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«TNWKR AMD PRESENTATION OP PLATE TO
D^r«WEB4B0ÄYBBü0B. B««.,M. INST. O.B, (
talZiato nepofUi Jw %k*' Vor%h»tn < Daily Exprtu,
A dinner was given on Saturday evening lut, ?
'Freemasons' Tavern, in London, to George Bi
Brace, Esq., for tho purpose of presenting io bil
address, aooompanied by plate, value £510, fron
'officers and servants of the Madras Railway Con
In India, on tho ocoaBion of his resigning tho apt
ment of chief ongineer of the company ; Robert Stej
Kn, Esq.. M.P., in tho chair
About 70 geritlevnon Bat down to dinner, indi
toma of ,uo leading members of the profession,
other gentlemen interested in the progress of railwi
Indi«, Amongst those wo observed G. P. Bidder, '.
Thomas E. Harrison, Esq., C. H. Grogory, E«q., Jc
Glynn, Esq., J. U. Bozalgette, Esq., G. Phipps,
Samuel Beale, Esq., M.P., James Wulkor, Esq., .
Arbulhnol, Esq., J. C. Marshman, Esq., G. W. Hen
Esq., VY. Weallens, Esq., together with Hugh SI
Egqt(_Harwood, Esq., Peter Carstoirs, Esq., Jo
Gainsford, Esq., Dr. Bruoe, and others.
After tbe removal of the doth, tho Chairman gav«
?susi preliminary toasts-"her M*j»Bty." " The Pi
Coasort and tbe rest of the Royal Family," and, '
Army and Navy."
' Mr. BIDOWAT responded to the latter, because he
he ssw no one else rise to do so, and having been in
army himself, he felt his duty to return tbanki
behalf of both services. In the course of his . rem
he eulogised tho conduct of our troops in India, w
be thought deserved the highest praise, and express
strong belief that they would always, in oonjuno
with their naval brothers, do that duty : which Eng
expected every man to do.
JDJbdin's famous song, " Tom Bowling/! was then
.eeedingly well sung by Mr. Donald King, who rece:
well-merited applause.
? ' The plate, which stood on a table in the . centre, of
ball, was then unoovered. It consisted of a magoiflc
solid silver candelabra with three branches ; the rr
stem representing a cocoa-nut tree with leaves of froi
silver, the branches springing from the'trunk of the t
There were also an elegant teapot and stand, milk et
jag, and sugar basin, and several dozen spoons
forks. Each article evincod great taste in its des
and was of the most novel and beautiful construction
Tho CmrntUM said, in proposing the sui jeot. toas
the evening, he sincerely regretted it had not fallen i
abler bauds, though no ono could feel ? more hear
than he did, nor could express himself with grei
sincerity, towards their friend and guest« Mr. Gee
Barclay Bruce. (Hear, hear.) He had known t
gentleman sines be was in swaddling clothes-(henr, i
laughter)-and had reoeived a groat'part 'of his et
education from that gentleman's father." Mr. Bruce,
the other hand, bad reoeived the bulk of his engineor
. éducation from him. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bruoe ]
been placed at an early age in his factory, which i
tolerably well known throughout the world ns a gr
manufactory of locomotive engines. Mr. Bruce 1
thea a youtb, and was plaoed under tho care of
resident portner. He had felt strongly for his ea
Uacher, and that begat a strong feeling'towards the n
.who was watohtd carefully by hier partner, who kn
' that he (the chairman) felt a strong interest in the p
greis of his pupil. He wished much to see that you
'man make rapid progress in his profession, for ho v
.assiduous and showed rauoh talent, and vary soon vt
the esteem of the chairman's resident partner-not fri
extraneous but from bin own real merits. ' He reme
'bared well that Mr. Bruce was anxious,'instead
remaining in the mechanical department of engineerii
te enter what was called a " higher" branch-name
sivil engineering-whether properly so called was vi
'questionable in his opinion. (Hear.) Mr, Bruce v,
anxious to get out of tho shop-where ho was ev«
morning at 0 o'clock, where be remained all day, a
, where, in faot, ho was a common workman, as all you
engineers should' be.' ( Hear, hear.) Mr. Bruce-h
applied to bim (the chairman) several times to rid h
of the hammering nf iii«.sh op. - But be (the ohairma
was a little obdurate, and mado him stay there for fl
years and servo bis regular mechanical apprentioeshi
and although Mr. Bruce might have thought it bard
¿the time, he (the chairman) had had the satisfaction
hearing him say since that bis after trials in enginei
jog bad convinood him that without the early traini
.he bad had he oould nevor have overoome many of t
difficulties with wliioh he had successfully contend«
-(Heir, heir.)- From the shop, like an unfledged bil
Mr. Bruoe flew to railway engineering, and was flt
plasod under Mr. Harrison and himself (the ohairma
' on the Newcastle and Darlington Railway. He remain
there two years, and was then transferred to t
Northampton and Peterborough, then to the Newoasl
' and Berwick, the northern part of wbioh was plaoi
anderhis ob argo ; and while in that position he supe
intended in a most satisfactory manner tho Victor
. Bridge,ovar the Tweed-one of tbq largest stone bridg
in this country. Immediately after that he was plao<
as engineer in ohief on a short branob, but through
diOuoult country, from the Newcastle and Crlisle Railw
to Alston Moor. That work, however, be did not stop
complote, but his designs were carried out, and we
.highly creditable ta him, especially as. they bad to I
. carried through a most difficult country. ' He was, whi
on that work, and wbioh wo s the oouso of his not finis
ipg it, called upon to enter into anon sphero of notion
to«'. ; go to rforeign countries ? to exocu
railways where appliances were nil, whe
.the -people differed - fr ra him in sentiments,
feeling, and in language, and where, in faot,. everytbii
, was adverse to him. No one could better, apprécia
difficulties such as those than could be (the ahairman
as^he had himself executed works, in ' early life, ,. :
foreign countries'where there was to be found bard
.anything else than one's own hands to assist in oarryir
i out great undertakings. (Hoar, hear.) There' wo:
s many round that, table who would appreciate thoi
difficulties ; but no one who had not had that toucbstoi
: appplied to,his resources could not confidently rely.upe
himself. Mr.* Bruce was transferred to Bengal. P.
