and Co. .. . 15,000,0vv
Barnard and Co.
Vere and Co
Rogers and l 0..
Doreen and Co B,oooro
Fuller and Co.
Brown and Co..
Bosanquet and Co.
Stevenson and Co 3 riou,
,-,., opu
.4 ow,
Weston and Co.
Total, .£9---78:496,9°Q

April :30, 1844.

RAILWAY INTELLIt;ENCE.

DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF RAILWAY PROPERTY.

An article appeared, with this heading, in the first
number of a new periodical, " the Railway Chronicle,"
which has just been started under able management,
and we quote it here, in the first plice to enable a youth-
ful aspirant to public favour to make the acquaintance of
those interested in rai:way matters in thisl cality ; and in
the next, beeause it affords a kind of text upcu which we
can found a few remarks of our own upon the same sub-
ject--" THE DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF RAILWAY PRO-
PERTY."

" Every property brings with it duties as well as rights.
It is the general reproach of the holders of some kind of
tr°Perty that they exercise, to the uttermost, all their
gilts, while their duti, s, being forgotten, are neglected
and pass into disuetutle. To the duties of railway pro-
Prietors, the public has always been sensitively alive. All
failures in speed, regularity, economy, safety, are culled
with care by the public censor, ' set in a note book, conned
by rote, to cast into the teeth' of the great railway mo-
nopolists." But then their rights—what are they ?'
4 Right: ! Who ever heard of the rights of railway pro-
prietors ? Rights! Why these monstrous monopolists—
these_ millioriaires—these speculators—what rights have
they ?, They have the right to be abused,. to be found
fault with, to be 1-gislated upon, to be set upon by boards
of trade and select committees—to carry her Majesty's
Nils for nothing—to carry a peasantry in coaches, for
leas money than the cost, and less than half of what it costs
them to walk,—in short, to lo as the public choose !
'Well, and their pay—surely these public servants should
•be paid their hire—have they not a right to their wages, to
compensate for loans and risks, and expended money and
time and toil, and all this service ?—they may surely have
their hire and a reasonable profit upon their work ?
' Well, we must think about that—we will consider of it.'
If they are to be paid at all, we must see that at least
they are not too well paid.' Be it so.
".Then let the rights of railway'property beTconsidered !
.332tss pities being already so well understood. And first let
avhinatqnire who
these great railway prop ietors are, and
authorsheov have done for the public. Are they not the
by enterf
one of the very greatest boons ever conferred
• vial
rise
adyapnceeZt. skill, upon commerce, industry, and so-
4/ Have they not carried through, to a
time PY Issue, one of the greatest inventions of modern
8--and carried it through in the face of difficulty, dis-
.couragement, and vast unpopularity ?
Let us see what has hit erio been the general eir.
pression of public feeling towards railways. The inventor
.of a new art was deified by the Greeks and Romans. Are
We to advocate an apotheos,s of the great projectors and
constructors of railways? Theie seems little fear, in the
present temper of pubic opinion, of our perpetrating that
folly. Never, perhaps, were such great enterprises
achieved with so little aid from public opinion.
" While the experiment was doubtful, the attempt was
derided by all who were indifferent, and denounced by all
who were prejudiced. Its objects were assailed by selfish
interests, and its resources devoured by rapacious claims
from those whose aid was required, or whose neutrality
had to be purchased. From the first survey to the final
-completion of the line, difficulties of all kinds met the pro-
jectors—local hostility, corporate opposition. Toe public
looked on; and if it took part, it was with their oppo-
nents ;—the legislature, the government, afforded no effec-
tual aid. The promoters fought their way, step by step;
and were received as if, instead of preparing for the coun-
t'the greatest boon it has received in modern times,
c."" had been conspiring to deface and impoverish it.
in
were
general, {for the instances of better judgment
mere exceptions,) was the temper with which rail-
Way projects were met in the first stage of their national
existence. Lamentable enough ! but not unnatural. It is
the price which those must be ready t- pay who attempt
h anything at once great and new. But surely it entitles
tem
to enjoy their reward, when, in sp to of these ob-
stacle
successs , their energy and perseverance have conquered
" Their efforts had, indeed, been successful; the inven-
tion was found to surpass belief, and the country saw it-
self enriched by benefits which the reo-t sanguine of the
liTiectors had not dared to promise. A rapidity of tran-
arntooet miraculous ; a reduction of ex"nse quite unex-
sYstern and uniform tariffs, substituted for irre-
rarttY and vulgar extortion :—and with all this a safety
:Inch
(. (3.111 Y the silliest panic could dispute) hitherto un-
11—° in public travelling: These were benefits—vast,
incalculable notorious :—experienced by every one every
'ay• Under any circumstances. they surely deserved a
large ftward : a larger, if the real difficulty of the task had
?Dee:: troubled by needless hindrances. And how was this
geneir.c: bestowed ? might universal outcry, so loud and
to de l, that one have thought it had been raised
the "nnee some great na.ienal enormity. The directors,
were engineers, the proprietors, the manager; of railways
Mort9eestioned, and lectured, and worried on every side.
_ field,i men, who wanted courage to share in the work,
cantle s full of risk—men of bibit, averse to new ways
;me° of rank and wealth, accustomed to command
_uuerever they travelled, and impatient of all regulations
of pUhld rivals who covered their anger with pretences
public care—liberals ,whose wisdom lay in 'repeating
the ph
WOrd, r''TeB of monopoly.' competition.' and similar
hubbubvvdeas—the weak of all classes whom the
tied,o slavesnventors, eager to have their nostrums
hire at
m
men, wanting
purchased—busy men anxious to regu-
late;scanting to be employed—all joined in the
thecl While Parliament became suddenly full of zeal, and
goveromentitelf, stepping in to meddle where it had
sotarned _
o mend, after standing aloof when it
-might have done good, seemed to sat,ction the general
excitement. Of this, however, a part which was but tem-
porary soon yielded to time :—a part, merely absurd, was
easily exploded by obvious proof; counter attacks mutu-
ally defeated each other; and the main burden of what
bow remains, may be referred to two principal hvads—the
disposition of men in power to interfere with whatever
they feel to be imp3rtant ; and the common jealousy which
is provoked by success."

