tled, and has at each angle an octagonal tower; the entrance consists of an arch in the gateway tower, which was formerly defended by a portcullis. There are also, in the neighbourhood, the ruined remains of MAXTOKE PRIORY.

The tall spire of YARDLEY, a village in Worcestershire, is observable a little onwards to the left, on approaching which, we cross a protuberant corner of that county which stretches into Warwickshire, and having passed the junction of the Derby Railway, again enter the last named county, and pass through a deep cutting of red marl. Over this cutting there are several bridges, one of which stretches across the deepest part. At the end of the excavation we find ourselves upon a high embankment, with the busy town of BIRMINGHAM before us. To the right, on the distant height, may be observed COLESHILL, and a little more forwards, the village of CASTLE BROMWICH: more onwards still may be seen the NEW CATHOLIC COLLEGE of OSCOTT, conspicuously placed upon a hill, and on to the north is the old land-mark, BARR BEACON, consisting of a grove of trees, upon the summit of a heath-clad eminence. Immediately to our right is the GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY, carried on a magnificent VIADUCT, at the far end of which may be seen the VAUXHALL STATION for heavy goods. In that part of the valley, intervening between the two lines, flows the river TAME. To the left, the suburban gardens of the industrious artizans may be seen by the canal side, and a little closer to the town, are some of those rusty looking buildings called manufactories, which constitute a portion of the machin

ery for the production of hardwares. From the end of the embankment, the line is carried on a series of splendid arches over the Tame and Lawley-street, and the traveller in the train can look down upon the housetops from this elevated viaduct, at the end of which is a small embankment, and then a bridge over the canal, across which the London and Birmingham and Grand Junction lines run side by side, and then curving away from each other, enter their separate stations. We now pass the ENGINE HOUSE, a large sixteen-sided building, on the left, and after sundry joltings, resulting from the crossing of different lines of rails, enter beneath the spacious shedding of the Birmingham Terminus, and stop at the ARRIVAL PARADE, which is on our left side, and from which there are numerous conveyances to all parts of the town.

BIRMINGHAM STATION.

From London 112 miles.

The Birmingham station consists of an establishment occupying several acres of ground. The REPOSITORY FOR HEAVY GOODS is an extensive area, excavated out of the new red sand rock, to the left of Curzonstreet. On the right is the splendid FAÇADE, adorned with four magnificent Ionic columns. The building, of which this is the front, contains the board room of the directors, the secretary's offices, the offices of the financial and correspondence departments, a refreshment saloon, &c. To the left of this building, while looking from the front, is the entrance to the booking-offices, through which we pass at the London end, and emerge

upon the departure parade, under the iron shedding, which covers a space of 217 feet long and 113 wide, and is admitted to be the first structure of the kind that has ever been erected. At one end of the shedding may be seen the windows of the refreshment saloon, the entrance to which is on the arrival side, and at a little distance from the other end is the Engine-House. Closely adjacent is the Grand Junction Station, to which the policemen are ready to conduct passengers, if required.