was from the corps tbero formed choson to Bnperinterj
and.áesign.the Jines. in_ the prosidoncy^ of Mad ra
, Bengal had nffo,¿led bini some experience as to" the mot
: of working, but ho did, not-think it answered so well i
' ¡ it might be raadet to answer, oven, with ,jha bad foblsj tl
' Hindoo's possessed fer making railways. He, therefor
/resolved in a,most daring way to reoommend tl
execution of the Madras Railway, not by tho sub-divisic
of labour, as in this country, under contractors wt
, realise tho conceptions of the engineer, but by h im se
, and hiaassi-tants, without any intermediate respoi
. sibility. (Hear, hear.) He made the natives unde
stand they would be paid for whatever they did as thc
proceeded. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bruoe, his (the chai
. man's), seoond pupil had opened tho first Mad ri
, railway, and his first pupil had opened the first Bombs
railway, and ho was happy to say that thoy were bot
young men who had ende.arod thomsolves to him I
. their oonduct, their integrity, and their honour. ( Hen
bear.), In conolmion, with reference to Mr. Bruoe, b
could say, while ho had been acquainted with thi
Îgentleman, during 31 years, ho had never known hil
ose a friend or make an enerby. 'Mr. Bruoe's' coadui
. as a man ho highly esteemed, and his abilities asa
, engineer be did not osteom less. (Cheers.) Ther
turning to Mr. Bruce, and presenting to him the addres
the obairman said,-I have now. Mr. Bruoe, to proser
i you with a testimonial which has been got up unde
: poouliar olrcumstanoos, wbioh must add to the gratifie:
. tlon you have in roceiving it. It was got up, not b
those who, having boen associated with you for som
time, expected you still to remain among them, but :
was got up after you were compelled to leave that oour
try by disease and stoknoss, from wbioh you aro no'
happily rcc-ovored ; and HS a testimony it has bon
aooompanied by a momorial so admirably worded, s
.vidontly sincere and truthful from beginning to end, thi
, I beliovo it will be n source of gratification to you a
- long as you live. In presenting it to you, I trust nn
; know that you will never look upon its intrinsio valut
but that you will look upon it at an emblem of th
extrome respoat of those with whom you havo boon s
long associated.
Tho Chairman then bandod the following address t
Mr. Bruoo, amidst loud and long-oontinuodoheering:
" TÓ ORO ROB BinCL.1T nW/'CB, F.SQ.,
" Slr,-We, tho officers and sorvnntn of tho Madra
. Railway Company-desirous of bearing testimony to th
high eBteem in which you wera held by us, and in toltol
of the many and distinguished sorvicoa rendered by yoi
to your profession and to tho Company, during tho fou
years you wero employed by them ns their chief onginco
-beg you to aocopt from us theBo pieces of plato, ant
with them our most sinooru and host wishos.
" It is to you pre-cminotitly that tho honour bolong
of having tishored into existence a railway in this pro
sideuoy. Upwards of four yearn ago you sot foot on tbii
soil and brgnn tho arduous task amidst lnuoh thnt wai
disheartoning, and with difficulties of no ordinary kind ir
the way; but before ono to whom difficulties appooi
only as things to bo surmounted, those hindrance?
speedily vanish; a staff is organised for tho first seven
milo», tho first sod is turned, and tho works on thit
section ar« begun. A fuw months more, mid tho Renom!
oourso of tho lino, from ooast to coast, 400 miles in
length, is deoided upon. Engineors, os they arrive, take
up tho dislriots assigned to thom and tho motnaty* and
tho crowbar aro soon at work along His whole line.
, ' * A kitti of baa uso J by unlive oxoavttora. :
V/Undor the admlrablo Hystem of carrying ou^ tbe
works established by you, the sottises ef large contract
j'*. '.. - . -. ? . . . ^.H
ton ara dispensed with; the engineer perform* the!
duties ai well ai hil own, and thereby~effeeti' a" ein
?Jderabli laving to the company, without, doing my thin
derogatory to bil profanion* The workmen at Aral bav
a mapioion that all ii not right with thia new undei
taking. For »gea they have been accustomed, 01
govommont and other works, to draw their pay, or par
of it, before labouring for it. On this work no pay i
given until it is earned ; but they soon find that they oai
be sure of their day's hiro for their day's toil-their con
fldenoe is gained, Tho abolition of this system fl
advances we owe mainly to your endeavours. Until tbi
work was commenced the strong arm of the law wa
almost invariably had recourse to for the collection o
labourers, but no system of impressment whereby th
rights of the subject are violated wouldyou countenance
the (ree will of the people was appealed to by you, an<
thousands upon thousands flocked to the work oheerfu
and happy.
