on. We hope no plan will be hastily adopted, but when a thoroughly good line is found we shall be happy to see it proceed at a truly railroad speed.

The Dover South-eastern Line.-The Directors of this line have already commenced operations near Oxted. We are glad to hear this; it looks like business. We are however sorry, but not surprised to hear, that they find it needful to apply to Parliament next session to amend their line between London and Oxted, it being said that the line granted by Parliament is either such as could not be executed, or such as if executed could not be worked to any profit or advantage. The demerits of the proposed line were strongly pointed out by the Editor of this journal and other writers in it during the progress of the bill, and we now allude to these facts, not with intent to throw odium on the Directors, who we know nothing to the contrary but are honest upright men, and who, we think, are acting praiseworthily in exhibiting so prompt a disposition to abandon their prejudices, but we allude to them for the purpose of showing the inefficient-we were almost going to say infamous-manner in which these bills are wormed through committees. If members of Parliament will undertake to legislate on subjects on which they are ill informed, or will go into the demerits of lines with a bandage put over their eyes and cotton in their ears, by interest or the twaddle of counsel, they will inflict an evil on the country not easily eradicated, and entail a curse on their posterity, as well as contribute to rob the present generation of immense sums which can never be repaid.

Fifty thousand pounds, we have reason to believe, is a very moderate estimate of the expenditure of this and the rival companies before the bill was obtained. We ask if the line is so bad that another must be had-where is the cui bono of this extravagant expenditure? What has it all purchased, a simple yes to do an impossibility or an absurdity? Who is then to blame for permitting this, but the Committee of the House of Commons in the first instance, and of the Lords in the second? and what does it prove, but that committees are not fit places for the investigation of such projects?

Effect of Railways.-We have often predicted the consequence of railway communications in England, and we perceive, with no little satisfaction, that those predictions are beginning to be verified. Every body knows that a railway is now forming from the harbour of Wyre to the town of Preston, and that at the former place a town will soon arise with the name of "New Liverpool." The port of Wyre is 30 miles from Liverpool; it is easily made, perfectly safe, without bar or shifting sand, and within commodious, and sheltered from every wind. The difference in the respective port-charges of Liverpool and New Liverpool, are very considerable. The following account of dues at each port may be relied on, and are calculated on an American vessel of 300 tons, making two voyages in a year, viz. :—

£. 3. d.

224 19 0

11 5 0

Liverpool. New Liverpool Grand Junction Railway.-This vast undertaking, which is to unite Liverpool and Manchester with Birmingham, is proceeding with great rapidity towards its completion. The men are at work day and night, and the eminent engineer (Mr. Locke), to whose talents the work has been entrusted, has it in contemplation to throw open the line for the purpose of travelling in the course of next summer. Great preparations are also making in the carriage department, fifteen splendid ones having already been completed at the manufactory at Liverpool, and forwarded to the depot at Warrington.

London and Greenwich Railway.-Kingsford and Co. v. the London and Greenwich Railway Company.-Application was again made herein to the Lord Chancellor, for an injunction against the above Company, to restrain their proceeding with the bridge erecting over the river Ravensbourne, on the ground that it interfered with the navigation of the river; but his Lordship being of opinion that the Company were erecting the bridge in conformity to the Act of Parliament, very properly refused to grant the injunction. How vexatious are these unwise attempts to frustrate a great public measure!

The London and Greenwich Railway Company are about to erect a triumphal arch at the London end: our third number contained a plate of it. The motto is to be "Vires acquirit eundo."

Leeds and Selby Railway.-The annual meeting of the shareholders in this undertaking was held at the Railway Office, on Friday, 29th July. The report of the Directors stated that they had not yet been able to surmount all the difficulties incident to the commencement of the undertaking, and that the expenses of working the line had been considerable, chiefly owing to a deficiency in the number of engines employed, and the difficulty of obtaining new ones, owing to the great demand. The remedy for this, however, was stated to be in progress. The maintenance of the way had also been expensive, by the subsiding of the embankments, extending to one quarter of the whole line. In the mean time, the traffic in every department is steadily on the increase, and the prospects are good. The dividend for the year was declared at 11. 10s. Od. per share.

