, ' v ■ > THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY 385 . 4 - 2 . Jp (or i;ywiOI*IC$ jmm \ m PROCEEDINGS AT A PUBLIC MEETING e'ri THE TOWN HALL, IPSWICH, '• Wt SATURDAY, THE TWENTY-THIRD OF NOVEMBER, THE MAYOR in the Chair, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AND DETERMINING ON THE EFFEC WHICH THE SEVKRAL LINES OF RAILWAY PROPOSED TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE PARLIAMENT WHICH AFFECT THIS DISTRICT WOULD HAVE UPON THE TOWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD OF IPSWICH, Taken from the Ips wich Journal of the 30 th of November, 1844, Wi RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS xrC Suff0llt am* Murfalfc, SUBJECT OF THE SEVERAL PROJECTED LINES OF RAILWAY. REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT A PUBLIC MEETING HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, IPSWICH, Ewj'. ON SATURDAY, THE TWENTY-THIRD OF NOVEMBER, 1844, THE MAYOR in the Chair, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AND DETERMINING ON THE EFFECT WHICH THE SEVERAL LINES OF RAILWAY PROPOSED TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE PARLIAMENT WHICH AFFECT THIS DISTRICT WOULD HAVE UPON THE TQWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD OF IPSWICH, Taken from, the Ipswich Journal of the 3()th of November, 1844, WITH RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THE Cuunturi uf Sufftfllt antf ^urfrrlS, ON THE SUBJECT OP THE SEVERAL PROJECTED LTNES OF RAILWAY. PAW8EY, PRINTER, IPSWICH. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates https://archive.org/details/reportofproceediOOipsw ‘^WVTi^rVU. REPORT. its At Ip kr At a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants and Land- owners of Diss, in the County of Norfolk, and its neighbourhood, held at Diss, on Friday, the 27th day of September, 1844, to take into con- sideration the expediency of forming a Railway from Diss to Attleborough, to join the Norwich and Brandon Line. Moved by Mr. Farrer, Seconded by Mr. Barkham, and Resolved by a Majority on a Division, That it is of the utmost importance to the inhabitants of the town of Diss, that the line of Railway communication between Yarmouth, Norwich, and London, should pass through this town. Moved by Mr. Farrer, Seconded by Mr. Barkham, and Resolved by a Majority on a Division, That the proposed branch from the Norwich and Brandon Railway at Attleborough to this town, appears to this meeting — to be well calculated to forward this object, and as such, to be ^deserving of the cordial support and assistance of the inhabi- tants. Moved by Mr. Cupiss, Seconded by Mr. Dyson, and Resolved unanimously , That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the proposed line vTrom Norwich, by Attleborough to Diss, and from Diss to London by Brandon, will not establish , to the satisfaction of the ^inhabitants of this locality, the Railway communication between Norwich, Diss, and London, and that the inhabitants of this neighbourhood will be most essentially benefited by a line of Railway running through Ipswich to London. B 2 At a Public Meeting of Landowners and Occupiers in the County of Norfolk, and of the Tradesmen of the City of Norwich, held at the Guildhall, on the 7th day of October, 1844, convened by Public Notice for the purpose of considering the ex- pediency of a direct Railway communication from Norwich to Ipswich. W. Freeman, Esq. Mayor, in the Chair. Moved by Sir Wm. Foster, Bart. Seconded by T. O. Springfield, Esq. and Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, the projected extension of the Eastern Union Railway from Ipswich to Norwich by Diss, will be highly beneficial to the commercial and trading interests of the City of Norwich. At a Public Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Hun- dreds of Hoxne and Hartismere, in the County of Suffolk, convened by public notice, held at Eye, on the 14th day of October, 1844. The Rt. Hon. Lord Henniker, in the Chair. Resolved, That the establishment of a Railway communication betvreen the Port of Ipswich and the City of Norwich by the town of Eye, will be of the most essential benefit to the landowners and inhabitants of the Hundreds of Hartismere and Hoxne, by opening an immediate communication with the Ports of Ipswich and Yarmouth, and the important and populous City of Nor- wich ; and also with London and the Northern and Western 3 parts of the Kingdom, by means of the Railway now in course of construction ; and that therefore the projectors of the pro- posed Railway deserve the cordial co-operation of the inhabit- ants of this district. That the tow n and Borough of Eye, consists of upwards of 7000* Inhabitants, and being situated upon the direct line of Railway between Norwich and Ipswich, justly entitles the in- habitants to expect a first class station on the above line, cal- culated as such line and station are to improve the town and trade of Eye, and to benefit the inhabitants of this populous district. That a Committee be appointed to w r atch over the interests of this town and neighbourhood ; and that such Committee shall be open to communication with the inhabitants of Norwich and Ipswich ; and also to communication with any other Company projecting Railways through this neighbourhood ; that Committee to consist of the following gentlemen : — The Right Hon. Lord Henniker, Sir E. Kerrison, Bart. E. C. Kerrison, Esq. The Mayor of Eye, Thomas French, Esq. Thomas Utton, Esq. Rev. A. Cooper, and Dr. Chevallier. That a plan of a projected Railway from Diss to Yarmouth by Harleston, Bungay, and Beccles, to join the Eastern Union Extension Railway, having been explained to this meeting, Resolved, That the plan meets with the cordial approval of this meet- ing, and^that the Committee of the Eastern Union Railway, be requested to give their support to the proposed line to Yar- mouth. * The town of Eye has only 2300 inhabitants, but by the Reform Act, ten neighbouring parishes were added to the Borough to enable it to return a member to Parliament, through two of which the Rail- way runs. 4 At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Hundreds of Hartismere and Hoxne, duly convened by adver- tisement, and held at the Town Hall, Eye, on Monday, the 11th of November, 1844, to hear