" The work progressed under your auspices with a fa
pidity rarely witnessed even in civilised lands ; hills ari
levelled, valleys are filled up, and -river -after river i:
bridged. The close supervision which you exercised
and the excellent organisation which you '? established
caused al lt o go on smoothly and well. The striot and
rigid economy which you praotised and enforced, con
trary to oar English notions 'of railway making
excited our admiration. The intense interest in the
undertaking which you ever manifested won for you out
respect and esteem.' Your whole soul was in the work
I and no effort was spared to ensure success.
' «. Although we cannot congratulate you upon having
boen always successful in these endeavours, ii
was . not . from'' any, want of" ability ' or .energy
on your - part, -'but' because '? of the ' intervention
of a power which has' a veto, upon all the doings
pf the company in'this country, and which has, we are
lorry to think, boen too often exeroised to the company's
prejudice. A great master in your profession has said
that 'Men'were ever more difficult to engineer than
matter ,*', to this we are sure your opinion will subscribe,
Matter Is overcome by your professional skill, and formt
itself into a railway at your bidding; tbe man is still i
living hindrance.' to the great undertaking, although he
too, we'are confident, would havo been overcome before
a less partial tribunal. '
"Although, from ill health, you were obliged to leave
us almost in the infancy of the undertaking, it rousi
have been no small source of satisfaction to you to rear
the first fruits of your labour, to complete tho flrsl
section; and hand over 65 miles of it for public traffic
Though nature has not on this portion placed an}
almost insurmountable obstadas in the way, calling foi
the exhibition of engineering skill, handsome bridges
and viaducts built of granite, a material not hitherto
used in the works of tho country, though abundant, may
be observed. But what must to you, so rigid an ocono
mist, have been a sourco of much, and perhaps more,
satisfaction than anything else, was the fact that, not'
withstanding the additional expense, incurred by the
alteration of your plans by the controlling power, you
had completed a good, substantial, singlo line of railway,
equal to any speed, for £6000 o milo, bridges all
built for a double line, and embankments about half the
length double-a cost of little , moro than half whal
some of the other Indian railways are oosting.
" Your removal from amongst us we deeply regretted ;
our hoper' were that it would be only for a timo, but we
soon learned with-sorrow that you had resigned the
appointment ; still we cherished hopes that your connec-
tion, with the company would not bo severed. The
appointment of consulting engineer, vacant at the time
of your arrival in England, would, we trusted, have been
conferred on you, who, from the knowledge you had ol
the. line, and the wants and requirements of the country]
nnd from your high professional attainments, we con-
sidered so well qualified to fill it.
" In conclusion, those of us who acted under your
orders desire gratefully to acknowledge the kind and
considerate treatment whioh we always met with
at . your hands. In you we felt we bad one who could
sympathise with us. ' Your counsel or your assistance
we never asked in vain. When differences, as they
sometimes did, arose among us, you were unhesitatingly
called upon to arbitrate ; the justice of youf judgment
was never called in question ; your word was law. And
those ' of us conneoted with other departments would
record the satisfaction and pleasure- wo always had in
transacting business with you. The warm int eros t you
took in the general business of the oompany, end the
cordial manner in which you co-operated with us for the
common good, will long be remembered by us. j
Though the sphere of your labour ÍB DOW changed, we
all feel confident that the exercise of that engineering
skill and those noble principles and qualities of mind
whioh you possess will ensure for you sucoess . where ver
your lot may bo cast. The higher walks of the profes-
sion shall yot ba trod by yon, your name Bball yet be
found amongst those whose, works have excited the'
admiration of the world. ;
" The committee on behalf of the officers and servants,
subsoribe themselves.
"Aixx. BEATTIE, Acting Chief Engineer
H. A. FiETCHEit, Trafilo Manager j
WM. BARTON Wjuonr, Locomotive Superintendent
' GEOHOE LATHAM, Besident Engineer : I
, BOUT. BATOR, Assistant to Chief Engineer ,. , j
"Madras, 8th July, 1857." , ; ;, j
Tho Chairman then'proposed "The health of Mr,
Bruce," who, he hoped, would enjoy long life and success
in his profession. It was drunk with throe times three!
