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 sear
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 )Vies.Dorey were each sentenced to be imprisoned for tyro
years, and kept to hard labour.
Immediately after the sentences were prsvd 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 bet ughtT
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 tier
cessary steps, it is stated, are already being taken for 1116
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 M,,jestv's free pardon. It is also
understood that, as no proof was given as to the forgerifS'
Even l
of the different wits, a question on this point will be
raised, so as to obtain the opinion of the judges.
this the friends of Barber are sanguine that the result well
favourable, and terminate in the indictment being
quashed. Fletcher, who entertains no such hopes as his
fellow convict, is, from his state of health, not expected to
survive a very long period cf time; fur, since his commit-
tal, his disease, that of an affection of the heart, has in-
creased. The other convicts, particularly the two women.
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 i,f the parties been visited by "Ykent
except their professional advisers ; and, although aae
ne
separate from each ether, not a single inquiry vc"
by any one after each other ; the only instant e of anyt
like sympathy being exhibited was when Mrs. Sanders
heard the jury find tier guilty. She burst into a violent,
Sanders put his Lft arm round his wife's waist.
bear her fate
flood of tears, when her sister took her by the hand. and
both begged of her to be composed, and to n
cony be_
with fortitufle. Should the intended at
half ,a 1 Barber prove unsuccessful, llb nK rrison,
will directly afterwards be removed to the vl
h \Vales.
Soul
preparatory to their being sent to. New f-
rPre.leiic_Tatalanle.,icts
the tl:

SYMPTOMS OF REACTION AMONGST THE " F4EB
CHuRCHMN.N.—The' following paragraph noticing the
return
f
theminister,
congregation
a frtree Protestant
Elders, aarndt , s
the Establishment, we copy fron a Dundee paper of last
week,
week, and we are informed that the disposition here
shown to be satisfied with Li rd Aberdeen's trill is one not
t church, to
at all singular in Scotland amongst thoe who have been
hurried into the late secession movement.—" On Monday
evening a numeron4 meeting of toe Rev. Mr. Law's con-
gregation was held in their chapel, Reform-street, Dun-
dee, Captain John Sm:th in the chair. Alto. prayer by
Mr. Law, he shortly gave his reasons for resigning con-
nexion with the ' Free' Church, and returning into the
establishment. In his exPtolaton he stated that he con-
tpootrhteiobnos of
tf
con-
sidered the non=ini i usion prier pie secured by' Lord Aber-
deen's bill ; and that that reason for separating was nog,
removed. He then retired, that the congregation might
decide for themselves as to how they were to act in the
circumstances. Mr. Ivory Ktdd, one of the elders, after
stating tout all the elders and deacon's had agreed to join
the established church along with their pastor, moved a
petition to the pres'ltery. praying that the congregation
might be admitted into cumnunion-with them, which being
seconded by the clerk of Mr. Law's session,
was unaern_i*
mousiy adopted. A few of the ' Free' Church part),
in attendance, and one elder made himself ratlrr ween—
put
down. in atte:, piing di,sension, which was speedily