the Report of the Committee appointed to watch over the Interests of the Inhabitants of the Hun- dreds of Hartismere and Hoxne, with reference to the several projected Railways, and to take into consideration which of the proposed Lines of Railway passing in the neighbourhood should be supported by them. The Rt. Hon. Lord Henniker, in the Chair. It appearing to the meeting that the Ipswich and Norwich Railway Company had refused to make a deviation from their projected line in favour of the town of Eye and its neighbour- hood, and that the Diss and Colchester Railway Company had made a proposition to make a Railway from Diss through Eye, in the line marked out in the Ordnance Map produced at the meeting, and to give a first class station immediately adjoining the town of Eye, and a second class station at Thorndon, and to apply to Parliament next Session for the necessary powers to carry their propositions into effect. Upon the Motion of E. C. Kerrison, Esq. Seconded by Mr. Nurse. — It was Resolved, That the Inhabitants of the Hundreds of Hoxne and Hartis- mere should give their cordial support to the Diss and Colches- ter Railway Company in affecting the above objects. The following Amendment proposed by the Rev. A. Cooper, Seconded by Mr. Alfred Read, That the direct line from Norwich to Ipswich will be most beneficial to the Hundred of Hoxne and Hartismere, and that the Inhabitants thereof will support it accordingly — was nega- tived — two hands only having been held up in support of the amendment, namely, those of the Mover and Seconder. It was Resolved, on the Motion of the Rev. C. H. Day, D.C.L. Seconded by E. C. Kerrison, Esq. That the meeting supported the line projected from Eye to Stowmarket, in confidence that a first class station would be made at Mendlesham or Brockford, as might be most conducive to the interests and exigencies of the neighbourhood. And on the Motion of Mr. R. Tacon, Seconded by Mr. W. Barber. — It was Resolved, That the committee appointed at the last meeting of the Hundreds of Hoxne and Hartismere be requested to continue to watch over the interests of the aforesaid Hundreds, and that the Rev. Dr. Day’s name be added to the committee. A vote of thanks to the noble Chairman for his able and impartial conduct in the chair, was carried unanimously. At a Public Meeting of Landowners, Traders, and others, held at Stowmarket, on the 21st day of October, 1844, Sir Augustus B. Henniker, Bart, in the Chair. It was Resolved unanimously, on the Motion of Thomas Prentice, Esq., 1. That the intimate commercial intercourse and connexion which has subsisted for so many years between the towns of Ipswich and Stowmarket, has been to their great and mutual advantage. That the Eastern Union Railway Extension Line, as laid down on the Map attached to the prospectus, appears well calculated to preserve and extend such advantage. 6 2. That it is essential to the interest of the Town and Trade of Stowmarket, that any line of Railway from Ipswich to Bury St Edmund’s, should come through Stowmarket, and on the north side of the town, in the general direction shewn by the blue line on the Map. On the Motion of R. Bree, Esq.. 3. That the following Gentlemen be a Committee to watch over the interests of the Town and Trade of Stowmarket and its neighbourhood, with power to add to their number — Sir Augustus B. Henniker, Bart., Revd. C. Hill, Revd. W. H. Crawford, Robert Bassett, Esq., Revd. A. G. Hollingsworth, Capt. Parker, Revd. Edgar Rust, J. A. Webb, Esq., Thomas Prentice, Esq., John Marriott, Esq., Mr. J. A. Lankester, Mr. John Stevens, Mr. J. Fison. 4. That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chair- man, for his conduct in the Chair. Eastern Union Railway Extension, from Ipswich through Stowmarket to Norwich, and Bury St. Edmund’s. At a Public Meeting held in the Assembly Room, Stowmarket, on Monday, the 1 1th of November, 1844, Sir Augustus B. Henniker, Bart, in the Chair. The following Resolutions were unanimously carried. Moved by the Revd. C. Hill, Seconded by Thos. Prentice, Esq. 1 . That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the proposed Eastern Union Extension Railway from Ipswich, through Stowmarket, to Norwich and Bury St. Edmund’s, is well cal- culated to preserve and promote the convenience and trading interests of Stowmarket, and the agricultural interests of this district. Moved by Captain Parker, Seconded by J. A. Webb, Esq., 2. That the proposed Diss and Colchester Railway would pass through Suffolk in a way to sever the greater part of the country from its principal Town and Port, and would divert the traffic and trade of this district from the antient and accustomed course, in a manner very injurious to established and existing interests. Moved by the Revd. E. Rust, Seconded by the Revd. John Phear, 3. That the inhabitants of Stowmarket do therefore give their undivided support to the Eastern Union Railway projects of extension, presenting as they do, every prospect of certain advantages ; and that a declaration to this effect, be submitted for signature, and presented to the Board of Trade, when that Board may be called upon to decide between the lines pro- posed by the Diss and Colchester Company, and the Eastern Union Extension Company. Moved by William Rodwell, Esq., Mayor, of Ipswich, Seconded by the Rev. — Daniel. 4. That a vote of thanks be given to the noble Chairman for his conduct in the Chair. Carried by acclamation. 