and followed by o glee. "' j
; "Mr. BitucE, in returning thanks, said;-Tho.position in
whioh I now stand is to .me BO , novel, yet so full of in-
terest and importance, that I feel totally at a loss how tc
express myself. ; That friends thousands of, miles away,'
when all connection with them professionally bad been
severed, should have determined to perpetuate tho recol-
lection of the rolation in which wo had stood to each
other, and honour me, as they havo done this night, by
the presentation of so magnificent a testimonial, is, to ma
a, matter of-intense gratification; and that you, sir,
should have consented to act for those necessarily
separated from us by sea and land, and lend tho weight
of your great .name with - those of the friends who
surround yon to night aa the endorsement .and, senLoj
thé whole, is far maro ¿lian in my most ambitious dreams
I bad a right to venture^to ,anticipate; and if.evor I fell
humbled,and iqalined. to creep into,the shade.vit-is now
?o deeply sonsible em '1 pf-'niy'own unworthiness tc
reçoive the high praise embodied In that address, and sc
marked a manifestation of tho approbation of my fellow-
men. (Hear, hoar.) For a man in a publio position ta
be guidod in tba disobargo of his duty by , what ho con-
ceives will please his fellow-mon, is to sot upon a prin-
cipio unsound and dangerous ; but to find after a course
of a stoady adherence to duty, amidst discouragements
und trials of various kinds, that he has won tho estoom
of those with ; whom be was associated, is ono of tho
tidiest rewards we oan hope to havo botweon tho cradle
and the gravo. There is one very, interesting featine in
tho present instance which may not be known to you, sir,
but which I'should not like to pass over without special
notice. This handsome plato was not presentad to me
solely by men of the same olass, or to uso the Indian
word, tho samo casto, as myself ; they aro not all English-
men, and they, havo not all got whito taoes, so tbatl am en-
couraged to hopo that I have left friends behind mo among
the coloured sons of India. And as it was always my
endeavour to da them justice, the Pariah, as well as the
Brahmin, I hope we may look upon .this as a manifesta
tion of the fallacy of the assertion that natives have ne
gratitude .(Hear, hear.) .There-are also-those who,
born in India, with aa admixturó nf Asiatio blood in
their veins, following our own religion, speaking oui
own language, following our own oustoras, and only
separated from tis by, a slander tinge of colour, but wilt
nrc, by the'force .of our prejudices, kopt at too great a
distance from na, and treated as nltogethoran nilen raoe,
By many of theso men I was ably and conscientiously
supported, and it is most gratifying to me to find thal
tho interest whioh I.took in thara has been appreciated,
and that wu havo not separated from oaoh other without
sincero regrot that suoh a separation was necessary. Il
would ho eosy for me, in my mind's oyo, to movo ulong
from ono end of tho lino to tho other, and imagino each
donor in tho soone of his ltibour, where we have often
i met before, and thank him for this expression of regard
and gooiwill ; but this, I nm afraid, would bo to you an
unintelligible and uninteresting journey. I must, thoro.
fore, content myself with thanking in a body tho douars
1 of this magnificent presont, and with expressing ray
1 most ardont hopo that every good wish uttered regarding
mysolf moy ho roolixcd by themselves in their own
futuro. On first landing lu Madras, tho work whioh Iny
hoforo mo was in many rospools full of iutcrosr, though
' beset with difficulties which were not at once
fully appnront. To seo that thoro is a Uno of
country beforo you to tho oxtont of OOO miles,
1 over which, hy some moana or other, you are commis-
sioned to lay down a railway, ÍB ono of. tho most
1 exhilarating prospects which can bo sot out boforo art
engineer under any circumstances ; but when ta thin is
added the reflootion that tho oountry groans undor thc
' evils »rising from tho want of easy oommunioollon, by
1 which all that is ennobling in the progress of Booiety
has hitherto been rotardod, thoro ÍB surely ovcrything
that is c,\1oulatod to ndd the enthusiasm of tho patriot
and the Christian to the professional zest af tho onul
nuor. This was tho position In which I found mysolf itt
1 Madras, and to tho utmost of my 'strength and, ability
applied myself to tho task,, Any ono landing for the
first timi) in a new country, has much to learn ai irell.as'
i to unlearn ; and tho moat important questions ? willoh, 1
I had to dccidOfio tho flrstjinstanoe,wore-how fat.it.was
. . - f - . - ' '. ¡ ..^.W.,.,-,')..',' -, I- >. ? , .1 .-' ! ?<>)( i
!".,' '. .. ..-??i . ..<-..., .;«.-> ;.-.,:- . > ... - . .*. .' '<»
deiiraMf to fra pott ta India tbe plans-and arrangeraen
common In Ibis country in tbe prêtent advanced átate
public work», or,now far we should fall back on< tho
which ezisied duringa more primitive Mate of thins
and use both the men and appliances to be found on tt
spot. Upon a due aonslderation of all the circumstanct
of the oise, I came to tbe conclusion that it was betti
to revert, for a time at least, to the original plan whei
tho engineer not only designed but carried out an
superintended bis own work.. I did this, not from 'an
doubt of the soundness of tho principle of divisio
ef labour, which has raised up a new class of moi
uselul and valuable mon, but because of tho difficult
which there has generally been of getting goo
experienced contractors to undertake works in Indii
and tho impossibility of getting such men to undei
take tho risk io (to them) so strango and unknow
a land without having, for their own protcctioi
fabulous prices. As India beoomes opened np and bette
known, the difficulties which existed in 1853 will b
removed, and our English system with advantage adoptee
Tba step I took WSB a bold ono, or perhaps, you may cal
it a rash one, but I considered it well-the result wa
mott successful, and I huve never regretted it. ("Cheers,
This, gentlemen, has been prominently alludod to in tb
address, together with the system which I established t
carry it out. I munt plead guilty of being a little prom
of that system, of tho raaohinery which I planned
originated, and sot in motion, for it is no easy matter ti
carryon simultaneously tho ex cutive department, a
well as tho engineering, of 400 miles of railway. Thi
