SOUTH-EASTERN ADVERTISEMENT.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Railway Magazine.

If you think the following analysis of the above advertisment can aid the cause of truth, probably you will give it a place in your Q.

next.

"THE Bill having passed the second reading, the directors think it necessary to submit a short statement of some of the objects and advantages of their plan.

Viz., Such as it is convenient to avow.

"It is proposed to form a railway to connect London with Dover, which, whilst it will open a direct and rapid communication with the continent, will also by its central direction, form a main trunk from which branches may be carried to the principal towns in Kent and East Sussex."

For Dover, read Hastings. [What can our correspondent mean! Is this a sly move to benefit Hastings out of the public pocket, under the pretence of making a railway to Dover? Have any of the directors got property or interests in this sinking watering place?-ED.]

"The line passes through Croydon and Oxted, by Edenbridge to Tunbridge, thence in a direct line to Ashford, and thence to Dover, approaching Folkstone.”

On paper, but can it really so pass to Tunbridge?

"For about forty miles the line is straight and almost level, pursuing nearly the course proposed some years since for the Weald of Kent Canal, for which the late Mr. Rennie surveyed a line which would have been for upwards of forty miles without a lock."

A good level, like charity, may cover a multitude of sins, and the SouthEastern line affords ample scope for the exercise of so heavenly a quality; but a good level is not everything, otherwise the Arabian desert claims a superiority over even the Weald of Kent.

"From Tunbridge, a direct and advantageous line offers for a branch to Maidstone by the valley of the Medway, by which Maidstone would be reached from London in two hours."

No line in that direction can be advantageous to Maidstone, while the time of transit is nearly twice that of the direct line, and 240,000l. more expensive.

"The promoters of this undertaking are aware of the importance of Maidstone as a commercial town, and they are advised that the true line both to Maidstone and Dover, lies through Tunbridge."

Up to the comma in this paragraph, the "promoters, &c." are no wiser than other people; beyond it, they appear to be less so. Do they use the term "advised," because they dread the responsibility of such an assertion as the latter part of the sentence contains?

Having themselves originally proposed a line to Dover, by way of Maidstone, and carefully investigated the country, they submitted the sections to engineers of the first eminence, who were decidedly of opinion, that the natural obstacles were such as to preclude the possibility of obtaining a good line in that direction."

Mr. Fearon in his sanctified oration at Ashford, questioned the power of Colonel Landmann to melt down hills of chalk. Has the little solicitor discovered any talisman to which the colonel is a stranger? Can he, like music, "soften rocks and bend the knotted oak?" If not, how is it that these same engineers of eminence (say rather anti-eminence) sanction a line in which the "natural obstacles," are much more formidable?

"They consider themselves, therefore, entitled to state with confidence, that the true line from London to Dover, and that by which the most extensive advantages will be given to Kent and East Sussex, is through the Weald of Kent."

Do they? Unfortunately, however, the question is not what "they consider themselves entitled to state," but what the public consider themselves authorised to believe. If carrying a line through a comparatively barren tract of country, and the most barren of the county-where there is nothing to give to, nor anything to receive from-be the most extensive advantages, they indeed have them.

"From Ashford a natural and remarkably level line is found, by the valley of the Stour, for a branch to Canterbury, by which Canterbury would be reached in less than three hours.'

By the direct line, the time will be reduced to two hours, and the distance shortened some fifteen miles, besides saving a quarter of a million of money. "The terminus at Dover is at a short distance from the pier."

Amounting to just nothing at all, except as proving how hardly they are driven for "advantages."

"From the main line communications may, with great facility, be opened with Folkstone, Sandgate, Hythe, Rye, New Romney and the Marsh, Tenterden, Cranbrook, and the towns and districts on and towards the south-eastern coast."

The same facility of communication exists on the northern line, and with places of much greater importance in a national point of view.

"There is no canal or other water-carriage through the Weald of Kent."

A mare's nest!!!

"The dissentient owners and occupiers along the line do not amount to more than eight per cent., and even this proportion has been considerably reduced since the return to Parliament."