8 Eastern Union Railway Extension. Meeting at Ips- wich. Pursuant to Requisition addressed to the Worshipful the Mayor, a Public Meeting of the Bankers, Merchants, and Traders, and other in- habitants of Ipswich, was held at the Town Hall, on Saturday, the 23rd of November, to consider and determine on the effect which the several Lines of Railway connected with this District, and proposed to be brought before Parliament, would have upon the interests of Ipswich and its neighbourhood, and to take such measures with reference thereto, as should be deemed expedient. The attendance was very numerous, the hall being filled by one of the most respectable and influential assemblages ever before collected together within its walls. We observed present — Wm. Rod well, Esq, (Mayor of Ipswich) T. D’Eye Burroughes, Esq. J. Cobbold, Esq. D. Alexander, Esq. J. C. Cobbold, Esq. G. Bacon, Esq. J. E. Sparrowe, Esq. H. Bunn, Esq. C. Pretyman, Esq. L. Squire, Esq. G. Josselyn, Esq. W. H. Alexander, Esq. G. Bullen, Esq. R. Porter, Esq. H. Bartlett, Esq. Capt. Me Dougall, G. Clabon, Esq. F. Gower, Esq. G. G. Sampson, Esq. Charles May, Esq. C.E , James Ransome, Esq. E. S. Gowing, Esq. W. P. Hunt, Esq, S. A, Notcutt, jun. Esq. Capt. Heath, H. Aldrich, Esq. A. Ransome* Esq. R. Woodward, Esq. J. Head, Esq. Robert Ransome, Esq. and Mr. J. D. Harmer, Mr. G. Ransome, Mr. R. Miller, Mr. R. Deck. Mr. S. H. Cowell, Mr. T. Shewell, Mr. F. Pawsey, Mr. J. Footman, Mr. W. Churchman, Mr. C. Colchester, Mr. J. Corder, Mr. J. Cuthbert, and all the principal merchants and tradesmen of the town. 9 On the motion of L. Squire, Esq. The Mayor, who was called to the chair, briefly observed that, having received a requisition most respectably signed, he had not hesitated in calling the present meeting upon a sub- ject in which the interests of the town were so deeply involved. (Applause.) Mr. J. C. Cobbold, in rising to move the first resolution, took a general review of the whole subject, connected with the Railways projected in this district, especially pointing out to the meeting the manner in which the Eastern Counties* Railway Company had arranged their schemes, so as to place Ipswich in a very inferior position in comparison with other towns. He then alluded to the efforts made by himself and other gentlemen, to obtain the Act of Parliament, sanctioning the formation of the Eastern Union line from Colchester to Ipswich ; and touched upon the severe opposition they had had to encounter from the Eastern Counties’ Company, but which had been, fortunately for the interests of Ipswich, most successfully defeated. The Eastern Union Company, said he, as you are aware, now project a continuation of their line from Ipswich to Norwich, and we, therefore, come before you, re- questing your assistance, so as to enable us to complete the undertaking. It may be satisfactory to the meeting to be informed that the remainder of the undertaking, with which it is now proposed to proceed, is formed precisely in accordance with the recommendation made by Mr. Locke, the eminent engineer, in the early part of last year. That gentleman, however has since given the subject further consideration, and further surveys have accordingly been prepared, and it is in the highest degree satisfactory to know, that the course adopted has tended to confirm and strengthen the opinion which Mr. Locke before expressed, as to the desirable- ness of the line originally adopted. In his report, Mr. Locke pointed out the course of the line along the valley of the c 10 Gipping to Stowmarket; there leaving the valley, and con- tinuing to Newton ; from which place the branch to Bury St. Edmund’s would be proposed to unite ; then passing by Bacton, Cotton, Finningham, Thornham, Yaxley; crossing the Wave- ney, thence to Norwich. I feel satisfied that the consideration which has been given to the deviation made from the original line of the Eastern Counties’ Company ; for I should say there was a slight deviation made to embrace the very important town of Stowmarket — important to the whole locality in which it is situated, and extremely important to Ipswich from its established connection and trade — that deviation, the only one which has been made from the plan of the Eastern Counties’ Company, has been amply justified. You will also remember that subsequently to the passing of the Eastern Counties’ Company’s Act, the town of Ipswich had obtained an act for the improvement of its Port and Navigation, in connection with the contemplated improved communication to be given with the interior of the county, and not merely for the sake of the line to London, to which it would offer only a secondary advantage. The town of Ipswich has expended a considerable sum of money in effecting im- provements in the Port, and these have received the appro- bation of competent judges. I am one of those who were sanguine enough to anticipate, and still to hold the opinion, that all the advantages the inhabitants of Ipswich proposed to derive to themselves, from that very large expenditure of money, will be amply realized, if the present undertaking be per- severed in and carried out ; and that unless it be brought to so successful a termination, the town will be deeply injured, and the inhabitants subjected to great disappointment. (Hear, hear.) I think the carrying out the present project, is abso- lutely necessary in order to develope the advantages the inhabitants of Ipswich proposed to themselves, when they encountered so great an expenditure as that to which I have 11 referred. (Applause.) I need not point out the serious injury that would be inflicted, if the main line of traffic from Norwich, and Yarmouth and Lowestoft, and from all the surrounding populous and productive districts, should be carried round by Harling, or Bury, to Colchester, avoiding the port of Ipswich. I am quite sure there can be but one feeling upon the subject. But it may he necessary that I should point out to you the extreme industry that has been manifested in the endeavour to effect an object the parties were so anxious to accomplish, and which it was so manifestly the interest of the town of Ipswich to prevent. In the first place, the Eastern Counties’ Com- pany had expended their money ; indeed all the money they could raise, — and they have encountered liabilities, I believe, to some extent beyond — in order to take the traffic, which heretofore came through the Ipswich district, round by way of Cambridge, Ely, and Brandon : a company, in connection with them, has also established a line from Norwich to Brandon, and from Yarmouth to Norwich, in order to command the traffic in that direction ; whilst another project is now brought before the public for a Railroad from Lowestoft, to join the Yarmouth line; the effect of which would be to take the Lowestoft traffic some 20, 30, or 40 miles round : all these projects have been started for the sake of diverting the traffic from the port of Ipswich, which I need not say would be greatly prejudicial to the best interests of the inhabitants. I must say that Ipswich is very much indebted to