endless and minuto accounts, whioh must all be kep
upon an uniform and regular system, lo maintain thi
regularity and order necessary to prevent tho wboli
work getting into chnos, and at tho same timo allow ti
trie subordinate engineers enough of independence ti
maintain their interest and vigour in the exeoulion o
the works (upon which interest and vigour so mud
depends), to bit, in fact, tho happy medium between red
topisra on the one hand, and disorganization on the other
is, on so large and widely scattered a work as that of thi
Madras Railway, one of the most difficult'tasks that eat
present itself in the ordinary practice of engineers. ]
think, sir, though I would say it with modesty, that wi
were remarkably successful, and that the engineers neve:
fouud the rules and restrictions made by me damp theil
ardour in the discharge of duty; neither did I ever lest
that perfect . oontrol necessary for the barraoniom
action of the entire body. It is quite true, as we art
told in thi-t address, that I am a rigid economist, and 1
have no doubt that some of the gentlemen whom it ii
my pleasure to thank this evening for this hnndBomt
present, have sometimes thought that I descended tot
rauoh into minutia, and called them to account too mucl<
for triflee. But, sir, I felt that to give a tone of rigid
and conscientious economy to all conoerned,it was neoes
sary that I should set an example even in uraall things
for if I did not who would? However,.tho very higfc
tone whioh seemed to influenae all, with scarcely ar
exception, rendered my task much mora genial enc
less laborious than at first sight it might appear to havt
been. It has often been to me a matter of astonishment
to observe the intense solf-saorifioing interest taken
both by engineers and inspectors, in the management ol
their work, under trying and difficult cirourastanoes
where with less devotion they would have succumbed oi
run away. Nothing could exceed the harmony and gooc
feeling whioh at all times existed in the engineering staff
of which I was alike proud and devoutly thankful
It was a aourco of great satisfaction that what
ever obstacles to progress, and causon of contention
were to be found, they were not to bo found within the
camp. Without this it would have been impossible foi
us to have completed the first three districts, 72 milei
in length, for £0000 a mile, including terminal station,
locomotive shops, telegraph, engineering stores from
England, direction in England and India, and mainte
nanoo of way for twelve months. Difficulties there cer-
tainly were-difficulties presented by nature, difficulties
arising from the obaraater of the people, difficulties
arising from the peouliar]relation in which tho Company
stand to the Government. Upon these subjects I could
say much, but I must not weary you, and I am afraid to
trust myself lest I should descend from what is of pub.
lie interest to that in which you would tako littlo oon
oern. Difficulties of nature, time and energy could
overcome : the prejudices of the people gave way before
generous and honourable treatment, but tho difficulties
arising from the peouliar relation in which all the rail,
way companies stand to the Government have never yet
been overoome in any of the three Presidencies, though
they may have been more seriously felt in Madras than
in some other quarters. (Hear.) That the contract
originally made out by the Board of Control in the
infanoy or rather the conception of Indian railways, and
agreed to by the East Indian Bail way, should have
proved itself oumbrous and unworkable is no .reflection
either upon the one party or the other. It was an un-
tried soborne in a Btrange land, and that it should have
inoludod many objectionable features need not for a
moment bo a matter of surprise; and I would
especially guard myself against any intention of
easting : tho smullest slur on any individual, or
body of individual", in any., remark I , have
mado or may make. The whole - questions of
I Indian railways is so vaBt, and ia'of suoh vital import,
anoo/'to the empire at large, that the people of this
country ought not to suffer a form of contract between
the Railway Companies and tho Government to bo per-
petuated whioh has brought forth such results as the
history of Indian railways in tiraos psst affords us; and
as the Government bolb in Leadenhall-streot and Can-
non-row are.'I believe, as sincerely anxious as the Rail
way Companies to bring about a better slate of things,
it surely only requires a few earnest men to put. their
shoulders to the wheel to secure a brighter day. [ The
great question to be solved is this-How can Govern-
ment. guarad toe a. minimum rate of interest, soouro
themselves against imposition, and at the same .time
leave tho Railway Companies sufficiently-free, that the
vigour of their notion may not bo impaired as it bas
hitherto been? (Hear.) The existing oontraet was, no
doubt, well.meant; but it is all one sided, Aooording to
it the Railway Company must make the line.where, and
how, and as slowly as the Government mayohoose. They
must work it as tho Government please, and at tho end
of- OD-years it-boooraes the^properiy-of-the Government.
And what does tho Government give for all this? The
use of .the land for PO year's;,, whioh very frequently costs
, them .next to nothing, and fronrA .to 5)ji«r cent, interest
f jr the' rooney exporidod', Which bas always hitherto been
paid out of the pockets of tho shareholders themselves,
whioh paltry per oentago must be ropaid by the share,
holders, should they over be fortunato enough to get
more, than 6 per oont. out of their lino. I am. very
strongly of opinion that it is not to tliuinlorost of tho
Government ever again to enter into ; snob a oontraot
with a railway company if they wish works to be un-
dertaken in earnest; and it is certainly not to tho
interest, of the shareholders ,to agree to such torms,
without considerable modification. Tho interests.of
both ora identical; and if the question . was gone
into; by. disinterested . but earnest men,.-. a, .most
satisfactory solution might be wrought out. It would
bo easy for me to show the utter impossibility of tho
successful workingof the present system, where thara is
wheel within wheol, oheok within- oheok, innumerable ;
but I am unwilling to dwell on the subject. A brighter
day is, I hope, coming-bettor for the Government, bot-
ter for the railway companies', and better for the people.
