The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-17 00:00:00

THE BREVETS.

We give in another column a summary of the official
announcement, which appeared in the Gazelle of Tuesday.
of the brevet. The wailitury generals who have received
the staff of field-marshal are Sir George Nugent, General
Grosvenor, and the Marquis of Anglesea. Among the
lieutenant generals promoted to the rank of general are
Sir Charles Bulkeley Egerton, Sir Peregrine Maitland,
Sir Colin Halkett, and Sir Frederick Adam ; and the list
of major-generals appointed lieutenant-generals comprises
the names of Sir Charles James Napier (the governor of
Scinde), Sir Edward Gibbs, Sir George Thomas Napier,
Sir Hercules Robert Pakenham, Sir John Harvey, Lord
Downes, Sir Neil Douglas, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Sir
Frederick William Trench, Lord Saltown, Sir Thomas
Downman. and Sir William Maynard Gomm. Colonels
Richard Egerton, Sir Henry George Wakelyn Smith,
(the hero of Aliwal,) Sir De Lacy Evans, Sir Thomas
Willshire, Sir Joseph Thackwell, and Thomas James
Wemyss are included among the colonels promoted to the
rank of major-general; and lieutenant-colonels Thomas
Samuel TrLlfford, the Earl of Cardigan, the Marquis of
Douro, and Sir John Mark Frederick Smith are among
the lieutenant-colonels who have received the rank of
colonel. The list of majors appointed lieutenant-colonels
and of captains appointed majors, includes the names of
ajor Basil Jackson, and Captains Sir James Edward
Alexander, and Henry Rowland Brandreth (one of the
railway commissioners). The name which first catches
the eye of the reader is that of Sir George Nugent, a gal-
lant veteran who has reached the age of 89, and who has
been connected with the service of his country for no less
than 73 years. He was engaged in the first American
war from 1777, until its termination in 1783. Field
Marshal Grosvenor entered the army in 1779. The Mar-
quis of Anglesey's services are well known. Sir George
Cockburn is now the senior general in the army, having
entered in 1779, and been promoted to the rank in ques-
tion i❑ 1819. Fourteen lieutenant-generals have been
made generals, so that the latter list is now a strong one.
Sir Colin 11 alkett, colonel of the 31st Foot, which suf-
fered so severely in the late war in India, Sir F. Adam
and Sir Peregrine Maitland, three old Waterloo veteran.,
are in the batch promoted. By the further changes,
several staff appointments will, according to usage, become
vacant. Two of the eminent family of Napier have been
promoted.
Among the naval promotions we find that Sir George
Martin is appointed admiral of the fleet ; and the list of
vice-admirals promoted to the rank of admirals, and of
rear-admirals to that of vice-admiral, includes the names
of Vice-Admirals Sir Edward Hamilton and Sir William
Hall Gage, and Rear. Admiral Sir John Wentworth Lor-
ing. Among the captains appointed rear-admirals, are
Captains Sir Thomas Ussher, Sir Samuel John Brooke
Pechell, Sir Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, Sir
Francis Augustus Collier, Sir Charles James Napier, John
Brett Purris, and Phipps liornhy.

CUTTING THE FIRST SOD OF THE CHESHIRE
JUNCTION RAILWAY.