the evidence received from Lowestoft, last session. That evidence was given by very competent judges, and in a very intelligent man- ner : it was to the effect that the bringing of the Railway, even so far as Ipswich, would, of itself, almost be the mainte- nance of the existing interests of the fishing trade at Lowestoft — that it would prevent its being removed to Yarmouth. So important is the fishing trade, that you are all acquainted with the great amount of traffic through Ipswich, a great proportion 12 of which is from Lowestoft, and from other places on this side of Yarmouth, all of which would be diverted from this district, if the plans now projected are to succeed, in opposition to that plan which has received the sanction of Parliament. Next, with reference to the Bury traffic, I am quite sure I do not over-rate the value of that traffic when I say, it is one of the most important feeders to the trade and commerce of this town — that, in the neighbourhood of Diss, I should say, very nearly, we furnish two-thirds of the trade, which goes through this port. Both of these it is now proposed should be taken away in different directions, by the original promoters of the under- taking that was to benefit Ipswich, and which received the. greatest assistance in Parliament from the support given to it by Ipswich and its neighbourhood. It may be said that the Yarmouth and Lowestoft districts are entitled, as well as our- selves, to have the benefit of Railway communication, in these times of improvement in locomotion. I am happy, however, to say that the proposal of the Eastern Counties’ Company, to make a Railway to connect Lowestoft with the Brandon line, in the way I have explained, is not at all wanted to promote the interest and advantage of the inhabitants of these districts : because a much better plan is now before the public, under most encouraging circumstances, for making a line to join the line of the Eastern Union at Diss, from Lowestoft, through Beccles, Bungay, and Harleston • thus keeping the traffic in its old and accustomed channels. I am quite satisfied, from the hands it is in, that it is likely to be brought to a satisfactory termination, and that it will form an agreeable feature con- nected with the whole undertaking of the Eastern Union Com- pany; establishing, as it will, a connection between the two projects, leaving nothing to be desired through the whole of the district which the line would traverse. The advocates of the Eastern Counties’ Company’s interests have also brought for- ward a line from Colchester by way of Hadleigh to Bury St. 13 Edmund’s — the same project that was before the public last year. They have likewise brought forward a line — at least not the same parties precisely, but they have given their sanc- tion to the parties who have brought forward another and most inconvenient line from Colchester to Hadleigh, and from Stow- market to Diss — one most injurious to the interests of the Ipswich district, if allowed to pass the legislature. I hope we shall not find a single voice in the town and district of Ipswich, that will not be raised in favour of maintaining the interests of the town and port with which we are all connected, in opposi- tion to the project in question. (Applause.) I have before referred to the report of Mr. Locke, the eminent engineer, con- firming the course pursued by the Eastern Union Extension Company, last year. It will also be desirable for the meeting to know the probability of success in going forward with their present undertaking. I am enabled to say that the prospects we have are most encouraging: we have every reason to believe, from the best consideration we can give the subject, and from all the opinions we can collect — we have every reason to believe that even our opponents think that the Eastern Union Com- pany have got hold of the right line. (Applause ) In the next place it may be satisfactory to the meeting to know, that the line can be accomplished with the means the company ask per- mission to raise. Upon this point, I can refer you with con- fidence to the report of Mr. Locke. He says, “ For the several items for the main line and the Bury branch, I have an offer from an experienced contractor to furnish all materials, in ex- ecuting the works, for the amount set down : you have, there- fore, the best assurance of the sufficiency of my estimates.” (Applause.) In addition to this, when I tell you that the con- tracts are made, and in active operation on that portion of the line which we have obtained the requisite parliamentary powers to Construct I am sure you will be satisfied ; and I am also sure it will not be the less satisfactory, when I tell those who were 14 not before aware of the fact, that the contractors are acting upon their promise of employing, to the utmost of their power, the labour, the materials, and the industry of the inhabitants of this district ; whilst I may also be permitted to add that a tradesman of Ipswich has contracted for the whole of the brick- work on the line, and that I hope he has done so on terms satisfactory to himself, as I believe he has to the satisfaction of those with whom he made the bargain. I can only conclude by saying that the line projected is, both in an engineering and commercial point of view, the best that could have been selec- ted. (Loud applause.) Mr. D. Alexander seconded the resolution, believing from the statements he had heard, that it was founded in truth and justice. (Applause.) Mr. G. Josselyn moved the second resolution, giving a sketch of the origin and progress of the Eastern Counties’ Line ; submitting that it had been the object of the Company to stop at Colchester, and, by their plans, to force the traffic from the Ipswich district by Ely and Cambridge. The promoters of the Eastern Union Line met with opposition in the last Session from those who ought to have been their supporters, but their bill was successful. The opposition now offered to the Eastern Union Company carrying out their project to Norwich, pro- ceeded from the same parties, under new faces ; for many of the Eastern Counties’ Company were shareholders and directors of the Norwich and Brandon Line, and were influenced by vindic- tive feelings alone against the promoters of the