That railwoy property will pay, if properly worked, there
is not tho shadow of a doubt; and if any old line in
Madras does not pay. 8 per cent, under a better system
of things, I shall bo greatly disappointed. I cannot
conceive, sir, of anything oa whioh your great influeno»
in Parliament and out of it could with more propriety
and fitness bo brought to boar than tho extension of tho
railway system in India upon a judicious and practicable
basis. In conclusion, allow me again to express ray
deop appreciation of tho honour dono mo by the gentle,
mon in Madras, and tho unchanging interest I shall
over take in them and tho work in whioh they are en
gaged, which is, in faot, my own ohild ; and to you, sir,
and the goullemen present, I owo a deop debt of grati-
tude. Towards yourself ray lifo has boen ono series of
obligations ; tho recollection of whioh, with tho pro-
ceedings of this night, shall bo handed down to my
children, and children's children. (Coud applause.)
Mr. WALKER then proposed "Tho Health of tho
Chairman and Directors of thc East India Cempany,"
and remarkod that without tho gunrnntoo whioh the com-
pany had given, tho capital necessary far constructing
tho railways could novor have hoon raised; «nd further,
that in giving that gunrnntoo tho oomp.iny had bcoome,
in point of fuot, pnrtnors and associates in
tho undortakiog. Sorao people said they would
not continue their adhosion, but be was pertain
that they were anxious to promote the formation of rail-
ways, of onnnls, and of all works whioh would benefit tho
country by any means in tholr pawer, and that first and
foremost they desired tho extension of railway oomivtu.
niontion throughout India. (Hoar, hoar.) Ho might
be allowed to add that, in tho very critical state of health
in which many people supposed tho old lady, the Hon.
East Indi» Company, to he, it was perhaps fair to sup.
poso that tholr good wishes for her boaltb and prosperity
would bo duly appreciated. (Hear, honr.) '
Mr; SAMUEL BEALE, M.P., thou proposed " TheHealth
nf tho Chairman mid ; Directors of -tho , Madras, Ballway.
Company," whioh, was drunk, with ,oonsidorublo outhit-1
siasm. ' . '.. .',??'-.')'? ,;<' itt? ' , . . '
> ; Mr. ArujuiUNOT, ono of tho Dlreoforí, roso nod ex
pressed, the pleasure whioh ho had in adding hts.teaji-'
many to,, tho i regret 'whioh ',was, felt, by, the Board of
Dlrcotorsnt loBingtho sorvioosof tholr Into ohlof englneor,
1 Mr. Bruce.. They had alrendy/tostlftcd.tuoir appreciation
, . (?. '?' c.:.(;,.-/ 'I--.V . (,?",,!( PVI'T;
.. ,-?.» -.'.i i . . ? i . ¡j.- . : r, ,ifi ^..'Viv'a'f. i'
Of bf* raérjts through their official or».n,' Mr. Walk
.nd ha had mueb satisfaction in expressing thus pu
'Hely, his own personal feelings on Ibo aubjecl. T
state of bis health prevented his returning to Ind
They at ono time boped that be might have been able.
resume bis appointment, but this not having been t
ease, it only remained for him to wish Mr. Bruce li
success in whatever be undertook. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. C. MAKS/IMAN then gave tho toast of " Sueco
to the Railway Enterprise in India," and in an cloque
und admirable speech, entered into an explanation,
BOBO length, of the risa and progress of Railways
India. Eigbteon years ago hebad conducted apaperwbii
some of those present might possibly have beard c
called tho Friend of India. (Hear, hear.) J
that time there was a proposal on the tap
to connect the traillo of the Granges with Calootti
and the lato Ooneral Forbes and several of tho mo
eminent engineers in Calcutta suggested the establisl
ment of a canal between those points.' They brougl
many arguments forwurd in favour of their sóbeme, an
there were many argamonl* nised against it. Ri
having studied the progress of railways and tho effo
they had on commerce, and the general interests of th
people in this country, he (Mr. Marshmao) proposed l
tho government that, instead cf a canal, they shotil
have* a railway. (Hear, bear.) At that time railway
had scarcely been heard of in India, and the proposi
wan received with much indifference, and more ridicule
That was 18 years ago. Now they bod a gunrantee <
SO millions sterling by the East India Company fe
tho establishment of railways throughout India. (Heal
hear.) Mr. Walker bad alluded to tbe sinister report
abroad with regard to the continued assistance of tb
East India Company. Tbe fact was there had been
great publie cnlumity in India, and the people of tbi
country required a victim, and that victim was found i
the East India Company, and throughout the coantr
the people had bound their victim to the horns of th
altar. But if, in thiB Parliament, the East India Corr
pany, which in the course of two centuries and a bal
had created on empire excelling every other, was to b
abolished on thd ridiculous supposition that it was won
ont and unable any longer to support existence, tbei
they would find inscribed on its tomb that in the las
decay of its existence it had contributed 20 million
.terling to the construction of railways in India. (Lodi
obeers.) It had been the custom to speak of Indio
before railways were established, prospectively sst
how they would promote" the development of the re
sources of India, and how they could advance the socia
improvement of the people. But they oould now speal
retrospectively. Soe what they had done. Tb
advantago they had conferred wai now matter of experi
ence, not of argument. And as to tho resources of India
