Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South Wales Independent

Spirit of the Public Pi-ess. LORD DURHAM.—At the very time when we were answering the attack of the Weekly Chronicle,' that journal was in very handsome terms withdrawing its charges, the fancied ground of which, however, it still attributes to our having confounded moderate Radicals with the Anarchists. Our contemporary will, on a moment's consideration, see that the error on this point has been his; for we specified ultra section, and further, to fix beyond the possibility of a dcubt the men referred to, we alluded to their complaints that Lord Durham had abandoned his principles when he disappointed their wild hopes in '37. The Radicals were guilty of no such injustice, but the pages of the ultra or Tory-Radical organs will be found1 foully stained with it. Our contemporary says-" Let us hear no more of I splene- tic factions,' but recognise every man as an honest member of the Liberal party who agrees in opinion upon certain great questions." Let us try the practicability and expediency of this advice by a ready example. In the last number of 'Tait's Magazine,' under the head of Lord Durham and the Reformers, we find these stupid and insolent passages That we are on the verge of some change, no one doubts, though nothing certain can be predicted, save that the Duke of Wellington may now have the Whig Ministry dirt cheap- i. e., at salary price—if he is willing to strike the bargain; and that the Radicals may gain Lord Durham for a feather tv the cap of liberty, if they will only be Biore prompt in their flattery, and strike while his Lordship's wrath is hot. The moment the Whig government took courage to slam the doors of the Court and the Cabinet in his face, and to withhold that Plymouth salute-pitifully to withhold it Lord Durham's course might have been foretold.. There is now for him no alternative between sullen silence, and that high part for which his haughty temper, his aristocratic prejudices, and family con. nexions would render him inapt, although he did not possess those command ng qualities of intellect, and the various talents necessary to the leader of a great party in times like the pre- sent. Heaven knows, however, that the Whig swindling sys- tem has brought the cause of Reform, in its practical working, to a condition in which Reformers cannot afford to throwaway one atom of strength. If the Earl of Durham be, at; his adu- lators allege, willing to confess his errors, or even to be silent about them--to refrain from injudiciously vindicating his Ca- nadian policy, and from claiming merit and triumph from it- the Reformers, having security for the future, may probably grant him indemnity for the past. Notwithstanding the zeal and industry of the precursory, Mr. Wakefield, and the tact and address of the re-Durhamizing journals, the Radical Reformers are any thing but alert in hailing us one of their leaders the man who, upon the small capital of three speeches, gained a great reputation for staunch and sterling Liberalism and, the moment that his supposed influence at Court gave him the means of performing or at- tempting some real service, insolently turned his back upon him, and, by a gratuitous blunder, a piece of inconceivable folly, wrote the memorable epistle to that Mr. Bowlby who is characteristically employed in getting up addresses of con- fidence and Durham Demonstrations. Those Reformers are worse than besotted who degrade themselves and their cause in this way. Let Lord I urham now Demonstrate. Itls in his turn. We trusted him, and have been woefully decttfed. Let him express his regret and penitence, and he will be for- given and restored, and taken back at his real value, which we apprehend the world now sees to be something considerably less than that at which he rates himself. We claim to have equally (rood, or better opportunities of knowing the state of public feeling than those who, in interested newspapers, and at abortive meetings, would represent the people as in a state If idiotic excitement and enthusiasm about Lord Durham, the ex- Rudical, ex-Ambassador, ex-Dictor. It is a palpable mistake. The people are not such gulls. Russia, Canada, and the Bowlbv manifesto, are not so easily forgotten. Lord Durham in his present trim may be obtainable but the question become^, 011 what terms he is worth having? Is he not likely to be more a hindrance than a help ? This dis- cussion war, however, be very safely deferred until it is seen wlmt he will <10. He is in the use of issuing Bowlby manifes- toes and Canadian proclamations let him issue one now, tell- itiar us what he will do for us on what terms he will negoei- ate on what principle not to be abandoned when it becomes convenient to his Lordship to make his peace with the Court — he is willing to take his stand among our lea,1, n, with or under the B'/ou^hams, Humes, O'Connells, Wards, Leaders, Iloe- Vll -V,. Thompsons A»tVW'K TT-,«vey«. ;a brief, every able public man who is wiliing to forget the past, to make manly and magnanimous sacrificcs of small objects, and unile for the energetic promotiom of the common cause. To close this subject If Lord Durham, without requiring farther cajolery and flattery, choose to come manfully forward, and declare for Household Suffrage, Triennial Parliaments, and the Ballot—his principles avowed at Glasgow—we shall be content, in the meanwhile, with the earnest efforts to pro- cure so valuable an instalment, and