Eastern Union Extension project. There could not be two opinions as to which plan was fairly entitled to the full consideration of Parliament. (Applause.) Mr. Charles May seconded the motion, stating that no person who had any knowledge of engineering, or of commercial advantages, could have the least hesitation in saying, that the Eastern Union Line was the only proper line to be carried out, 15 and, therefore, its promoters could go with confidence to Parlia- ment for the necessary powers to construct the works. He had heard this opinion expressed privately by some of the most eminent engineers. (Applause.) Mr. Allen Ransome rose and said, I hold in my hand a resolution to the effect that the proposed Diss and Colchester Railway would divert the trade of this district from its ancient and long-used channels, to the serious injury of existing and old established interests, without any corresponding advantage, and would, therefore, be highly detrimental to the public and local interests of this Town and County; and that the proposed Diss, Beccles, and Yarmouth Railway, in conjunction with the Eastern Union Extension Line and branches, would, in a most satisfactory and advantageous manner, complete the rail- way communications for the districts traversed thereby. I very much regret there is no one here who can properly and thoroughly represent the advantages which are stated to belong to this proposed Diss and Colchester line, the more so that I apprehend them to be so difficult to be understood as to require a lucid explanation indeed, in order to enable you to arrive at what even its own promoters profess to believe to be the merits of the project. (Laughter.) But in the absence of those who should be best qualified to give this desirable information, having in our peregrinations to the various towns had the opportunity of hearing from the promoters themselves select portions of the exposition of their project, I will endeavour, faintly as it may be, to convey to you as much as I have been able to understand of the scheme. (Hear, hear.) I cannot but say that when first this prospectus of the Colcester and Dis- junction scheme was put into my hands, I felt some slight mis- givings. When I saw that for Engineer they had secured the services of one of the first engineers of the day — when I saw that for a Committee they had the names of those who as men of wealth were largely engaged in Railway speculations, 16 conversant with Railway tactics, and cunning in all matters of Railway device — when I saw that the chairman of one line and the directors of another were all paraded in due array, and that even their bankers, solicitors, and secretary, were all of the highest railway order — when I understood the capital was all subscribed, and that all this was accomplished in the space of something less than forty-eight hours ; I own I felt no small degree of uneasiness to find ourselves opposed by powers that could thus, as in a moment, “ summon spirits from the vasty deep and I felt abashed and humbled at the sim- plicity of our small pretensions when compared with assump- tions so magnificent. (Laughter and applause.) But upon more closely examining this document, I felt my sinking cou- rage revive, and the cause of my fears became the source of my consolation; for when I considered that great engineering talent involved necessarily high engineering responsibilities, I felt it was next to impossible that a Stephenson could, in seriousness, commit himself to such a project, and that even if in the exer- cise of a generous boldness to encounter difficulties they might be induced to meet them to show their power of overcoming them, I had too much confidence in the wisdom, the prudence, and the caution of the committee, to think they would allow their capital to be risked in such a speculation; and I was speedily led to the belief — a belief that subsequent circum- stances have all tended to ripen into conviction, that the pub- lication of this prospectus was only the discharge of some great gun intended to frighten the promoters of the Eastern Union Extension from their propriety, and intended to operate as a heavy blow and great discouragement to the Ipswich interest. Unfortunately, however, for the projectors, their gun was not constructed upon the latest non-recoil principle, but like the great gun of American notoriety was far more dangerous to those who stand at the breach, than to those against whom its thun- ders are directed. (Laughter and applause.) In seeking to 17 win a favourable consideration for their project, the promoters of this line lay great stress upon what they consider to be due to them, for their successfully carrying out certain Railway projects in the county of Norfolk. I well know what they have done in Norfolk. I am not insensible to the ability with which their schemes have been executed, and I heartily rejoice in the success which has crowned them. I am even willing to concede that the successful accomplishment of this project has tended not a little to give a stimulus to Railway enterprise and confidence in Railway speculation ; but I have yet to learn that engagements, however ably carried out, or speculations however successful, in one county, should entitle their promoters to the monopoly of the transit of the traffic of another. (Applause.) Still less do I believe that it is either reasonable or just that the power acquired by successful enterprise should be used to force upon a country a line of Railway, for the mere purpose of the aggrandisement of wealthy capitalists, in Railway specu- lation ; but when for even lower purposes than simple aggran- disement, when for the gratification of a vindictive spirit, this power shall be exerted by the pretended promoters of a line in every respect disadvantageous, to throw obstruction in the way of the formation of a line possessing every advantage ; it becomes the duty of every individual who may reside in the county, irrespective of any private or local interest, to visit such an attempt with the strongest reprobation, and no exertion should be spared, no energy should be wanting, to defeat a pro- ject so unsound, or to prevent an abuse so flagrant. (Applause.) That the project advocated by the promoters of this Colchester and Diss-junction