Meeting of the Proprietors of the Manchester and Liverpool Railway, Liverpool, July 27.-This day a special general meeting of the proprietors of the Manchester and Liverpool Railway, convened by public advertisement, was held in the Cotton Sale Rooms of this town, Mr. Charles Lawrence, one of the Directors of the Company, in the chair, for the purpose of declaring a dividend out of the clear profits of the undertaking, making order for raising money amongst the proprietors, or by the admission of other persons as subscribers; and for laying before the Company a plan for

raising the sum of 427,500l. to discharge the mortgage debt of the Company, by creating 7968 new shares of 50l. each; to receive the half-yearly report, and to transact other general business of the Company. The report was read by Mr. Booth, the Treasurer, from which it appeared that in calculating the receipts and disbursements of the last half year, to the 30th of June, there had been a progressive increase in every department of the Company's business. The receipts from the coach passengers had been 57,914l.; for merchandise, 47,4417.; and for coals, 4,000l.; making the total receipts of the six months, 109,355l. The expenses during the same period were for bad debts, 2331.; coach expenses, 10,2027.; carrying, 10,4631.; Directors' expenses, 3097.; interest, 6,6817.; engines, 20,4257.; police, 1,1571.; and other charges too numerous to particularize, amounting in the whole to 69,9537.; leaving a net profit of 39,4027. The report stated that the expense of locomotive power had been considerably increased in consequence of some accidents having occurred to the luggage waggons, and in consequence of the strike of the locomotive engine men. With respect to the Grand Junction Canal Company, to which the report adverted, as being about to connect the Birmingham with the Manchester line and the Northern line, it was considered that that new company would bring a great increase of business to the Manchester and Liverpool line, and that the Directors of the latter company had laid new rails on a considerable part of the road, the expense of which had no doubt been much enhanced in consequence of the present high price of iron. The new tunnel line at Liverpool would be opened for public business on the 15th of August next, and this new means of approach to the railway would prove of great public accommodation. The expense of erecting this station, and the one at Edgehill, which are constructed on a most magnificent scale, it was stated amounted to about 150,000%. The Directors also intended to erect a commodious station in Manchester, similar to the one in Liverpool, and with that view extensive premises have been purchased in the neighbourhood of Water Street, near the river Irwell. An additional line of carriages, which now leave Liverpool and Manchester at 7 o'clock each evening, had been found of great utility and convenience to the public. The mortgage debt of the Company, it appeared from the statements made, amounted to 427,500l., to pay off which, it was recommended to create 7,968 new shares of 50l. each, which were to be offered to the proprietors of 1007. shares, and to be paid by instalments to wit, 107. on each share on the 10th of February and the 10th of August, 1837; 5. on the 10th of February and the 10th of August, 1838; 57. on the 10th of February and 10th of August, 1839; and 107. on the 10th of February, 1840: a dividend to be payable on these 50l. shares in proportion to the amount of the instalments paid. The net revenue for the last six months was, 39,4027. 2s. 7d., to add to which, there was a surplus of 1,5697. 78. 7d. Out of these sums it was proposed to pay a dividend of 51. per cent. for the half year, which would leave a balance of 1,2277. 15s. 2d.,

to be carried to the next half year's account. This last announcement was received by the assembled proprietors with loud cheers. From the questions that were put by some of the proprietors to the Chairman, it appears that it is the intention of the Directors to dispose of the new shares in the market at the best price. A dividend of 51. per share was subsequently agreed to be paid on the 8th of August next.-Times.

We regret to hear that this Company have discontinued the publication of their Half Yearly Reports.-Ed.

The Great North of England Railway.-The Directors of this great national work were chosen on Wednesday last. There is, we hear, a determination to proceed with the construction of this important railway promptly and vigorously. A resolution has also been passed to apply, in the ensuing session, for an act of Parliament to complete the line from Croft to York, so as to perfect the communication between Newcastle and London. The number of Directors is eighteen, and they are to be paid eighteen guineas a-week for their attendance.

