MANAGEMENT OF THE BRIGHTON RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR Or THE
SPECTATOR.
Cadogan Place, 2.1 November.
Sul—I read the judicious remarks of your correspondent Mr. FLETCHER with pleasure, and cordially agree with him on many points; though the ob- ject of the present communication is not to praise, but to point out faults. I am much surprised, notwithstanding the many complaints I heard, that no particular notice has been taken in any qf the newspapers, of conduct on the part of the Brighton Railway managers on Thursday last, which in my opinion was very reprehensible. The circumstances were as follow. During Wednes- day night, or very early on Thursday morning, there was a slip ot chalk at Merstham Cut, so considerable as to render it impossible that the trains should pass for a day at least. This, of course, could not be prevented; but the duty of the Directors was certainly to let it be known by express-trains at the Brighton and London terminus ; and I have little doubt such communication was made, though carefully concealed from the public. I left Brighton at two o'clock, and beard nothing of the accident till within a short distance of the tunnel, about twenty miles from town; when we were informed that carriages would convey us to the next station, but as those who had arrived in former trains would have the preference, it was quite uncertain how long we might be detained : if we preferred it, we might return to Brighton, and the luggage would be carried forward to the London terminus, and might be got there after ten o'clock next day. On getting out of the Railway coach, I found nearly a hundred persons waiting ; many of whom, especially females and children, had been there from eleven o'clock : and to add to their comfort, it rained heavily ; and no accommodation was to be had except in a small room, with scarcely a seat. No Director was to be seen, or any one who seemed to have any audio-
rity. It was nine o'clock before I got to London, in place of four; and many were detained longer. These are a few of the misaies that accurred to one strong and in good health : how must the delicate have suffered ? and how can railroads prosper
under such management address this to you as the editor of an independent journal, in the hope that after such an exposure, the' Directors will in future attend more to their own interest and the comfort of the public, and not con- tent themselves with the next day publishing a notice that they were " sorry for the inconvenience that had occurred,"--and which, they should have added, they could have in a great measure prevented.
I am, with much respect, your constant reader, D. B. [The writer of this letter is knowu to us, and perfectly trustworthy.---En.]
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