without railways bow could they have been developed
Nature had certainly blessed that oountry with large am
magnificent rivera, but they were not navigable mor
than four or five months in the year. As soon as thi
railways had tappod the G inges, thoro would iramodi
ately be brought down to Calcutta the produce of 71
millions of people in the course of six hours, while at th
prevent moment the transit occupied from 14 to 21 days
(Hear, bear.) He also alluded tn the supply of cottor
from Amerioa, BB to which grave doubts bad lately beet
entertained whether it would continue, and BO great wai
the aUrm of the chief gentlemen connected with cottor
manufacturas, that they had actually employed his frieni
Dr. Buist, the editor of the Bombay Timee, to go abou
and give leotares in the various towns regarding tl . sup
ply of cotton from India, At present that supply raigh
be supposed adequate to the demand, bus that was onl;
in conséquence of the present crisis. As soon as thai
passed over tbe time would rapidly e imo when the de
mand would press on the supply. Io the centre of India
oonnocted with the Nagpore territory, there was a dis
triot which produced the best cotton that could be grown
and in such abundance that it waa sufficient to vupply ol
tho wants of England. Lord Dalhousie, who was sait
to havo a most extraordinary talent for torritorul aggran
diaoment, bad told him ( Mr. Marshman) when belan
conversed with hie lordship in India, that be expected ti
be gibbeted in tho streets of Manchester for having beer
so bold as to annex that cotton district. Immediately
ofter annexing this distriot he wrote to the Court ol
Directors and the Government of this country, and saic
that the fir«t thing necessary to be done was to lay dowi
a railway between Bombay and that district. The dis
tanoe was about400miles and bis lordship had urget
on the Government to carry forward that railway with al
the rapidity imaginable. Of course there was the didi
milty of what was called " ghauts" in the way, and tha
had considerably impeded the construction ; but ht
mentioned this circumstance to show that the questloi
bf railways in India, for the success of whioh he hat
been requested to propose this toast, was not a matte:
of less importance to India than to this country itself
(hear, hoar)-and that the welfare of the manufaotur
ing districts of this country would be found to bo bnunc
up in the rapid progression of railways in India. (Hear
hear.) With reference to the social improvement o
the people, it waa doubted whether railways arnon)
a people so stereotyped in their habits that they bat
not made any progress in 3,000 years, could possi
bly effect any alteration. It was said they bad been sc
thoroughly impoverished by thc East India Compan;
that it was impossible topsy the Parliamentary rate of i
third-class train. The experiment was tried in Bengal
whioh was said to have felt the pressure ho had alludec
to more than any other portion of India. After tlx
railway bad been in operation two years and o half ir
Bengal, the proportion of travellers by the flrst-olas«
was RIO; the second.cia.9, 750 ; and by tho third-class
14,000. The'poor, wretched,' depressed inhabitant-! o
India, who were said to.be the victims of tyranny anc
vexation, had aotnally travelled at that rate. (Hear
hear, and loud cheers.) '. Before ,.the preient mutiny
railways had been looked upon 'only a% agents in thc
oommeroial and social improvement of the country ; bu
it was now found they were he.oessory not alone for im
provement, but for the; preservation of tho Britist
dominion in India. This was, an entirely how aspect o
the whola railway question, which must be pressed npor
the Government of this country." Ono railway ho wonk
mention particularly, namely, that from Allahabad U
Cawnpore, whioh was a distanca of 130 miles. Had tba
raitwiiy boen nni»hedr.by the 1st bf January" lastroi
originally intended, wben tho mutiny broka out, all thi
reinforcements wouldf have) been able to-i each Gown pori
in.time, it ia. gusti/possible, to ; have saved thé'tiéonni
massacre, and it would oertainly have enabled Hovelool
to relieve Laoknow six weeks, before the time hi
suoceedod in doing so. .'(Hear, hear.) Ho raado nt
personal imputation against any one ; it was the system
that was wrong. The civil engineers on the one bant
were controlled in snob a manner as almost to como to <
cheokmalo by tho military- agents employed by Govern'
mont, and it was one of the most important duties of thi
Houso of Commons to appoint a committee to look into thi
causes that had delnyod tho progresa of railways in India
.Had.thoro been a thousand milos of railway to Delhi
the mutiny would havo been out,down in two months
The success " of railways " in India was necessary to tin
consolidation of the British empire in that country. Ir
aonoluslon, bo would drink "Suaoesn to Util woy Enter-
prise in India." (Hear, hear, and loud and continuée!
cheering.)
Mr. RIDOWAÏ, in responding to the toast, said that he
had always been an advocate for tho extensión of rail
ways in India. Ho enlarged upon tho- merits of Mr,
Wagoora, who, ho said, had earned much prai so for bi;
.exertions in improving the transit between Euglani and
India, and who,. he thought, was doserving of thc
commendation-'of every man who felt' tiny interoit in
India.
" Tho health of the Officers and Servants of thc
Madras : Railway Company " was proposed by Dr
Beattie. > « .
