meetings. At the instant of starting, or rather before, the automaton belches forth an explosion of steam, and seems for a second or two, quiescent. But quickly the explosions are reiterated, with shorter and shorter intervals, till they become too rapid to be counted, though still distinct. These belchings or explosions, more nearly resemble the pantings of a lion or tiger, than any sound that has ever vibrated on my ear. During the ascent they become slower and slower, till the automaton actually labours like an animal out of breath, from the tremendous efforts to gain the highest point of the elevation. The progression is proportionate; and before the said point is gained, the train is not moving faster than a horse could pace, with the slow motion of the animated machine, the breathing becomes more laborious, the growl more distinct, till, at length the animal appears exhausted, and groans like the tiger, when nearly overpowered in contest by the buffalo.

The moment that the height is reached, and the descent commences, the pantings rapidly increase; the engine, with its train, starts off with an augmenting velocity; and in a few seconds it is flying down the declivity like lightning, and with a uniform growl or roar, like a continuous discharge of distant artillery. At this period, the whole train is going at the rate of about 35 or 40 miles an hour!* I was on the outside, and in front of the first carriage, just over the engine. The scene was magnificent, I had almost said terrific. Although it was a dead calm, the wind appeared to be blowing a hurricane, such was the velocity with which we darted through the air. Yet all was steady; and there was something in the precision of the machinery, that inspired a degree of confidence over fear of safety over danger. A man may travel from the pole to the equator, from the Straits of Malacca to the Isthmus of Darien, and he will see nothing so astonishing as this. The pangs of Etna and Vesuvius excite feelings of horror, as well as of terror; the convulsion of the elements during a thunder storm, carries with it nothing of pride, much less of pleasure, to counteract the awe inspired by the fearful workings of perturbed nature; but the scene which is here presented, and which I cannot here adequately describe, engenders a proud consciousness of superiority in human ingenuity, more intense and convincing than any effort or product of the poet, the painter, the philosopher, or the divine. The projections, or transits of the train through the tunnelst or arches, are very electrifying. The deafening peal of thunder, the sudden. immersion in gloom, and the clash of reverberated sounds in confined space, combine to produce a momentary shudder, or idea of destruction—a thrill of annihilation, which is instantly dispelled on emerging into the cheerful light.

They are not allowed to run down the inclines faster than 24 miles an hour, under a severe penalty.

↑ This is a mistake: there is but one tunnel, and up that the train is towed very slowly by a rope.-ED.

The meetings or crossings of the steam trains, flying in opposite directions, are scarcely less agitating to the nerves than the transits through the tunnels. The velocity of their course, the propinquity or identity of the iron orbits along which these meteors move, call forth the involuntary but fearful thought of a possible collision, with all its threatening consequences. The period of suspense, however, though exquisitely painful, is but momentary; and in a few seconds the object of terror is far out of sight behind.

The first-class or train is the most fashionable, but the second and third are the most amusing. I travelled one day from Liverpool to Manchester in the lumber train. Many of the carriages were occupied by the "swinish multitude," and others by a multitude of swine. These last were "neat as imported," from the Emerald Isle, and therefore were naturally vociferous, if not eloquent. It was evident that the other passengers would have been considerably annoyed by the orators of this last group, had there not been stationed in each carriage, an officer somewhat analagous to the Usher of the Black Rod, but whose designation on the railroad I found to be " Comptroller of the Gammon." No sooner did one of the long faced gentlemen raise his note too high, or wag his jaw too long, than the "Comptroller of the Gammon" gave him a whack over the snout with the but end of his shillelagh; a snubber that never failed to stop his oratory for the remainder of the journey.

ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS UPON PRIVATE BILLS.

EVERY succeeding session of Parliament adds new and increased importance to this subject, and, as yet, the attention of the public in general has never been directed to it. Indeed, with the exception of the solicitors, parliamentary agents, and other individuals, whose business it is "to get Bills through the House," few persons are acquainted with the mode in which the proceedings upon private bills are conducted, and none care to inform the public upon a system which works with great advantage to the limited number connected with it. Knowledge is power; and so long as the powert hus conferred is restrained within bounds, the pursuit of such knowledge is confined to the few persons whom accidental circumstances in the routine of life direct in its track. But the public are now sore pressed, by reason of their own ignorance. It is high time that the veil of obscurity, in which the private branch of our legislation has been enveloped, should be torn aside, and that the public should gaze upon a system, of the effects of which they are alone sensible, but the operation of which is less known, though far more visible to them, than the operation of the powers which cause the various forms of material substances with which we are surrounded.