not press him hard oil the question of Church, Hereditary Legislators, Primogeniture, or even the Corn Laws. But the Durham policy must be imme- diate. For all that his Lordship ever volunteered the country is now more than ripe —it is impatient. The toes of the Uni- versal Suffrage multitudes already gall the kibes of the more cautious Reformers. We give his L rdship one more month of grnce, and pray him to make good use of it in redeeming him- self and serving his country. He has tried the Whigs he has tried the Court. If lie choose frankly to throw himself upon the rational Reformers with repentance and earnest endeavour, we give him a cordial welcome back and promise that all that is past shall be buried in oblivion. "Waiving our doubts and tears, and assuming that Lord Durham is the high-minded patriot which his friends and his tail represent him, he will come promptly, in the face of an imminent and i' vitable crisis, and, sinking all merely personal resentments and grievances, remembering that it is his own Whig allies and his own political blunders that have injured him, cordially co-operate with the other Reform leaders. Acting in this spirit, we should deem Lord Durham a valuable accession to the national cause—a cause most hopeful, even at this its seemingly lowest ebb, could its true friends be fused into one compact body:" Now, we ask, what but disgrace would such an organ as this bring to any party—to any cause ? After vilifying Lord Durham after charging him with the betrayal of the people- after insinuating that he is a creature of conceit and passion- after deprecating his talents and his conduct, and representing him as having gained an overrated reputation upon the small capital of three speeches after all this tissue of defamation, the calumniator coolly concludes that, if Lord Durham will cor- dially co-operate with certain leaders (the Roebucks and Thompsons having been named amongst others), he will be a "valuable accession to the national cause." If anything could dishonour a great cause, it would be such dishonest advocacy as this. If Lord Durham were the thing, or had ever been capable of being the thing described by his tradueer, base and despicable indeed would be the cause that could need the aid of his feeble and faithless hands. As well, in any honourable society, might a speaker say, Such a one is a thief, a cut-purse, a fellow without talent or principle; but if he will join us, and keep hands from picking and stealing, he will be a valuable accession to our cause." And what are the notorious facts, in contempt of which Lord Durham is so defamed ? That he is one of those men who were Reformers before Reform was the fashion, and when it marked a man out for the obloquy of the society in which his lot was cast; that he was an advocatc of literal opi- nions, and champion of popular rights, when fighting the up. hill battle with misrule was no holiday service; that he has never swerved from a principle that to his suggestions and exe tions we are indebted for the best features in the plan of the Reform Bill. the metropolitan boroughs especially owing existence to him last: lastly, that, when the Grey Ministry first faltered and proved remiss in the work of reform, Lord Dur- ham's was the voice that protested against the derilection, in those three timely and masterly speeches which his traducer sneers at as the small capital upon which his reputation has been founded. When Lord Brougham, in the fulness of power and reputation, and surrounded by the partisans and supporters of the Ministry, made his anti-reform speech at the Edinburgh dinner in '34, Lord Durham rose up against him, and struck him down in all his might by a vigorous assertion of the just elaims of the people. This, at the time, was a great senice- a service requiring the highest moral courage and strength of purpose—a service that reanimated and rallied the Reformers at a moment when they were most depressed—a service never to be forgotten but it is one amongst many. Such men as the tradueer or Lord Durham, whose language we have quoted, can bring neither credit nor influence to any varty; they have no character for sagacity or judgment, noi for aught but violence, and it is felt that their politicallucu- brations are like an idiot's tale, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."— Examiner. IRISH RAILWAYS.—We have already remarked that there can he no greater mistake than to regard the Report of the Irish Railway Commissioners as a document calculated to check the ardour of public enterprise in railroad projects. The effect of the Report will be, not to extinguish zeal, but most seasonably to enlighten and direct it.. The Commissioners have laid before the nation a most cheering view of the hopes and prospects of Ireland. Without taking into account the powerful impulse whirl: would be given to the general industry of the country by the operation of railways, the evidencts of growing prosperity, under existing circumstances, are sufficient of themselves to justify the liveliest faith in the success of such tin:1 -takings. TIe increase of commercial wealth and activity in Ireland is demonstrated by a series of most interesting facts, which cannot he too generally known to the mercantile classes of this coun- try. Within the last few years, we are informed, grinding, malting, brewing, and distilling, have made great progress. The construction of water-wheels and other machiuery has been much improved, and