Ai.ESA.HDEn H tu, MAOKAIII, Esq, responded. He
said :-Mr. Chairman and Gontlomen, I rise to thank
you for tbo honour you have dono us, in behalf of my
fellow-subsoribern and mysolf. I believe 1 am the only
subscriber whom ahanco has permitted, to be present at
the oooompliabmcnt of our purpose, accomplished as it
is in the presenoe of auoh a goodly company, in a man.
nor that must be most highly gratifying to thom all, ac
I assuro you it is to me. To onter upon tho origin ol
tho present testimonial would only be to ropeat whal
has boon already so much better oxprossod both by
yoiirsolf and Mr. Bruer. There is but one point tc
whioh I wish to rofor at this timo, and that is aonneoted
with the oharnotor of Mr. ltruoo. His high professional
talents and his r*ro skill at organizing wero indeed tc
bo admired ; but nolthor the ono nor tho other of those
would havo gained him this oxproBsion of our esteem.
It is duo to tho considerate kindness whioh enabled
each of us to olalra him as a friend. The system
which bo organized enabled us to accomplish much
? that wo oould not otherwise havo done. The super-
vision which ho exorcised ensured the acoomplishmonl
of all that tho Bystam enabled us to do. Yo; though hi*
system and his supervision allic? conspired to exnot from
us tho groatest nmoiint of labour-tho labour whioh he
demanded was shoorfully givon-to .toil haoamo a plea,
suro, for wo worked to servo him an wo would to servo t
friend. Wo beheld him burdenod with. an excess ol
labour, often unprofessional-ofton voxalious- and wc
refieutad with aomplaoonay that nothing was dono on out
part to Inoroaso tho burden of bis toad, Tho Itind con-
sideration, which wo saw in him begot a like fooling ic
oursolvon, and tho cordial unanimity among his assist-
ants, to whioh ho hns referred, tiny, mainly.bo tracad tc
hlmsolf. It was o fooling which'hos survived its ariglrj
and extonded its' influenoo. In proof of this I would
mention that som» of tho HubHotihors woro gontlomer
who hardly ove» knew Mr. Bruce, who arrived in Inuit
.?' <.;'.. , ?";r..'; ' .
too late to be intimately acquainted with bim, and who
have given this proof of their regard for' ? man' whom
they had learned to esteem only fr*m bis works and tho
cordial ' unanimity which they found pre-
vailing - in tho department over which be
presided, " And roany others of the subscribers wero gen-
tlemen who bad no connection with his department at
all, but who eagerly embraced tho opportunity of joining
with us in raising this subscription, proving that while
beyond the palo of his authority, thoy were not beyond
tho sphere of hts influence. I do not think there is
anything elsa which I wish to say at this time, except to
thank you, orr the part of my fellow-Bubscribers and my-
self, for the double honour whioh you have
enabled us to bestow on him whom we con
sider so. worthy of it. It will bo most grati
fying to them to hear that this testimonial was presented
in tho presence of so many men eminent in bis own and
other professions, and I bog to thank you in tlnjir,
} name. (Cheers.);,
" Tho health, of tho Stewards," proposoJ by Dr.'
Braco, and responded'to.by Thomas E; Harrison, Esq.;
who-, at the Hame time proposn I the Health of Mrs;
Bruen and Family," to. whi.-h,Mr.; Bruce 'replied. :
Mr. GEORGE BruDcn naid hu hud been oallod upon to
propose the health ot' their most worthy chairman," who
had so lHndly presided 'over them ti.at evening.' From
bis own position with that gentleman, he could not
enlarge orr bia many abilities, whioh bad obtained for
him the highest satisfaction of the public in general ;
but this was aa occasion on w&iob he thought be oould
with great propriety allude to one particular phase in
his character. They bad-seen with what-pleasure ber
had taken the ¡chair to conmemórate tho success of a"
pupil of bis own. _ He (Mr. Bidder) could say from his
own knowledge tlist it bad been bis (the chairman's)
prautioe never to desert any one con Deo ted with h i rb who
had fulfilled bis dutivs intelligently and faithfully, and
with the honour and principio of a gentleman. He
spoke on this subject with considerable feeling, because
he bad been oonncOted' with their most excellent chair-
man nearly a quarter of a century. Under bis guidance
he (Mr. Bidder) had entered as a Bub reslrfeut ensinnor
on the North Wostern Railway, at a salary of £200 a
yoar, and he (the chairman) bad, immediately be
coald, done for him that which he bad done for
every one, who bad shown talent, integrity, and
honour-be bad given him an opening which be (Mr.
Bidder) bad had the honour of holding ever since.
(Hear, bear.) He oould name a great many more'in-
stances; and although in some respects his kindoess and
generosity of disposition had raised up for his friend
among those whom he bad helped rivals wbo bad, from a
feeling of ambition, endeavoured to make their own - way
and annoy him, yet that bad never deadened a warm and
universal kindness to thoso who had been truo to them-'
selves and true to bim. He wan quite sure he had said
enough to commend his toast to their cordial acceptance.
( Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) -
! The CHUXHAX rosponded to this toast, and, in a few
eloquent and touobing remarks, said be felt the eleventh
hour was drawing near-(cries of " No, no")-and'that he
resigned with pleasure any position he might have gained
to tho ambition of those younger members of the pro-j
fession, who, no doubt, justly deserved tbe position they,
aimed nt occupying. He should al ways be glad to render'
any assistance from time to time, wben any naw subject
might arise to render it serviceable; for he confessed
that, like an old hunter, be liked to jump ahead. ' (Hoar,'
hear.)
The proceedings of the evening-whioh were concluded,
at h lf.past 10 o'clock-were characterised by a cordiality,
kind feeling, and esprit de corps, which' was very agree-
able to witness. ' . , 1
$