down. Mr. Law returned rafter the petition had been re-
solved on, and concluded with prayer. As we were leav-
ing the members were pressing forward to sign the peti-
tion; and we understand that in the space of hail an
hour nearly 200 names were adnihited.
FATAL ATTACK BY A BOAR.—We have the melancholl
task of recording the violent, and almost instantaneous
death of a venlig inhabitant of Gloucvster, who 0113°d_
Friday afternoon hurried into tternity under very dre"e.
ful cumstanct s. Mr. Fisher, mraintan, of Notagilt.
street who also occupies the first corn mill, at UptOn
Leonard's near this city, has at the latter place a boat' P.ll
which he has had some time in his possession, and wilts
we believe has gained a prize or prizes at agriculto_r-
exhibitions. On Friday afternoon, Mr. Fisher's sou, inf.
John Fi her, a fine healthy young man about twentY•tvi°
years of age, went to the mill, and the miller having occA"
sion to drive the lig from its stye, endeavoured to do sot
but as it evinced some stubbornness. young Mr. rasherr
said that he would get it out, and he opened the door
that purpose, when the bear rushed furiously on him and
seized him by the thighs, and the tusks of the infuriated
animal inflicted two most horrible wounds, both of whi,_c'
it is belteved,' tore open the large blood vessel, of tue
body, known as the femoral artery. The unhappy Vail
man exelaimed •• Oh Lord !" and a frightful gush of bloc`'
immediately filled his ttowssrs.
He walked
saved
from a linkf 1:
by
the miller's house, the blood flowing in a coati-
nuous stream all the way, r
and when he reached the gate
he reeled in a laiming state, and was
the miller's man, who caught hits in his arms and carried
him into the house, and in less than five minutes he was
corpse: The miller mounted a horse and galloped to
Gloucester, and returned almost immediately- with Mr.
Charles Canterbuck, of this city, surgeon ; but before his
arrival the vital spark had fled. The scene which ensued
in breaking the horrible intelligence to the bereaved
parents Was heart-renuing 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 in
his characier and conduct.—Gloucester Journal.
The " Banke:s' 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 balances
_
paid. This is an interesting document, but, as is obse_rvl_,
in the publication referred to, is no guide absolutelS Trt.
relative rank ant importance of the houses named.l the
None of the West End bankers, for example, are In
list, their demands upon the city being cleared by the et.
houses employed as their agents.y
banks, and swelling try that amount tne returns of lbws:
houses bill and stock
brokers' accounts have a similar effect, without being
true index of the amount of general banking business'
The following is the list referred to : Of
Amounts passed by the principal Banking Houses
London at the Clearing House-1840.
. X
- Barclay and Co ...
Glyn and Co.. ...
Jones, Loyd and Co 104,000,000
Masterman and Co.,
Robarts and Co.
Smith. Payne, and Co. .. 64,000,000
Williams and C 0.,. .
Barnett and Co.
Lubbock and Co • • •••• • 33,760,000
Stone, Martin, and C 0......... 33,700,00
Prescott and Co.
Denison and Co. ... 26,863,000
Hanbury and Co 24,700,000
Latibroke and Co.
Willis and Co..
.20,500,001)
Curries turd Co..
Snootier and Co
Price and Co.
Hawkey and C 0... . 15,000,000
Barnard and Co. .•• ..
Vero and C 0...
lingers and v o. 9,000,000
Dorrien and Co 8,000,000
Fuller and C 0.....