steam has been extensively combined with water power. In the quality of Irish produce of every kind the same improvement has taken place, while the quantity produced and exported has been augmented vastly., From north to south," say the Commissioners,. "indications of progressive improvement are every where manifest." The only processes of "grinding" and "brewing"- that flourished under the Tories were the grinding of the people and the brewing of political commotions. It is true that the agita- tions of Irish society have not yet entirely subsided, but it is gratifying to find that the natural motions of the system are free and healthy notwithstanding. The admirable section on the influence of rail-ways in developing the resources of a country contains a multitude of statements calculated to inspire the fairest hopes of the success of those works in Ireland., We have direct proofs," say the Commissioners, that Ireland is as capable as other countries of being influenced by the same cause, and of profiting by its operation," and they forcibly add, -there is this additional motive to recommend the subject for consideration, that the backward state of the country presents a stronger obligation as well as a wider scope for improvement." Past misgovernment and neglect has certainly left us an ample field for benevolent exertion in Ireland, and decidedly the moral obligation to commence the work of amelioration grows stronger every hour.. The nature of that obligation was never before so cleariy stated, to the people of Enzland- The present is the first Government that ever promulgated the doctrine that it was the dutv of Englishmen, tot make the relief and improvement of Ireland their- business, and the good sense as well as the good feeling of our countrymen forbid us to doubt the success of the appeal. From the prosperous results that have followed other projects that have from time to time been undertaken to better the state of Ireland, the fairest auguries are to be drawn for the enter- prize now recommenced. In every case where a new common road has been opened through districts before impervious, an increase of traffic and intercourse has been the uuifurm conse. quence. The labours of Mr. Griffith in the south, and Mr. Nimms in the west, have materially raised the condition of the population by extending the field of their industry, and contri- buted to the tranquillity of the country by opening and facilita- ting communication through tracts where guilt and outrage had previously found secure asylums. Results equally happy have attended other undertakings, proving the aptitude of Ireland to profit by all the efforts of public or private enterprise to develop her resources and give her energies employment. The regular establishment of steam navigations llpon the prin- cipal rivers, and along-the coasts of Ireland, as well as between the ports of the two islands, has given to mercantile and gen- eral social activity a vast impetus. Not only have old branches of trade been extended, but nine-tenths of the traffic at present carried on is new, for instance, the trade in fattened cattle. Thai a well-arranged system of railways would have the effect of continuing and extending through the country the advanta- ges which the out-ports have thus obtained by the introduction of steam-vessels seems to be indisputable. In fact, in the pre- sent state of commerce, the railway is an exigency of the coun- try,-one of the principal wants of Ireland. Perhaps we might lay down a general proposition, and say that a railway is a corollary from a steam-ship. The necessity for establishing this mode of internal convey- ance is exhibited most powerfully in the case of the export trade in cattle, which within the last fifteen years has so enormously increased. Taking cattle of all kinds collectively, the number exported from Ireland in 1825" was about 200,000; in 1835, it had risen to verv neer 600;000. There is, therefore, the greatest weight in the following rcpresentations- e have already mentioned that a considerable traffic has been formed, since the application of steam vessels to purposes of commercial transport, in the exportation of fat cattle. The direct benefit, however, derived from this trade on the part of Ireland, is confined to counties adjacent to the eastern ports, or connected with them by canals; for the condition of the animals would suffer so much by their being driven any con- siderable distance, that they are neccssanlydispused of in some neighbouring market; and thus the great feeding counties of Limerick, Clare, and parts of Tipperary and Queen's County, are precluded from the advantages recently opened to other places. A railway intersecting the country from Dublin would place the cattle of those rich pastures within reach of Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, there-by insuring to these mar- kets a larger supply, and of superior quality, while the profits of the Irish feeder would be proportionally enhanced." TTpo" the rff ef th.2 c-xU-'r-l-1 ir.:crr..uvt:c E1.t.1j- take place between England and Ireland, in consequence of au increased facility of travelling in the latter, considerable stress is very properly laid in the Report. Most true it is, and not more true than deplorable, that" Ireland is very little known to the British people;" nor can we imagine any better means of promoting that most valuable of useful information (in fact, it is self-knowledge) than the execution of a great