line, is thoroughly deserving this character, I think there will be no difficulty to establish, for Mr. Bidder, in his manifesto, published at Eye, has taken some pains to in- form us. (Hear, hear.) He said he had never thought of coming into the county of Suffolk, until he found that the East- ern Union Extension gentlemen were making arrangements D 18 that were likely to interfere with the traffic on his projected lines. (Hear, hear ) Here then is the animus which induced the starting of this rival scheme. (Hear, hear.) Now let us see how it is to be carried out. First, the honourable gentle- man travels along his own Brandon line in the south-west to Attleborough, then tacking about at a sharp angle to the south- east, he comes to Diss, along a line of country so notoriously deficient of traffic, that one one-horse carrier per w r eek scarcely earns a scanty living, by the public conveyance of all the traffic between the one town and the other. (Laughter.) “Oh, but,” say they, “ there is one miller at Buckenham, whose traffic alone would warrant the laying down of 4 miles of line !” (Laughter.) Then at Diss, they make extensive promises of various kinds, private and public. Amongst these is the promise for a supply of coals most marvellously cheap — and a somewhat faint and distant prospect is held out that the corn and flour of Diss shall be consumed by the operatives of Manchester, to whom it is to be conveyed at the rate of 9d. per sack ; but the good people of Diss are not all to be caught with promises. (Laughter and applause.) From Diss the promoters travel to Eye, and in order to get on the blind side of the good people at Eye, they bait the trap with the promise of a first-class station, and a line to run directly close by their town. Eye, with a population of *2,300, of whom not an average of one per week travels per coach to London — Eye is promised a first class station, and a deviation so great, as for Mr. Bidder himself to stigmatize any attempt to be made by us, to comprehend the two towns on our line, as a perfect caricature. (Hear, hear.) Oh ! promises are cheap, and at this rate they may well afford to promise. (Laughter.) Next comes Stowmarket, and here they need to be more careful of their promises, as the inhabitants of Stowmarket will, probably, be too good judges of their value. They will then go on to Hadleigh, to whom they will, probably, promise some brilliant advantages to be obtained by their immediate connection 19 with the port of Harwich, and possibly direct communication with Hambro’ ; and what the fair promises are by which they have obtained the affectionate co-operation of the Eastern Counties’ Company, I know not, unless it be a reversionary interest in the waste steam of their hostility to the Eastern Union, when they themselves shall no longer have occasion for it. (Laughter.) But while all this coquetting with the smaller towns upon the line is going forward, what is said about Ipswich ? Not a word appears about Ipswich in the prospectus. (Hear, hear.) Ipswich is to be left out altogether — Ipswich with its 26,000 inhabitants and its port, and its dock, and its direct communi- cation with the metropolis by the Eastern Union Railway, and, with the metropolis, the whole world, by means of its port — Ipswich, long the centre and focus of the trading interests of a large proportion of the Eastern Counties, importing into almost every part the foreign productions for their consumption, and reciprocating the advantage by affording the greatest faci- lities for the export of their surplus home-grown produce — Ipswich, which has interesting social relations with almost every village and town in the county, and, what is more, long standing and large commercial relations, is, as though there were no such place on the map, entirely excluded from their scheme. (Hear, hear.) 44 But,” says Mr. Bidder, 44 Ipswich possibly may require a branch, and the Ips- wich gentlemen can make it for themselves, or if they are not able to carry it out, we may possibly make it for them.” (Laughter.) And wherefore is Ipswich to be thus dissevered ? Because, not having the fear of the Norwich and Brandon Company before their eyes, and being instigated by a desire to promote the great trading interests of the county, they have sought to establish a beneficial communication with the city of Norwich, and the line of thickly-populated country between, to the possible withdrawal of the traffic that might otherwise be induced to take the circuitous route to London by Brandon. 20 And for this, while all these specious promises are in rich abundance proffered to the towns of Diss, Eye, Stowmarket, and Hadleigh, Ipswich with a population of more than double that of the whole of these towns put together, is to be cut off from all communication with these, with which to be connected must ever be the first requirement of any line of Railway es- tablished in the county of Suffolk. (Applause.) The pro- ject, as a rival one, seems so exquisitely absurd, that it is only to be paralleled by a certain Irish invitation, which being offered by one gentleman to another, on the ground that the feast was to consist of some excellent potatoes, and a magnifi- cent piece of beef, was answered by the reply, 64 you had better dine with me, for my dinner is precisely the same, barring only the beef!” (Laughter.) Such is the feast to which the pro- jectors of this Diss-j unction line would invite you, though with small prospect of success; but Mr. Bidder, anxious not to be out bidden, tells you, you shall not want for highly-seasoned dishes — that he shall make a regular hash of the Eastern Coun- ties’, and make mince-meat of the extension, and, if after all, you must have the beef, you may bring it yourselves, or, he may possibly furnish you with a cold cut off a side table. (Laugh- ter.) But believe him not ; if ever the covers should be taken off, it will then be discovered that the main dish shall consist of an omnium gatherum of all the rakings and scrapings of the leavings of the Eastern Counties’, heated over afresh, while the honourable gentleman shall present it as cooking chief, under the character of an Irish-stew. (Great laughter.) One more dish I had almost forgotten — bubble and squeak in unlimited