Biown and .
Bo.awfuet an.i Co. • • • 3,700,000
Sit:wen:4m and Co 3,500,000
Weston auu Cu. ...... 3,265,000
Total..

April 30, 1844.

RAILWAY INTELLINENCE.

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 place to enable a youth-
ful aspirant to public favour to make the acquaintance of
those interested in railway matters in this locality; and in
the next, beeause it affords a kind of text upcn which we
can found a few remarks of our own upon the same sub-
ject--44 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
Property that they exercise, to the uttermost, alt their
rights, while their duties, being forgotten, are neglected
and pass into disuetude. To the duties of railway pro-
prietors, the public bas always been sensitively alive. All
failures in speed, regularity, economy, safety, are culled
with care by the public censor, :et in a note book, conned
by rate, to cast into the teeth' of the great ' railway mo-
nopolists.' But then their rights—what are they ?'
Right, ! Who ever heard of the rights of railway pro-
prietors ? Rights! Why these monstrous monopolists—
these millionaires—these speculators—what rights have
faey ?' They have the right to be abused, to be found
fault with, to be lsgislated upon, to be set upon by boards
of trade and select committees—to carry her Majesty's
flails for nothing—to carry a peasantry in coaches, for
SS money than the cost, and less than half of what it costs
them to walk,—sin 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
nomPensate for loans'and risks, and expended money and
tune
and toil, and all this service ?—they may surely have
their hire and a reasonable profit upon their work ?
we must think about that—we will consider of it.'
„If they are to be paid arall, we must see that at least
In!Y are not too well paid.' Be it so.
11183:1Tuhtieer:bleetintghe rights of railway'property be'considered!
already so well understood. And first let
whatquire who these great railway proprietors are, and
autho;Pel: have done for the public. Are they not the
by enterpriseci 'one of the very greatest boons ever conferred
,caial adva and skill, upon commerce, industry, and so-
neement. Have they not carried through, to a
ti PPY issue, one. of the greatest. inventions of modern
antilnes carried it through in the face of difficulty, dis-
touragement, and vast unpopularity ?
" Let us see what has hitherto been the general ex-
pression of public feeling towards railways. The inventor
of anew art was deified by the Greeks and Romans. Are
we to advocate an apotheos,s of the great projectors and
Constructors of railways? There seems little fear, in the
present temper of public opinibn, 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. The 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-
try the greatest boon it has received in modern times,
s,fey had been conspiring to deface and impoverish it.
°ltch, in general, (for the instances of better judgment
;ere mere exceptions,) was the temper with which ran-
o:icy projects were met in the first stage of their national
the rstence. Lamentable enough ! but not unnatural. It is
aprice which those must be ready to pay who attempt
lYtbing at once great and new. But surely it entitles
them to enjoy their reward, when, in spite of these ob-
stacles, their energy and perseverance have conquered
success.
" 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 most sanguine of the
Projectors had not dared to promise. A rapidity of tran-
sit almost miraculous ; a reduction of expense quite unex-
ampled : system and uniform tariffs, substituted for irre-
gularity and vulgar extortion :—and with all this a safety
(which only the silliest panic could dispute) hitherto on-
Flown in public travelling. These were benefits—vast,
I,llcalculable, notorious :—experienced by every one every
day- Under any circumstances, they surely deserved a
tlarge reward : a larger, if the real difficulty of the task had
been troubled by needless hindrances. And how was this
reward bestowed ? By an universal outcry, so loud and
!general, that one might have thought it had been raised
denounce some great national enormity. The directors,
she engineers, the proprietors, the managers of railways
Were questioned, and lectured, and worried on every side.
Mortified men, who wanted courage to share in the work,
while it was full of risk—men of habit, averse to new ways
`men of rank and wealth, accustomed to command
wherever they travelled, and impatient of all regulations—
sregulations—
superseded rivals who covered their anger with pretences
republic care—liberals whose wisdom lay in repeating
word rases of monopoly.' 'competition,' and similar
hubbub t ideas—the weak of all classes whom the
tried,alarmed inventors, eager to have their nostrums
l sor at least' purchased—busy men anxious to regu-
late; ; idle men, wanting to be employed—all joined in the
cry while Parliament became suddenly full of zeal, and
the government itself, stepping in to meddle where it had
not
learned how to mend, after standing aloof when it
might have done good, seemed to sanction 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 biarden of what
now remains, may be referred to two principal heads—the
disposition of men in-power to interfere with whatever
they feel to be important ; 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. We admit fully the justice of the
elaim of railway proprietors to protection of their pro-
perty, and a fair profit to compensate for the risks 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 hD.ve also a strong opinion
With respect to the nature of its " duties," and greatly
suspect that they are not, in general, very satisfactorily
performed. We have given to powerful companies .a
monopoly, or at all events a quasi monopoly, which en-
ables them to levy from the public large revenues ; and in
return for this we have a right to demand for
.the public
the largest possible amount of accommodation and cheap-
ness.