system of public works, opening an easy and rapid mode of communica- tion through the island. Bacon, in the Advancement of Learn- ing, interprets the text in the prophet Daniel. — "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased "—of the effects to be anticipated from the progress of nautical adventure, and what he calls the openness and thorough passage of the world." With how much more force would this application of the prophetic words have struck our great philosopher, had he seen the steam-ship and the railway. Multi pertransibunt — may well be exclaimed of these days of ours, and yet we see but the infancy of these mighty instruments of ciyiliz;ion and enlightenment. The steam-ship was the first bond of real un- ion between England and Ireland; the rail-road will make that union thorough and indissoluble. Most truly observed the French Minister of Public Works, in a late address to the Chambor of Deputies- Railways are, next to the invention of printing, the most powerful engine of civilization that the ingenuity of man has ever devised. It is difficult, if not impossible, to foresee and define the results which they must of necessity at some period produce on the fate of nations." Examiner. How is the country to be tranquillized ? That is the ques*- lion. Arrest the agitators, suppress public meetings by pro clamation, suspend -no, dare not say, but they hint- suspend the Habeas Corpus Act, and gag the Press, say one party. Repeal the Corn-laws, give cheap food to our artisans, and thereby a fair field. of competition with other countries to our manufactures, say another. Give us Universal Suffrage, V ute by Ballot, and Short Parliaments, say a third. Let us keep our places and patronage, and leave the country to Pro- vidence, say a fourth. And while these several propositions are directiy or indirectly urged on public attention, the time is rapidly approaching when the choice of means to tranquillize the country will be wrested from the hands of the Legislature, and the preservation or the restoration of order will rest in the theory of chances. Let us examine the propositions seriatim. The application of arrests, proclamations, &c., to those ae- quainted with the actual condition of the country, so far from appearing calculated to tranquillize the ountry, are the very means most of all others likely to kindle the flames of civil commotion. The repenT of the Corn-law s, which, by the way, is a hopeless expectation in the present constitution of Parlia- ment—whatever chance there may be of establishing a low and fixed duty —might for the moment appease the agitation of hungry stomachs, but it would not in satisfy the intel- lectual wants of the age. For our own part we have but little hope for the country in. the repeal of the Corn-laws, or in any other measure not calculated to give to the people a fuller and fairer representation of their opinion in Parliament than they eojuv at present. The game of holding place and patronage, and trusting the countiy to Providence, is one which cannot last; through whateror favourable occurrences it may be pro- tracted, it is liable at any moment to be brought to an abrupt conclusion and, therefore, in reply to the great question- "How is the country to be tranquillized ?" the extension of the Suffrage, the Ballot, and the shorter duration of Parliaments, is the only proposition which really is worthy of public consi- deration Such is the complexion, baffle, elude, or disguise it as they will, to which we must come at last. Much diversity of opinion exists as to the actual state of the country-, but the broad fact is, that if about two or three years since there was a re-action towards repose, after the c, citement incidental to the passing of the Reform Act, there is now a re-action to- wards—we shall not say what of a contrary character, which can be set at rest only by concessions similar to those which on the former occasiolllulled it to quiescence.—Morning Ad- vertiser. PRIESTLY TYRANNY.—The Rev. D. James, of Kirkdale, in Lancashire, has published an attack on the Irish system of Education adopted in the Corporation Schools by the Liver- pool 1 own-council, in the shape of a letter (as we gather from the extracts we have seen) to some person whom he refused to admit to the sacramental table on account of his support of that system. This is a specimen of Mr. James's Christian meek- ness and charity- "And did you expect, Sir, that I should have admitted any of you, after so solemn a mockery of God and Christianity, to the privilege of communicating with the saints, without a word of remonstrance? }\ 0, Sir; I should not allow any man so far to deceive himself as to suppose that, under these circum- stances, 1,1' was n fit and proper person to set his hands to the seals of the new covenant. I should have called upon him first to declare his regret and sorrow for his past conduct, and openly to disavow having any participation in the propagation of heresy. And, in so doing, I should only be following the example of St. Paul: 'Holding fuith and a good conscience: ",11;ch some having put away, concerning faith have made ship- wreck: of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I hare delirered nut a Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.' —1 Tim. i. 19, 20." [Churchmen are indeed attempting to carry matters with a high hand. Their impotent vi.ilenoe raises the suspicion that the downfall of die Establisbmeut approaches. I Spectator.