The ceremony, which bad been postponed from Thurs-
day, of cutting the first sod of the Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction Railway was performed on
Saturday last, at Norton, near Preston Brooke, by Sir
Richard Brooke, of Norton Priory, in the presence of the
chairman, the directors of the company, and a number of
other gentlemen, from Birkenhead, Liverpool, Blanches-
ter, and other places. Perhaps six or seven hundred
people might have been counted as present.
Sir Richard B. Brooke having arrived, a circle was
formed, and previously to handing him the trowel,
Mr. BENDEL, engineer, proceeded to detail the ob-
jects of the promoters of the line, and the important ad-
vantages which would accrue from its formation, in con-
nexion with the new docks erecting at Birkenhead, to
the commerce of both sides of the river, and to the manu-
facturing districts. The adjacent districts would all be
benefitted, and the railway was, therefore, not alone of
local, but of general importance. At the point near
Preston-brook, at which they now stood, they found all
their greatest difficulties in the construction of the line
accumulated. They had over his (Sir Richard Brooke's)
property their heaviest works, and it was for this lesson
that they felt so sincere a gratitude for the kindness
which they had received from him, as the owner of the
land, not alone when they had come on to his grounds to
survey, as trespassers, but also during their recent strug-
gle through parliament. The company owed to Sir Ri-
chard that position which they now occupied, for there
was little doubt that to the example which he had set
they were indebted for the concurrence in their project of
the other landowners. (Hear. hear.)
Sir R. B. BROOKE briefly remarked, expressing the in-
terest be took in the success of the undertaking, and his
sense of the honour conferred upon him, in being selected
to cut the first sod. He had not at first felt disposed to
give his land to any railway company ; but he was now
glad that he had made the concession, for he felt that he
should not have been justified in opposing, on personal
grounds, any scheme which was to promote the general
good.

The work of the day was then gone through by Sir
Richard cutting the first sod in a very workmanlike man-
ner, and wheeling it away. The barrow and spade, which
were very handsome articles, were afterwards packed up,
and conveyed to Norton priory. The company then ad-
journed to a marquee, erected on the ground, and partook
of a splendid lunch provided for the occasion, to which
about three hundred gentlemen sat down.

Nov. 17, 1846.

Mr. Baillv took the chair. On bis right sat Sir Richard
Brooke, and on his left Sir Philip Egerton, M.P, w.
noticed among others, Mr. John Laird, deputy chairman,
Mr. William Laird, a director of, Capt. Cbarlewoodr
secretary, and Mr. J. B. Lloyd, solicitor to, the com-
pany, Mr. Richard Brooke, Mr. Cochrane, Mr. Parr,
Mr. C. A. Watson, Mr. Gardener, &c.
The CHAIRMAN, having given the customary toasts,
and they having been drunk with ordinary honours, VIVI
the heiltii of the members of the county.

Sir P. EGERTON responded. He was most happy to be
a guest the company that day. He felt great interest
for the success of the line; perhaps, as in the case of mo-
thers with offspring whose birth has been attended with
more than usual pain and sorrow, because be had to work
very hard to see it properly ushered into the world.
(Laughter.) He had no doubt it would prove a worth)
bantling, arid do him credit. (Laughter.) There was no
doubt as to the importance to commerce and to agricul.
tore of such a railway, and there was as little doubt that
that importance would at once be recognised by all en-
gaged in trade and agriculture in the districts through
which it passed, and which it would connect. (Hear,
hear.) It would especially be a benefit to, as would be
benefitted by, the docks at Birkenhead; and it was •
vision, perhaps a true one, of his, that the time would
come when (unfortunately for the warehouse interests)
bales of cotton would be shipped at once at Birkenhead oe
to the railway, and by that, without an instant's delay+
conveyed into the factories of Manchester. (Cheers and
laughter.) He sincerely hoped that would eventually be
the case. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of Sir B.
Brooke and the landlords on the line. Sir Richard brieff
returned thanks, and proposed " Prosperity to the Birken;
head, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway, and
much good may it do the country." . _

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and referring to the-
locality in which his own business was carried on, hoped
that the railway would form the connecting link between
the manufacturing districts of South Wales and the north
of England.
" The Trade of the Mersey," given by the CHAuxmArtr
was ably responded to by Mr. S. HOLME.
After some other toasts, the CHAIRMAN, in an exceed,
ingly complimentary speech, in which he dwelt upon the
indefatigable exertions made by that gentleman to pro-
mote the success of the line, proposed the health of gr.
John Laird, who returned thanks in a neat speech. hir•
Laird concluded by proposing the health of Mr. Rendal.
Srveral other toasts were given and drunk, and at.
about three o'clock the company started by a special trail)
on their return to Warrington.

Nov. 17, 1846.