[The remainder of the preceding very able article is in type, and was prepared for press; but the Editor, from other pressing engagements, not having had time for giving it that consideration which so important a subject demands, has for the present withheld it, and will make up the additional quantity of matter in the next number].

RAILWAY NOTICES AND INTELLIGENCE.

The Brighton Lines of Railway-The rival Brighton railroads are at present carrying on their contest in the Committee, on a question connected with the Greenwich line. The advocates of Mr. Stephenson's line are endeavouring to shew that the number of persons to be expected regularly along the Greenwich line will be so great, that the Company will have no power to convey any other carriages than their own; and that, as Mr. Rennie contemplates coming to London Bridge along the Croydon and Greenwich lines, he will be subject to considerable delay from the crowded and constant traffic along those lines. Mr. Rennie's supporters, on the contrary, affirm, that even should the number of passengers on the Greenwich equal the expectations expressed by Mr. Stephenson's friends, the London and Greenwich Company have taken such prudent measures to provide for an event of this kind, that they are in possession of sufficient land, the whole length of their line, so as to enable them to place two more lines of rails, whenever the increase of traffic may require such additional accommodation. We believe this latter to be the entire fact, but naturally there is much conflicting evidence between the two Brighton candidates.

London and Croydon Railway.-Court of Compensation.—A court was held yesterday, at the Horns, Kennington, before Charles Abbot, Esq., the Under Sheriff for the County of Surrey, and Thomas Platt, Esq., the barrister, as assessor, to award compensation to the proprietors of the Croydon Canal, the greater part of which property is intended to be taken, under the provisions of the Act of Parliament, by the Croydon Railway Company, for the purpose of forming the line of railroad. The Railway Company offered 35,000l. as compensation, but this sum was rejected by the Croydon Canal Company. Several witnesses were examined; amongst others, Mr. Rennie, Mr. Tite, and others, who gave it as their opinion that a greater compensation would be necessary to meet the justice of the case. The case was adjourned till this day, when evidence will be brought forward in favour of the Railway Company. Sir William Follett appears for the Canal Proprietors, and the Attorney-General for the Railway Company. Morning Chronicle, 12th April.

The proceedings in the claim for compensation, made by the Croydon Canal Company against the Croydon Railway Company, were resumed yesterday at the Horns Tavern, Kennington. Several witnesses were examined in behalf of the Railroad Company; when the jury, after a consultation of an hour and a half, delivered a verdict in favour of the claimants, for buildings and land in Surrey and Kent, for 40,2501., and also a nominal verdict of one shilling for profits.

Morning Chronicle, 13th April.

What-only one shilling for the profits of a concern whose property was worth 40,000l.!! This must have been a very lucrative concern. It is lamentable it should have been given up.-ED.

Durham aud Sunderland Railway.-The tunnel on this line, under the junction of the Hetton and Elemore railways, near Hetton le Hole, is now

L

completed. This tunnel is well deserving of the attention of the public,— not from its being such a specimen of substantial masonry, but on account of the almost incredible short space of time in which it was executed. It is nearly fifty yards in length, twenty-two feet in width inside, and sixteen feet from the foundation. The excavation was commenced on the 1st of January, and nearly 4000 cubic yards of earth were worked away; and the walling and arching (in which there were upwards of 1800 tons of stone, and 100,000 bricks used) completed in the short space of a fortnight. Carlisle Journal. Instead of having this nuisance in the line, we should be glad to hear that the engineer had done away with the tunnel altogether.-ED.

Effect of Railways.—At Middlesborough, a few years ago an obscure fishing village, now become a considerable sea-port town on the river Tees, below Stockton, they are now laying the foundation for an exchange. It was stated, among other remarkable facts connected with railways, that the projectors of the Stockton and Darlington Railroad only ventured to anticipate, as the greatest possible export of coals from the Tees, a quantity not exceeding 10,000 tons per annum. This successful undertaking has not been ten years in operation, and yet during the past year between four and 500,000 tons of coal had been exported from that river.

It is remarkable, how much particular circumstances will alter and affect the prospects of commercial matters in a brief space of time. The port of Llanelly, in South Wales, although affording excellent accommodation and anchorage, has hitherto been a place of comparative unimportance; but within the last week, the East India Company have advertised for freight of 4400 tons of coals, to be shipped from the Llanelly Railway Company's wet dock; and the Company having commenced laying down their railway (under the Act obtained last session), through a district abounding with coal, iron, ore, &c., a new outlet will be given to commerce in this quarter. The greatest activity we find is prevailing, and large quantities of produce shipped from this place for home consumption, the Indies, and the colonies. Courier.