Railway Communication with Ireland Report of George Stephenson, Etq., upon the proposed Rail- way Communication with Ireland. To the Directors of the Chester and Crewe Railway Company* GENTLEMEN,—Agreeably with the instructions which I re- ceived from you, I have carefully examined the country from Chester to Holyhead with die view of carrying a Railway be- tween those places, to facilitate the communication between England and Ireland, as well as to accommodate the extensible intervening district with a railway communication., I have- also according to your request, examined the country from Portdynllaen as far as Chirk, with the view of compariug the Line of Railway recommended in- the report of the Irish Rail- way Commissioners for serious consideratiou, as a eommunica- tion between England and Ireland, with that proposed by you. from Chester to Holyhead, and I have now iliehoIWIU to report, to you my opinion upon those routes.. From Chester to Holyhead. This line should commence at the junction of the Chester and Crewe Railwav, with the CI tester and Birkenhead Railway,and passing under Northgate-street, cross the south of the canal dock, and thenee across the river Dee it then runs nearly pa- rellel to the river through Flint, Bagillt, Greenfield, Mostyn Quay, and pursues its course a little inladd round the flatland, avoiding Talacre point, to Rhyddlan, where it crossea the river Clwyd, from. thence across the marshes to near Abergele, and along the edge of the sea beach, and nearly parallel to the turn- pike road, leaving the Great and Little Ormes Head a little to the rightit then crosses the river Conway on the south side of the present suspension bridge, and under the south side of the castle and town it again approaches the coast and runs along the marshy grounds adjoining it, and pursuing the beach below the turnpike road, past Penmaen Mawr, to within a short dis- tance of Penrhyn Castle, where it diverges inland and passes Penrhyn Park on the south side, entirely avoiding all the plea- sure grounds from thenee it passes under the turnpike road, opposite the Penrhyn Arms, and across- the valley in. which the town of Bangor is built, and under some high ground which is between this valley and the Menai Straits it then bends round, and running nearly parallel to the Straits, arrives at the Great Suspension Bridge, crossing which it pursues its course through the Isle of Anglesey, nearly parallel to the mail road, until it reaches the marshy grounds on the south side of the Marquis of Anglesey's monument, thence near Llanddaniel, and through the opening in the ridge near Dinam Hall, over the extensive marshy ground near Trefdraeth in a tolerably direct line to Holyhead, when it enters the town near the old road, and may be carried to any part of the packet station which may be con- sidered most convenient, the ground being extremely favour- able for that purpose. I will now describe the nature of the works to be executed, and the inclinations on this route. The River Dee at Chester, I recommend should be crossed by a wooden bridge, which may be done with facility and at a moderate cost; from this place the line will be nearly level to Bangor, and the works to be executed from Chester to Abergele, a distance of 33 miles, will merely cousist of Road Bridges, with slight Embankments, in order to keep the Railway clear from the floods and high tides. A bridge will be required at the crossing of the River Clwyd, near Rhyddlan, this however will be very little more expense than a common Road Bridge. Between Abergele and Llan- dulas, some sea walling will be necessary from thence to the crossing of the River at Conway, the work will be of a very moderate character. The river Conway will be crossed by an Embankment and wooden bridge which will be very easily effected, a short tunnel will then be requisite in carrying the line behind the Castle and. under the high part of the tow-n. The Line then pursues very favourable ground until it reaches Penmaen Mawr, at this place some portion of the rock must be cut away and sea fencing adopted for a short distance, but no tunnel will be requisite.. The line again leaves the shore and pursues a favourable country to the south side of Penrhyn Castle, where some tunneling will be necessary, the material being of the Slate formation; this tunnel although short and free from water, will be the most expensive work on the line, it is however a very short depth from the surface of the ground. This tunnel carries the Line under the high ground, intervening between Penrhyn Castle and Bangor. At Bangor the Line will be carried sufficiently high to pass over the lower streets, it then passes under the ridge between Bangor and the Menai Straits by a tunnel of about Ion yards in length, after which no heavy woik will be required as far as the Menai Bridge. This Lhitiire which is about 1 OO feet afiore Mgft water will lie the highest portion of the Lii;e and I propose to convey the car- riages across the Bridge by horses, and have a Locomotive Engine stationed on each side of the Bridge—The line then crosses the Isle of Anglesey, where 110 heavy works- have to be encountered and the