Sir Edward Watkin a on Wednesday moved the second reading
of his Channel Tunnel Bill, which provided only for the con- tinuation of the experimental works, the Company hoping that if they can go on far enough with their works, the dislike to the waste of money and ingenuity will produce a popular feeling favourable to their enterprise. Sir E. Watkin recalled a good many of the foolish scares which had once been prevalent in this country, in order to produce the impression that the dislike to this tunnel is a folly of the same order. Baron H. de Worms, in reply, said that to propose uniting England to France under the auspices of a Soint-Stock Company with limited liability, was one of the wildest proposals ever yet made,and that certainly a Government which was one of unlimited liability for all its acts was not likely to sanction such a proposal. The experience of the last few days showed how easily the English end of the tunnel might be surprised, for we had heard that one of our attacking squadrons had found Falmouth wholly defenceless.
