The Graphic: An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper from London, Greater London, England • 17

yan. 23, 1875 THE GRAPHIC 89 THE DUFFLA EXPEDITION GOING UP THE RIVER BRAHMAPOOTRA affair, war with the United States appeared imminent. For these and other services he was knighted in 1868. We may add that Sir Edward was an intimate friend of the late Richard Cobden, and was a member of the Anti-Corn Law League from its origin until the removal of the Custom's duty on corn in 1846. Last week Sir Edward, speaking as the leader of a deputation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the subject of the railway passenger duty, made out a very plausible case for its remission so far as the metropolitan traffic is concerned arguing that the railway proprietors should not be compelled to contribute to the cost of maintaining roads, the free use of which was enjoyed by their rivals the omnibus companies, who did not pay the tax imposed on railways.

He suggested that there should be a conference on the matter between some railway officials and the Board of Inland Revenue. We hope that if any remission is granted the interests of the travelling community will not be lost sight of. Our portrait is from a photograph by Elliott and Fry, 55, Baker Street. ment, having been elected for Stockport in 1864 and 1865. In 1868 he wasdefeated by a narrow majority, and having unsuccessfully contested Exeter in 1873, remains one of the many capable men who, having already served in Parliament, have latterly been unable to obtain a seat.

In 1845 Sir Edward (then Mr.) Watkin married Mary Briggs, daughter of Jonathan Mellor, of Hope House, Oldham. In his earlier days he was one of the chief instruments in conferring several important advantages on his native city, among which may be reckoned the three parks, Queen's, Peel, and Philip's, and the closing of the warehouses at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. In 1861 he undertook a private mission to Canada, at the desire of the Duke of Newcastle, for the purpose of effecting confederation of the five colonies, and for making a railway between Canada and the Atlantic through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. At the same time he undertook the charge of the Grand Trunk Railway which was then on the eve of stoppage, and succeeded in keeping it open for troops at a time when, on account of the Trent SIR EDWARD WILLIAM WATKIN Sir Edward William Watkin was born in 1819 at Manchester, where his father, the late Mr.

Absalom Watkin, whose eldest son he was, was settled as a merchant for many years. He was first employed in the counting-house of his father, wilh whom he ultimately became a partner, until 1845, when he was appointed to the secretaryship of the Trent Valley Railway. Afterwards he became general manager of the London and North-Western Company, and then a director and chairman of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, and president of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, chairman of the South Eastern Railway, and director of the Great Western and Great Eastern companies. In fact Sir Edward Watkin is one of the chieftains of the railway world his industry and energy are unbounded, and his name is, perhaps, better known to the public at large than that of any other of the chairmen of these gigantic conveyance companies. Twice Sir Edward has been in Parlia 1 1 11 TTtTrrrrr m-wrrrTniiiiiTT-mTiTTir-T nmwn ir-Tnw-rTrn-irii rraimmiwi inni lohn M.

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Kine KalaKaua Jol.r, Domini, (Governor of Oahu) Hon. H. A. Pe.rce VISITING THE UNITED STATES KING OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS AND HIS SUITE,.