inclinations are favourable. The whole length of the route described is 82 miles, and it is my opinion that 60 to 70 miles of this distance will deviate very littie from the level line, and the inclinations throughout are of a most favourable character. From Wolverhampton to Portdynllaen. After completing my survey from Chester to Holyhead,. I proceeded to examine the country- from Porfdviillaen, and in- vestigated the country as far as Chirk, this being the route recommended for consideration in the Report of the Irish Railway Commissioners.. The country from Portdynllaen to near Tremadoe, is tolerably favourable for a railway, and may be carried into execution at the average cust of railways. At Portdynllaen the line commences from 60 to 80 feet above the level of the sea, which is an unfavourable altitude for the ter- minus of a railway. The inclinations from this Port to Tre- madoe are of an easy character. In approaching Tremadoc the country becomes very rough and unfavourable. A consi- derable bay must be crossed at this place, which will be at- tended with great expense. The line then passes along marshy and favourable ground as far as Barmouth; but on arriving at this place, and after a careful investigation of the country, I come to the conclusion that, although it is not absolutely im- possible to carry a line of railway through it, yet the difficulties to be encountered are so great, and the expense of executing the work will be so enormous, as to render the country, in the general acceptation of the term, impracticable for a line of railway. The tunneling and excavations which it is absolutely necessary should be made through the old formations consisting of Basalt and the compact Slate Rock, are of a far more ex- tensive character than have as yet been attempted. I however- still pursued the route as far as Dolgelley and the summit of the country, which here rises in the space of ten miles, five or six hundred feet. The expense required to form this portion of the country into a railway, even if it be worked by stationary engines, would exceed the cost of any railway yet attempted. It is stated that two miles of tunneling will be required at the summit. This tunnel alone I have no hesitation in saying, would be a work of sueh difficulty and expense, as to render the whole line a most unfit project, either for a private company or government to carry into execution. A great number of the summit valleys of this portion of the country are composed of the Debris from the adjoining mountains, and as the time re- quired to make a tunnel two miles in length without working shafts would be too great, especially through such material as exists here, it would be absolutely necessary to snik shafts through this Debris, which is of so loose a nature as to allow the water to pass freely through it. The power of engines requisite for draining the tunnel and shafts during the execu- tion of the works must be larger than I have any conception of. If however the tunnel should be carried below the Debris, the rocks through which it must be executed being either Basalt or the compact Slate formation, render the project one of such magnitude, and attended with so much difficulty and expense, as to be, if not impracticable, yet most unadvisable- After passing the summit of the country, I still pursued the route along the course of the Dee, where the country is favour- abl for several miles, and until within a few miles of Llangollen, where the country again becomes exceedingly rugged, and the extraordinary tortuous course of the stream, and the high abrupt mountains abutting on each side, render the works to be executed of far too expensive a nature to be even attempted. Having arrived at Chirk, and being convinced of the inexpe- diency of attempting to carry a line of railway through the bridge, I abandoned my intention of examining the country further southward, and although I do not think it is necessary to make any further comparison between the two lines as a great communication to Ireland, yet with the view of laying before you all the information on the subject that my limited time will allow me, I invite your attention to the following considerations of the comparative advantages possessed by these two routes, with regard to the actual distances from the principal districts in England and Ireland. It is admitted, that from Holyhead" to Dublin there is a saving of four miles, being half an hour in time, over the pas- sage from Portdynllaen to Dublin, this saving I shall carry through the following calculation of distances — I MILES. London to Dublin, via Birmingham, Wolverhamp- ton, and Shrewsbury, to Portdynllaen 260 Via Rugby, Tamworth, Chester, and Holyhead 258 2 It thus appears that by the Holyhead line there is a saving of six miles. It may be said, however, this will be compensated for by the stoppage necessary to pass the Menai Bridge but as all persons travelling from London to Dublin, Via Birming- ham, Wolverhampton, and Portdynllaen, will be subject to the tedious stoppages which must always occur at Birmingham, and which they would not encounter in travelling by Tamworth, along the proposed Manchester