We must suggest that, in these remarks, our new con-

emporary goes too far, although in many of them we
perfectly coincide. Wi admit fully the justice of the
claim of railway proprietors to protection of their pro-
perty, and a fair profit to compensate for the ri=ks which
they have incurred ; and we should be the first to de-
nounce any tinkering interference, by government or any
other authority, with their regulations, except upon very
strong grounds. But whilst we thus recognise " the
rights" of railway property, we have also a strong opinion
With respect tt the nature of its " duties," and greatly
suspect that they are not, in general, very satisfactrfrily
Perf”rmed. We have given to powerful companies a
monopoly, or at all events a quasi monopoly, which en-
-ables them to levy font the public large revenues ; and in
return for this we have a right to demand for the public
ths
e largest possible amount of accommodation and cheap-
With
t may be questionable how far we can now interfere
with companies already formed, to reduce extortionate
charges.
mor illv soEven as regards these, however, we are not
teu.the Raiitrnvo4ych bound to non-interference as the writer
Chronicle would have us infer. It was
„ enilY in the contemplation of parliament, whilst
.pass-
-1 n,'"437 Of the hills under which existing railway inter-
est-8 nave
tato
iirrt„ grown up, to restrict t r within a
ride of
; and when we see such restrictionstrio got rid of
h a slue-wind—such as the creation of new shares, half-
shares, &c.—in order to enalle proprietors to enjoy
forvidends larger than the spirit of their acts prescribed
them, we are inclined to say that s.tell railways ar e not.
Performing their " duties" to the public, and ought to be
Mode to do s?. With respect to new schemes there can
no hesitation in applyin, to them very stringent pro-
!isions to insure niodetate charges and accommodation.
In bills now, or in future to be brought before parlia-
ment, every care should be taken that, after the payment
of a fair interest for capital and risk, any surplus of re-
ceipts ought to be met by a reduction of rates. We can-
not depend unto the effects of competition to bring down
the rates of railway companies, for in nine ca•,es out of
ten a railway once formed becomes a close monopoly,
from the very hopelessness of such competition being suc-
cessful.
We undo