Northern and Eastern Railway.-The first general meeting of the proprietors of this railway was held on Friday, the 12th August, at the City of London Tavern, John Bagshaw, Esq., M.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read the report, which stated that the net profit would amount to 167. per cent., and that the works would be commenced without delay, and completed within two years. The line from London to Waltham Cross would be completed within a year after possession was obtained of the land; and the whole distance to Cambridge within two years.

North Union Railway. The annual general meeting of the proprietors of this undertaking was lately held at the Company's offices in Liverpool. By the Directors' report, it appears that there are upwards of nine hundred men employed between Wigan and Preston, and that, generally, the works are progressing with unexampled rapidity; especially the magnificent bridge over the Ribble, a structure which the county may be justly proud of. It will be exactly the Waterloo-bridge, but with only five arches. These will be 120 feet span, and are in a state that renders completion by the spring of 1838 almost a matter of certainty.

Pneumatic Railway.-We understand that Mr. Pinkers has commenced operations on the formation of a line of the Pneumatic Railway, near the banks of the Kensington Canal,-that the engines and machinery are in a forward state of completion, and that Mr. P. expects to be able, within two months, to demonstrate his method of constructing and working a line of railway.

Railroad Iron.-Bills have been obtained this session of Parliament for near 1,100 miles of road, requiring for rails, chains, carriages, and other works, at least 220,000 tons of iron, independently of that required for roads, for which Bills have been previously obtained, and are now in active preparation; these will amount to about 70,000 tons, making a total of 290,000 tons, probably in requisition for the next four years. Railroads in the

United States, either actually under contract or in progress of being surveyed, amount to more than 3,000 miles; each yard of rails weighs sixty-two and a half pounds; consequently, to lay a double line, this distance, will take 750,000 tons of iron. whole of this iron must be taken from the British market!

The

Southampton Railway.-At several points between Winchester and Southampton, the railway is proceeding with as much rapidity as the nature of the work will permit. Considerable progress is making in the rising ground to the westward of the King's House Barracks, where extensive alterations are to be effected. The principal excavation in hand is below Shawford, about four miles from this city, between which and Compton the quantity of earth to be removed is immense. It has been estimated, with tolerable accuracy, that the excavation between Winchester and Southampton will exceed 1,200,000 cubic yards, the whole of which is to be accomplished by the spring of 1839. Similar activity has been displayed on the line near London, the excavation over Wandsworth Common being completed, and is rapidly approaching the terminus near Vauxhall-bridge. The great chalk embankment for the Southampton Railroad between Basingstoke and Odihampton proceeds rapidly; the bridge over the canal is completed, as well as another; the elevation of this portion of the road above the level of the valley is from 80 to 100 feet.

FOREIGN RAILROADS.

Altona and Lubeck Railway.-By the letters from Hamburgh it appears that the projectors of the Altona and Lubeck Railway have not yet brought to a close their negotiation with the Danish Government for carrying it into effect, but they do not despair of success. An extract from one of the letters well exposes the execrable state of the present road-the worst in Europe, and gives at the same time an amusing specimen of Royal impatience; it says," The Grand Duke Michael, of Russia, coming the other day from Lubeck to our place, insisted in making his way in six hours, whatever the number of horses required might be. Though he submitted to leaving his own equipage behind, taking a light vehicle called a 'stool waggon,' it took him full seven hours, and he arrived here terribly shaken and fatigued, and sadly complaining."-Times.

Railroads in Egypt.-A letter from Mr. Waghorn, dated Alexandria, July 1st, says, "The Suez Railroad is not yet commenced. Mr. Richard Galloway is occupied by the Pasha in laying down two railroads from some stone quarries near the Marabout side of the harbour to the water's edge, for the easier transport of stone for the works now in progress.

American Railways.-The formation of railroads in various parts of the United States is progressing in a manner which outstrips any similar undertaking in this country. A line of railway from Newark to New Brunswick was opened during the middle of last month, with appropriate ceremonies. The only