and Birmingham Extension Railv'Y; I consider myself fairly entitled to the whole savfng of distance without any consideration as to the stoppage ai the Menai Bridge, which may be very short indeed ifoeces- sary. MILES. Distances frost Liverpool to Holyhead; via Chester, Llangollen, and Portdynllaen 120 Via Chester, Bangor, and Holyhead 97 23 And saving of distance frora Holyhead to Dublin 4 27 This saving in distance of 27 miles, applies also to Man- chester, Leeds, Hull, York, Sheffield, and all those towns the- traffic from which has heretofore been carried to Ireland, by way of Liverpool.. But, independently of this saving in dis- tance from, the towns last mentioned, the Line to Holyhead possesses advantages over that to Portdynllaen, (supposing even it were practicable to execute that line with thte inclinations which are represented) of a far more important character, and this is in the nature of the inclinations to be encountered.. From. CSestet to Holyhead the line runs through a flat country, and throughout the whole distance the greatest altitude of the line above high water is where it crosses the Menai Bridge whereas the line to Portdynllaen has to surmount a summit of" 590 feet; the consequence is, that the one line is almost leveL throughout, whereas the other line has an inclination for tO miles, rising 35 feet a mile, and. an, inclination of 2 milils rising- 25 feet a, mile; and knowing- as I do, the great value of good and easy inclinations, this is a very important feature in favour of the Ime by Holyhead. Jn fact, from whatever quarter the- traffic may coste, the great advantages of the Htfyhead line- in point of inclination are very material points in its favour, especially when it is considered how very desirable it is that- the utmost punctuality at all times should be attained in the- transit of the Mails to ]Dublin, which it wouli'be in vain to. attempt at quick speeds if the engines had to-pass over a Rail-- way where- the inclinations are not of the most favourable cha- racter. When I take into consideration the traffic at present existing- between Chester, Conway, BangoE, and Carnarvon, I aa strongly inclined' to believe, that, independent of the trafic- between England and Ireland, this district alone is of sufficient # importance to invite the attention of those who are dis- posed to enter into Railway investments, in consequence of the- very slight nature of the works to be executed, and the favour- able character of the inclinations.. In conclusion, I will merely repeat, that whilst the line from- Chester to Holyhead may be easily made, is a cheap line or- Railway to make, possesses gocd inclinations, and- is free from, difficulties, I consider the line from Wolverhampton to Port- dynllaen perfectly impracticable, in the general acceptation of the term as regards Railways; but were it not so—were the- works easily executed, and supposing the line a cheap line to make, it is not even then equal to the line from Chester to Holyhead, as a communication to Ireland, either as regards- distance or inclinations.—1 am, gentlemen, your most obedient. servant. GEO.. STEPHENSON. Newcastle upon Tyne, Dec-I 9,1838.

Proceeding's against Mr. Stephen*. On the second examination of this individual a new evidence, James Dean, a joiner, was produced, who stated he had heard Stephens says- The poor law was no law at all, and ought not to be obeyed; because it contradicted the law of God; and he that killed a poor law guardian in the execution of his duty did a religious service. He said they must go to the poor law guardians, pick them out and strip them, and get a soft painter's brush, but not to hurt them, and daub them over with tar, and feather them." After quoting some balderdash, the witness said—" Some- body shouted, 'We have no beef; we have no use for knives and forks.' Mr. Stephens saiu, 'Take them and put them to your tyrants' throats, and see how they will fit them.' Eventually Mr. Stephens was committed to Liverpool gaol, to take his trial on the- charge of misdemeanour at the next assizes, or to put in bail—himself for 1,0001., and two sureties for 5901. each. The conduct of Mr. Stephens in the examination has not. de-. noted any qualities above a very ordinary level. The solitary instance of tact was his promptitude in availing himself of the important omission of the cross-examination in the depositions. 4 We suspect that he was a man who hardly knows what^ic says, and who gets intoxicated with his own talk and the mob v applause that attends it. At tk niiieiiiig of Stephen's partisans it JIHULI.osier .14 Tuesday, professions of reliance on the law gave place to a language of a very opposite character. The Chairman (a Mr. J. Richardson) said—"We are determined to support Mr. Stephens, because he is the able advocate of the Chartists, with our money, with our bones, with our sinews—ay, with our sinews, if necessary." Mr. Feargus O'Connor, too, declared—" In my letter to the men of Wigan and Leith I told them that Stephen's defence was in their muscles, and not in the elements of the law was I not right ? (' Aye.') Oastler last night said something about 8 Stephens being transported. It is not a transportable ocence; but if it was, and if they convicted him, they should'only take his fettered limbs over my lifeless body to the hulks. ( Great. cheering.) • Mr. Feargus O'Connor, though he charges the government- t- with injustice and tyranny, admits that its- acts are mild com- pared with what would have been the conduct of a Tory mi- nistrv in the same circumstances and ne said, "H the Tories, had been in power, they would have shot Stephens first and- tried him afterwards." 