aiderstand that the applications for shares in the
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle
Railway, now greatly
'
exceed the amount of
pital to be disposed of.
A line of steamer. is t put on between Bristol and
Newport, in connexion ;be
with,the Great Western Railway.
A ves'el will ply daily.
BRICKLAYER'S ARMS BRANCH.—This line which
abuts upon the Old Kent road, near Swan-street, and
which was projected by the South Eastern (London and
Dover) and Croyden Railway Companies, to furnish them
Jointly with a West End Terminus, will shortly open.
THE JONC rioN RAILWAY.—This railway was opened
on Saturday last, after which day all.the Liverpool trains
arrive and depart from the commodious station at Hunt's
Bank ; the station in Water-street only being used for
goods,—Manchester Courier.
The Wexford and Kildare, or South Eastern Railway,
piasconnexion with the Dublin and Cashel, capital £600,000,
been taken up by all the monied interest in the local-
itiesutlhrough which it will tun. Mr. Brunel has planned
,w 7,;
the harbour at Wexford, which, in conjunction
email
)le. South Wales railway, will enable the London
/CI De delivered at Wexford in less than 15 hours.
The c,:w.A.Y FROM PARIS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.—
MM. l'eerlit: de Fer Belye says, that the proposal by the
2,160,000 t°, grant fifty-four millions of francs, about
Farts to tir_lor the establishment of the railway from
the yonne!un ; that it will take the valleys of the Seine,
far 1844_ Armencon ; four millions may be granted
NE 13;7 ten for 1845.
Mgerstsud that OVER THE MENAI STRAITS.—We un-
enai 13',1?t the landed proprietors in the vicinity of the
that it .$ ridge oppose the passage of the railway, and
will havoeLi_erefare probable the passage across the Straits
," be made at the Britannia Rock, and will in-
the, 2east, two arches of 350 feet span. This will
4cait,a most gigantic railway work ever undertaken.—
eChronicle.
"Ph t
lions4,l stet), Dr* British railways now exceeds sixty mil-
s, Train. fig,
and yields a‘revenue of six millions per
..,"I.eted a"..,!'a.rly 2,000 miles of railway are already con-
r,",rharTie„,7 in operation, and the proposals of the present
nil to ti';'lll' session will have the effect of adding one-
tai of the extent of this productive property. The capi-
Z.hek. f,s! railways has now become a great National
14051 • IS held, in larger or smaller quantities, by hll-
tio in
sou end
t•;,v_ery re.nk of life, and of every variety of po.si-
ri Yee of inz,-,llnation, to whom it affords a productive
ere ssn ohl'_)tne• As a security, this stock is every day.
line in ;Teter ; an investment, it is every day in-
it,„", by to.Ciative value. Every extension of the present
thes'therse:3hsstilfiptryanches over the face of the country,
niti ems b and value of this stock. Indeed,
~„, , t e little doubt that railway property will,
r'4olte f,,-;o7!.ttain the same permanence and value as the
m'sßailway C4ronicle.

NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON JUNCTION RAIL-
WAY.—The Durham branch of this railway was opened on
Monday to the public. There is therefore now only about
lour miles of coach road between Gateshead and Lond, n,
and the entire line, we are assured, will positively be
opened on the 18th June.
IMMENSE RAILWAY STATION.—The great railway
station of Green's Field, Gateshead, is in course of rapid
erection. The length of the station wi'l be 348 feet, and
the shed will be 88 feet wide. The roof will be construct-
ed of wrought iron. A large proportion of the roof will
be glazed, and the whole will be of a light and airy cha-
racter. The plan includes accommodations of every de-
scription—booking offices, first and second class waiting-
rooms, ladies' ro in, post-office, &c. 'The building for
refreshments will comprise bed-roams for travellers.
OPENINGS OF RAILWAYS IN MAY.—The next month
promises to be remarkably prolific in the opening to the
public of various imporant railways throughout, that have
hitherto been but partially or not at all in operation. On
the 4th will be opened the Liverpool and Derby Junction
line. Early in the montn also, as is understood, the West
London Railway will be brought into full operation, to the
great advantage of the Birmingham and Great Western
lines, whose passengers will be furnished with a west-end
terminus. Then the Bricklayers' Arms Branch, that
affords a like accommodation to the Croydon and Dover
Railways; and the Norwich and Yarmouth Railway, will
come into play in the ensuing month, the opening of the
latter being fixed upon for the Ist. Lastly, and most im-
portant of all, the Bristol and Exeter will also be opened
to the travelling public, completing nearly 200 miles of
railway to the western parts of England. May, thus, has
quite its share in interesting railway occurrences.
DUBLIN AND CORR RAILWAY.—MF. Francis B. Elea-
mish, Secretary to the County and City of Cork Railway
Committee, returned from Dublin on Sa•urday evening
after having had several interviews with the provisional
directors of the proposed line of railway between Dublin
arid Cashel. In the course of the interviews it appeared
evident that the board were satisfied that it would be ad-
visable, in a pecuniary point of view, to make Dublin and
Cork the termini, arid further, that by doing so all serious
opposition would be removed to the suspension of the
standing orders of the House of Commons, and the bill to
,Cashel might therefore receive the royal assent this ses-
sion, and in the event of the company not acceding to the
proposition, and that if the bill was stopped in its progress
this year, there was every reason to suppose that another
company would be prepared next session of parliament to
apply for one to make a line the entire Way. The result
of the interviews was a concurrence on the part of the di.
rectors in the views laid before them by Mr. BertriliA;
and they declared that it was their most anxious 'wish to
see the line continued to the City of Cork, leaving its
route to be decided on by the shareholders, to be subse-
quently submitted to government for their approval.—
Cork Constithlion.