Preston and Wyre Railway and Harbour.-On Thursday last, the first stone of the intended new town on the south side of the Wyre, at Burn Naze, which is to be the manufacturing district, was laid by our member, Mr. Hesketh Fleetwood, in the midst of tenants and persons assembled for the purpose. The flag-staff was duly dressed with the Union-Jack and other flags, and after going through the usual forms of placing under the stone different coins, and christening it by the name of "Wyreton," three times three hearty cheers were given, and prosperity drunk to the new town and the Preston and Wyre Railway and Harbour Company. The worthy member was loudly cheered on leaving the ground; and Mr. Walter, one of the London directors, with the secretary, attended on the occasion. Decimus Burton, the well-known and highly-talented architect of the town of St. Leonards, has just left Rossall Hall, after arranging and laying-out the plan of the intended new watering-place at the mouth of the Wyre, which is to be called Fleetwood. The survey and sections also of the land for New Liverpool are proceeding, and already active preparations are making for the erection of the new buildings and streets there.

Mr.

Preston Pilot.

The model of a newly-invented power, applicable for railways, has been within the last few days exhibited at the London Tavern. A very ingenious model is shewn, upon which the principles of the new invention is exhibited. The power proposed to be applied is that of the rocket. The wagons,

nstead of being drawn forward, as they are by the ordinary steam apparatus,

are placed before the propelling power. The wagon or engine containing the rocket is placed at some distance behind the wagons or carriages for the conveyance of merchandise or passengers, but connected with them by two bars of iron, which may be made of any length, and thus place the passengers at such a distance from the rocket as to preclude all possibility of danger. By means of the rocket, which has hitherto been only employed in the service of gunnery, a much greater power is derived than from steam, and the projector imagines that the speed of a hundred miles an hour may be obtained from it, without any fuel, or any of the inconveniences occasioned by steam. A rocket upon a small principle is applied to the model engine, which has the effect of propelling five carriages forwards upon the railway, and the speed can be increased to any extent by increasing the power of the rocket. The projector is very sanguine in his opinions relative to the practicability of applying this power to railways. The exhibition appears to give very great satisfaction to the scientific, and other persons who have visited it.-Morning Advertiser, 9th April.

We give this as one of the many novelties of the day, but confess our inability to comprehend how we are to be continuously pushed forward by a rocket. We think we could form some idea if it was a barrel of gunpowder.-ED.

Great International Railways.-London, Paris, Brussels, by Dover and Calais. The directors of the South Eastern Railway have issued a prospectus under the above title, marked "private and confidential," in which they state that an Act of the British legislature, incorporating the company of proprietors of the South-Eastern Railway between London and Dover, will probably pass in the present session of Parliament; but the public would do well to suspend their opinion upon the scheme until the legislature determine which is the most eligible line for a railway to proceed from London to Dover, so as to combine the greatest accommodation to individuals, the most expeditious transmission of mails, and the greatest public benefit. It is by no means certain that any of these advantages will be obtained by the line proposed by the prospectus issued.

It has been declared before the committee to whom the bill is referred, that the South-Eastern Railway Company would abandon that part of the bill, which, by a line to Wandsworth Common, would enable them to communicate with the metropolis. This line is therefore only from Croydon to Dover, and it is not defined how travellers or mails by this line are to reach London. The South-Eastern line does not pass through any of the cities or towns in the county of Kent which are of importance in a public or commercial point of view, neither does it pass through those districts where extensive population offers a prospect of advantage to the proprietors. Besides these things, the engineering objections are said to be numerous and apparent; and hence it is not to be expected that the committee to whom the bill is referred will sanction a line that is circuitous, and which cannot be effected without many tunnels, and of course a great expense. These observations may prevent hasty speculations; they convey a caution which is the more necessary, as it is rumoured that a line will be exhibited

• Indeed!-would they afford us a "private and confidential" communication of their authority for this? We tell them publicly and unhesitatingly, that if the line is to depend on its merits, it never will pass. We wish the committee could just go and see their Oxted and Dover tunnels, their gallery, &c. &c., in which a trifling error of about 8,800,000 cubic yards crept in.

↑ We should say insurmountable.