4 We hope that the proceedings against Mr. Stephens have been commenced with more circumspection and wisdom than have appeared in the conduct of the first steps of them. If the case prove no better than:the management of its first stages, it will be a sorry business indeed.. But it is hardly possible to suppose that a step involving too probably serious consequences, in the event of failure, can have been taken without very sure and solid grounds in ample evidence. During the second examination of Mr. Stephens, it was given in evidence, by one of the witnesses, that he had seen a hundred' pikes at least since the meeting he thought there was one in nearly every house in the township of Bedford, and a good many in Leigh and the grinders might be seen grinds ing eight or ten twenty in open day. He had seen a hun- dred or two, some in the open air, others hanging up over chimney-pieces in houses, just as Mr. Stephens had advised^ them to do, all ground, sharpened, and ready for action. The facts of the two smithies engaged in manufacturing pikes was known generally to the inhabitants. Prior to his committal, Mr. Stephens, in addressing the court, referred-to the recent fire at Mr. Jowett's mill, at Ash-- ton, and intimated that it would be in his power to disclose the real incendiaries, and thus put the public in possession of a tissue of fraud and villany, such as never came before the country for many years. This statement made some sensation. The bail demanded of him was himself in 1000/ and two others in 500i. each. The bail being given and accepted. Mr. Stephens is again at liberty. We learn from a corres- pondent of the 'Sun' that on "on Thursday evening Mr. Ricfiaruton waited upon some of the magistrates at Blackfriars Innvand the inquiries instituted by Mr. Beswick, of the Police, having been announced to them to be satisfactory, the bail was perfected by the Clerk of the Justices, over a bottle of wine,' and at half past six o'clock Mr. Stephens was discharged from custody-" Shortly after the liberation a political ■>' Mr. Stephens's friends in Manchester took pLice, at which the custommrv violent language was in use. Mr. F. O'Connor his old strain declared that for his Tiews he would go to the death- They would never joiu Lord Durham—they wontd; never join Lord Brougham; but they would remain united,, and they would eventually be successful. He concluded by say- ing that he knew not how soon he might be incarcerated,. but neither dungeons nor racks would ever intimidate him." Mr. Oastler followed after the same fashion. He said that there was an open conspiracy for them. If he (Mr. 0.), was arrested, he hoped no man would become his bail-alt that he. waoted was, that they should have O'Connor, Stephens, and. himself, laid hold of, and they would prove to any judge in the- country that he could not adjudicate upon such a law. ( Cfeeers.) He panted for that day with all the veins and sinews of hit- heart. He would advise the people to save their pennies for the-pur- pose of buying arms. Their Quees had not a sufficient num- ber of loyal troops,, and he would advise them to arm themselves, in her (JVfence against the ruffian band whom O'Connell had threatened to invade her kingdom with. Would they do as. he bade them? ( Vehement shouts of Ay, ay.") He hadS just been informed that there were six troops of Dragoons in. the New Bailey. It depended upon themselves, now that-they had promised to support Stephens, not to allow their enemies to, ride rough-shod over them—they were the best friends of the country and the Queen, and he hopect her Majesty would throw herself upon their protection, and* dash the tyrants be- hind her back. ( Vehement cheering ) Well may the Stan- dard' at last disown this incendiary crew! "Though the Chartists agitators," observed this journal, "cannot serve their cause by violence, they have full power to ruin it--power- which, unfortunately, they have too successfully exercised- They have alienated from the opposition to the new poor law thousands of thousands, ay millions—they have forced us into the same ranks with the authors of that measure."

A few evenings since a fire was discovered in a farm belong- ing to Mr. D Chapman, of Beekley, Oxfordshire. The cow- house, stable, barn, cart-hovels, and sheds, were entirely des- I troyed. The horses in the stable were all saved, but the har- ness was burnt aud a considerable quantity of straw in tlie- cowhouse. It is suspected that it was the act of an incendi- ary, as the carter and his boy, both of whom had just returned! with the team, declare that they heard a report similer to that of a gun» which they thought proceeded from the cowhomfc.