TRENT VALLEY RA ILWAY.—A correspondent (writing
from Manchester on Tuesday night) informs us " that the
Gra•Kd Junction and Manchestr and Birmingham join
the Trent Company in applying for this line of railway
from Stafford to Rugby, with a branch to Alrewas, and
that the official adhesion of the London and Birmingham
will no doubt be given at their next meeting. The line
(he continues) will be more strongly supported than any
railway in the kingdom, and will produce important re-
sults. It will he the grand direct route from London to
Holyhead, London to Scotland, (West Coast,) London to
Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, &c. It will save 351
miles between Stafford and Derby; therefore 351 between
Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, Ireland, and Derby,
Nottingham, Lincoln, &c. If any line in the kingdom
h is a prospect of being obtained, and of paying a good
and immediate dividend, this is it. If the Shrewsbury
line comes to Stafford, the communication between
Shrewsbury and Lincoln, west to east, will be complete
through Stafford, Derby, Nottingham, Newark, &c. This
little line will have most important results. The prospec-
tus was issued on the 11th of April, on the 13th the line
was taken up, on the 17th notice was given that no more
parties need apply for shares, and in one week applica-
tions were made for 130,000 shares. The shares are at
£5 prem. here (Manchester) to-day.—Midland Counties
Herald.

RAILWAYS.—Scarce fifteen years have elapsed since
railways became a fact to the public understanding. Blun-
ders innumerable have been committed, money has been
wasted by millions, yet have they spread in all directions
over the face of the island. They have set the pattern for
half the world, and from English workshops bas a large
portion of the material of foreign lines been furnished,
even before the permanent form has been attained, while
struggling forwards towards the perfect state. And all
his has been done, not by a government, but by indivi-
duals. The first and foremost work of civilization is the
making of a road. The making of roads, which will put
a final close to the large mass of cruelty annually inflicted
on horses—which substitutes steam for muscle—is a far
higher triumph of civilisation. What railways have done
for us in labour-saving, we have yet no statistics to verify,
but the annual accumulation of capital thereby must be of
large amount. What they have done towards the pro-
gress of national education in breaking down provincial
prejudice, is of still greater value. What they will do,
when they shall emerge from their infancy and attain their
full growth, fills the heart with hope to think of. The
steam-boat has bridged the ocean, but it is the railway
that spans the land, and will ultimately make all men
brethren. We never behold a Saxon name graven in let-
ters of brass on a south-eastern engine, without thinking
of all the marvels which have sprung from the Saxon ad-
vent; converting Celtic Britain into the English land, and
sowing the seeds of the world's ultimate universal peace.
Happy was the i;hought of the man who chose such a
nomenclature for a part of the modern conquerors of the
world—the Dover locomotives—that will bring more
Frenchmen into England as friends, than ever were
slaughtend or made prisoners by all the engines used in
the trials of war since the time when the British Celts
were driven into Brittany. The" Captains of Industry"
have vanquished' the captains of war : and the Celt:c
taunt of Perfide Albion" is only replied to by the harm-
less hissing of the safety valve. We doubt not we shall be
the record of their constantly increasing triumph.—Rail-
way Record.