It may be questionable how far we can now interfere
with companies already formed, to reduce extortionate
' Charges. Even as regards these, however, we are not
morally so much bound to non-interference as the writer
in the Railway Chronicle would have us infer. It was
,vidently in the contemplation of parliament, whilst pass-
enagtsTany of the bills under which existing railway inter-
", aye grown up, to restrict their profits within a cer-
}7ll ; and when we see such restrictions got rid of
Z,Y a side-wind—such as the creation of new shares, half-
-.4"aree, &c.—in order to enable proprietors to enjoy
dividends larger than the spirit of their acts prescribed
for them, we are inclined to say that such railways are not
Performing their " duties" to the public, and ought to be
12aade to do so. With respect to new schemes there can
be no hesitation in applyiur to them very stringent pro-
visions to insure moderate charges and accommodation.
In bills now, or in future to be brought before puha-
!7.ent, every care should be taken that,. after the payment
a fair interest for capital and risk, any surplus of re-
ceipts ought to be met by a reduction of rates. We can-
he depend upon the effects of competition to bring down
tens of railway companies, for in nine cases out of
a railway once formed becomes a close monopoly,
from the very hopelessness of such competition being suc-
cessful.
We understand that the applications for shares in the
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway, now greatly
exceed the amount of Ca pital to be disposed 'of.
A line of steamers is to be put on between Bristol and
Newport, in connexion with the Great Western Railway.
A vessel 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 JuNcrioN 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,
inconnexion with the Dublin and Cashel, capital£6oo,ooo,
has been taken up by all the monied interest in the local-
likt_te!l through which it will run. Mr. Brunel has planned
~;,improved
harbour at Wexford, which, in conjunction
mail the South Wales railway, will enable the London
Itkto be delivered at Wexford in less than 15 hours,
on
a:l%lr FROM PARIS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.—
72
Insitt4l"l de Fer Belge says, that the proposal by the
ir,l6o,ooot° grant fifty-four millions ot francs, about
aritto 'or the establishment of the railway from
the Yonq„, "an; that it will take the valleys of the Seine,
`or 1844," and Armencon ; four millions may be granted
NEW tell for 1845.
!leystind'iltiocE OVER THE MENAI STRAITS..—We un-
!nettai -n.?t the landed proprietors in the vicinity of the
I.hat it :''''"age oppose the passage of the railway, and
'8 therefore rob ble the passage across the Straits
voi 'lave to P a
b. ye, at be made at the Britannia Rock, and will in-
:Ff.:4%e - 'east, two arches of 350 feet span. This will
illea;l3°,,t gigantic railway work ever undertaken.—
n, e `.'aroarcie.
atearrtal of British railways now exceeds sixty mil-
Ur-44.411k Nillgr and yields a revenue of six millions per
early 2,000 miles of railway are already con-
ilaitieto," in operation, and the proposals of the present
tre tj'l7 session will have the effect of adding one-
itotof the. extent of this productive property. The capi-
'aid I'. Itit" railways has now become a great National
tio:11141,, is held, in larger or smaller quantities, by indi-
sour
of
zver rak f lfe and of every variet of osi-
?jai ce ef I)ecuPy ationn,o toi whom it affords a pry oducptive
erea4 in ei,4e°llle. As a security, this stock is every day
16 ant in Meter ; as an investment, it is every day in-
Inp, relative value. Every extension of the present
th-reaseri'leaus of branches over the face of the country,
lllt see4lsetostsabil:ity and value of this stock. Indeed,
ateh
„,. be little doubt that railway property will,
'ate fund7sin the same permanence and value as the
• --Railway Chronicle.

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
four miles of coach road between Gateshead arid Loud, n,
and the entire line, we are assured, will positively be
opened on the 181 h June.
IMMENSE RAILWAY STATION.—The great railway
station of Green's Field, Gateshead, is in course of rapid
erection. The length of the station will 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 m, post-office, &c. The building for
refreshments will comprise bed-rooms for travellers.
OPENINGS OF RAILWAYS IN MAY.—The next month
promises to be remarkably prolific in the opening to the
public of various important 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 month 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 fur 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 CORK RAILWAY.—Mr. Francis B. Bea-
mish, Secretary to the County and City of Cork Railway
Committee, returned from Dublin on Saturday evening
after having had several interviews with the provisional
directors of the propOsed line of railway between Dublin
and 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, and 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 stoppedin 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. Bearnish,
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 Constitution.

TRENT VALLEY RA ILWAY.—A correspondent (writing
from Manchester on Tuesday night) informs us " that the
Grand Junction and Manchester 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 be 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
his 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 has 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, bitt 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 laud, and
sowing the seeds of the world's ultimate universal peace.
Happy was the thought 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
slaughtered 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 Celtic
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.