quantities, provided the inviters will do a pic-nic part — that is, the Company agreeing to furnish the bubble, the shareholders to find the squeak. (Renewed laughter.) But, gentlemen, let us, if we can, return to consider the subject with some degree of seriousness. This company have set forth their manifesto. You now have a plan of the campaign, and war to extermina- 21 tion is the watch-word they have chosen to adopt. Be it so ; we are fully prepared to meet them ; we are fully prepared to carry out our project for extension, with the energy and deter- mination of those who know themselves to have the right. We are armed at all points, and can measure our strength with theirs. (Applause.) If they have been so fortunate as to secure the services of a Stephenson, we have not been less suc- cessful in the selection of one who will lose nothing by compa- rison with the foremost in the foremost ranks. (Applause.) If they have a committee of speculative capitalists well skilled in the tactics of the share-market, and cunning in all railway device, we have, for our committee, men, whose intelligence, and energy, and enterprize, and whose local influence is well known to you all, and who in former cases of the promotion of objects of public advantage, have never failed, have never dis- appointed you. (Applause.) If their subscribed capital is so ample that they can afford to lavish it in extravagant expendi- ture for their obstructive schemes, our resources are amply sufficient for the purposes we propose to accomplish. At no point are we at disadvantage. (Applause.) If they prefer a devious line, we will meet them with a direct one ; if they have chosen the crooked policy, we are content to take our stand upon straight-forward measures. And sure I am, if by these measures alone we direct our course, this serpentine scheme shall never be permitted to worm its winding way, or " Like a wounded snake, drag its slow length along,” for the sole purpose of wearying the passenger traffic, and en- hancing the expence of the transit of goods, to drive them on to another line from which, possessing a greater interest, they shall hope to derive a larger profit. (Loud applause.) Yet a few short months, and we shall hear no more of the Colchester and Diss-junction line, and if perchance the voice of wailing shall be heard in the share-market, where some unfortunate 22 share-holder, in the bitterness of his disappointed hopes, shall ask, “ Where now is the Colchester and Diss-junction line?” Echo, undisturbed in her dwelling among the green hills of Hadleigh,*unscathed by the mattock and the pick-axe, and un- disturbed by Railway rattle or shriek, shall faintly answer “ Where ?” Eye hath not seen it, — alas for Eye ! — for “ Like the baseless fabric of a vision,” its gorgeous dreams of a first-class station, shall have passed away; Diss, rfzs-satisfied with the promises, and cfts-gusted with their non-performances, shall at length be cfts-abused ; Stow- market shall be a S/ow-market, for Diss -) unction shares ; Hadleigh must yet awhile, in patience, wait for her union with Hambro’ via Harwich ; Colchester, at once the birth-place and the grave of so numerous a progeny of Railway projects, shall be chosen as the meet burial place for this ; and — as in shame, in sorrow, and in sadness, they deposit the remains of this crooked abortion, in the tomb beside its still-born cousins, they shall have this mournful, but, perhaps, consolatory reflection, that “ One Eye alone shall sorrowing weep its fall !” (Great laughter and applause.) I do not doubt their en- gineering ability to construct a line ; I do not doubt the length and weight of that purse which, much in the style, and alto- gether in the taste of the proprietors of the lucky bag, when about to tempt some yokel to try his fortune at a game of thimble-rig, the honourable gentleman has somewhat osten- tatiously shaken in our faces ; (laughter) hut I do not entertain the smallest doubt that the legislature would, under any circum- stances, sanction a line, promoted in a vindictive spirit, for a speculative purpose, by capitalists who, without any knowledge of our local wants, or sympathy with our local interests, have sought to obtain a degree of countenance by promises which can never be fulfilled, except by a diversion of the ancient and 23 acknowledged streams of legitimate traffic, and the total annihilation of a large class of existing interests; possessing, as it does, in an extraordinary degree, and in remarkable infelicity of combination, the largest amount of engineering difficulty with the smallest possible modicum of commercial advantage ; especially when put forth in opposition to a line which, seeking to connect the largest manufacturing city of the Eastern Counties, with the most important portion of the Eastern coast, has obtained the entire and undivided support of all the local interests, in the endeavour to promote the individual ad- vantage of each for the mutual benefit of the whole. (Loud applause.) Feeling assured that the case is fully made out, I have great pleasure in proposing the resolution. (Loud and long-continued applause. Mr. G. Bacon said, as he was deeply interested in the commerce and trade of Ipswich, and felt that the project should receive the best support of the public, he had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. (Applause.) Mr. R. Ransome, in moving the next resolution, expatiated upon the desirableness of the project having the best support of the owners and occupiers of land in the vicinity of the line. He had no doubt, from what he had heard, that the project would receive their willing assent and support. Mr. L. Squire seconded the motion. Mr. Jeremiah Head in moving a resolution, said he cor- dially approved of what had been stated, and his most anxious desire would be, to witness the prosperity of the project. Mr. S. A. Notcutt, jun. seconded the resolution. The various resolutions, for which see page 26 , were put and carried unanimously, amidst great applause. The Mayor then asked whether any gentleman had any en- quiries to make, as it consisted entirely with the wishes of those who promoted the measure, to give any information the public might wish to have upon the subject. (Hear, hear.) 24 Mr. T. S. Gowing inquired the direction the Railroad was to take between the terminus at Stoke, already sanctioned by Parliament, and the new line — in fact where they were to join ? And he also wished to ask whether the Committee had taken into consideration where the Station-house at Ipswich was to be situated ? (Hear, hear.) The meeting had heard nothing whatever upon these important subjects. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. C. Cobbold : I shall he very happy, to the extent of my ability, to give any information to the meeting upon the subjects alluded to by Mr. Gowing. I need scarcely assure him that these are subjects which have had the most anxious consideration of the Committee. Several plans have been sug- gested by the engineer, but no one is as yet definitely deter- mined upon. The object of the Committee will be to be guided very much by the feelings of the town, so far as they can be with justice to the shareholders, to whose interests they must also look in the selection of a place for the station. It would be unwise for me to attempt to go into an explanation of the different plans suggested. I would only state, with reference to the Eastern Union Line in progress, until it be ascertained whether the act for its extension pass, it would be unwise to say anything about the station-house. When the act passes, it will enable us to place the station-house in a better position, than the act now in existence. As regards the line, it will go by means of a short tunnel under Stoke hills, and come out be- tween Stoke Hall and New Place — Mr. Haxell’s farm — and thence along the side of the hill, crossing the road not very far from Boss Hall. As to the precise spot for the station-house, it is absolutely now impossible to decide. The object of the Committee will be to give a station with the best access from the town, and also with direct communication with the wet dock. I think, under existing circumstances, we cannot say more, than that we shall be anxious, when the period arrives, to know the sentiments of the town, and to be guided 25 by them. (Applause.) It will be satisfactory to know that the contractor is actively engaged now on the works upon the Eastern Union Line. Delays have interposed with reference to obtaining possession of some very material portions of the land required, in consequence of our having been driven to so late a period, by the opposition against us last Session, before we could obtain the Royal Assent to the Bill. The Courts of Law too were closed before we could pay the pur- chase money for one portion of land, as respects which, we had to meet difficulties we did not anticipate, and which ought not to have been interposed. (Applause.) Mr. Cobbold said he now moved a vote of thanks to the worthy Mayor for having called the meeting, and presided so efficiently as chairman, requesting them to accompany it by three cheers. Mr. J. Ransome seconded the motion. The vote was carried by acclamation, and three cheers having been given, The Mayor briefly replied, stating he should, upon every occasion, be most anxious to give effect to the wishes of the inhabitants, in connection with every measure calculated to promote the prosperity of the town. The meeting then separated. 26 Eastern Union Railway Extension. At a numerous and influential Meeting of the Inhabitants of Ipswich, convened by public advertisements, and held at the Town Hall, Ipswich, on Saturday, the 23rd day of November, 1844, W. Rodwell, Esq. Mayor, in the Chair, The following Resolutions were unanimously adopted : — Proposed by John Chevallier Cobbold, Esq.; seconded by Dykes Alexander, Esq. — 1. “That it is the opinion of this meeting that the formation of the Eastern Union Railway from Colchester to Ipswich will be of great advantage to this Town and District ; and that the extension thereof hence to Norwich, with branches from the main line to Harwich and Bury St. Edmund’s, would be a fur- ther great public as well as local benefit.” Proposed by George Josselyn, Esq. ; seconded by Charles May, Esq. — 2. “ That the Extension Line and Branches, as laid down by Mr. Locke and Mr. Bruff, appear well adapted to give the City of Norwich and the town of Bury St. Edmund’s, as well as the intermediate and surrounding districts, the full benefit of Railway communication with the Ports of Ipswich and Harwich, and also with the Metropolis.” Proposed by Allen Ransome, Esq.; seconded by George Bacon, Esq. — 3. “ That the proposed Diss and Colchester Railway would divert the trade of this district from its ancient and long-used channels, to the serious injury of existing and old-established 27 interests, without any corresponding advantage, and would therefore be highly detrimental to the public and local interests of this town and county ; and that the proposed Diss, Beccles, and Yarmouth Railway, in conjunction with the Eastern Union Extension Line and Branches, would in the most satisfactory and advantageous manner complete the Railway communica- tions for the districts traversed thereby.” Proposed by Robert Ransome, Esq.; seconded by Lau- rence Squire, Esq. — 4. “ That the Right Honourable the Earl of Ashburnham, the Right Honourable Lord Henniker, M.P. the Right Honourable John Hookham Frere, Sir William Middleton, Bart. Sir Philip Broke, Bart. John Tollemache, Esq. M.P. Charles Tyrell, Esq. and other landowners and occupiers on the Line, be respectfully and earnestly requested to give their assent and support to the undertaking as a matter of deep im- portance to this district, and especially to the town and port of Ipswich.” Proposed by Jeremiah Head, Esq. ; seconded by S. A. Notcutt, Jun. Esq. — 5. “That the resolutions be advertised in the Ipswich, Norwich, and Bury Papers, and that copies be sent to the Representatives in Parliament for the Counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, and the Boroughs therein, and for the City of Nor- wich, with an earnest request that they will support the measure when introduced into Parliament.” The Mayor having left the Chair, it was proposed by John Cobbold, Esq. and seconded by James Ransome, Esq. — 6. “That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Mayor for calling this meeting, and so ably presiding at it.” PAWSEY, PRINTER, IPSWICH ••• /