RAILWAY COMMITTEES. 
(YESTERDAY.)
HOUSE OF LORDS. 

DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH, GUILDFORD, CHICHESTER, PORTSMOUTH, AND FAREHAM.

     Lordships met this morning in room A (New Houses of Parliament) at the usual hour. Lord Beaumont in the chair. All the members were present.

     The case on the part of the promoters of the Guildford and Chichester was proceeded with.

     The Duke of Richmond was called by Mr Sergeant WRANGHAM to give evidence in favour of this line, which his Grace declared to be far superior to the Direct London and Portsmouth, not only on account of it being shorter (by two miles), but also as it gave accommodation to more important places. Chichester was by far a more important place than Petersfield, and he thought it would be much better to have Chichester on the main line and Petersfield on a branch, as they would be on this line, than to have Petersfield on the main line and Chichester on a branch, as proposed by the Direct London and Portsmouth. It would be a great advantage to the rich agricultural districts through which this line would pass, to have the direct communication it would afford to London and other important places. The Direct London and Portsmouth would certainly do considerable damage to his property, but he was not the person to oppose a railway Bill on such a ground as that. He denied that he had entered into an agreement with the London and Portsmouth, by which he became an interested party; "and indeed," observed his Grace, "I never yet was connected in any way with any railway, and I never intend to be."

     His Grace was not cross-examined by counsel on the other side.

     Other witnesses were then called, and gave similar evidence.

     The Bishop of Oxford was called and examined by Mr. MEREWETHER on the part of the promoters of the Guildford and Chichester. The Rev. Prelate gave evidence similar in effect to that of the Duke of Richmond, in favour of this line, and against the Direct London and Portsmouth.

     On the conclusion of his Lordship's evidence, it being past four o'clock, the Committee rose and adjourned to tomorrow at eleven o'clock.