The preponderance of assentients is admitted, but indifference is sometimes mistaken for approbation. The answer given by a man on the

I was present at this meeting, and I confess it was with pain and indignation that I heard the observations of this attorney against an absent gentleman; but he had a lesson afterwards, that will, I dare say, teach him to be more cautious in future, especially in what he prints.-ED.

Birmingham line, that "the House of Commons might assumed by the sanguine canvasser to be "not unfavourable!'

was

"The directors view their plan as one of great national as well as local importance, not only as connected with the county of Kent, but as forming the direct channel of communication with France, Belgium, and the Continent of Europe, by means of the railways which are known to be in immediate contemplation in those countries."

Equally applicable to any Dover line, and more especially so to that by way of Rochester, &c. A direct channel of communication, too! in which one travels on almost every point of the compass to get at Dover.

REPLY TO THE EDITOR'S REMARKS ON THE MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL RAILWAY,

BY WILLIAM KNIGHT, ESQ.

[We readily give place to the following letter. Fully sensible of our liability to err, we shall at all times freely open our columns to any criticism on ourselves made in the liberal, generous spirit of our correspondent's letter, and shall leave it to our readers to decide between us. EDITOR].

SIR,

19, Kenton Street, Brunswick Square, March 12, 1836.

In taking up my pen to address you, I do so with some reluctance, as the subject which I am about to notice may, in one respect, be deemed too trifling to demand such attention; and in another, I may be thought to address you in an invidious manner; but believe me, sir, however we may differ or agree in opinion upon the former-although, since you yourself deemed it worthy of notice, I cannot think that we shall differ much; but be that as it may, I can assure you that you will do me an act of injustice, if you imagine for a moment that an atom of malevolence is in my mind. Had the observations to which I am about to draw attention, emanated from any one not so high in the ranks of science, and so much and so admirably placed before the public, it would not have signified; but in many respects, from your acknowledged merit, your opinion will almost have the authority of a law, and therefore it is, I presume to offer my sentiments as a feeble attempt at a counterpoise, and in accordance with the proverb, "Ogni medaglio ha il suo reverso." I offer your readers the reverse of your position.

This, it seems, is a fact. A person being asked to give his assent or dissent for the then proposed Birmingham line, refused to give any answer; but it being urged to him that some answer must be given to the Parliament, he replied in the vulgar terms alluded to: "Then tell them to which it is said was recorded, and being special, was taken affirmatively.

EDITOR.

F

The subject to which I will now desire your attention in the first place, is that part of your opening remarks in your Railway Magazine for the present month, wherein you make comparison between the Liverpool and Manchester, and the Birmingham and the Greenwich railways. The comparison which you make, I cannot but consider as rather fallacious; the first mentioned railway being, and having been for a considerable time in full and active use, whilst the last mentioned has but just commenced a partial running, and neither of the latter being in fact as yet finished. You take the last named two as you would the mechanic previous to his beginning work on the Monday morning, and as yet scarcely divested of his Sunday garments, and you compare him to the fellow workman who at the mid-week is labouring with tucked-up sleeves at his profession; we know which is the cleanest; but, shall I ask, which is the richest? He that has worked and is still working, having wages on hand to support his wife and family, or he that has as yet done nothing, and is only preparing to commence? You seem to expect, sir, that the railways must always be in the completest order of cleanliness, and that the sign of their well-being is, when they appear tout au fait, like the miniature ones of Mr. Salter the modeller; but now, sir, for my own part I cannot but consider that such an appearance is entirely contrary, and incompatible with the interests of the Company to which they belong. Whenever I enter a manufactory-and as such I think the lines of railways may be well brought into comparison, the one place creating, and the other conveying and distributing the created-I do not expect to see every thing in the state I like to see my own sitting-room in. I look for business, for activity on every side, and do not much heed aught besides the completion of the work engaged in; but, sir, if I go into a warehouse or shop where the finished materials are kept for sale or show, the case then undergoes an alteration, and I certainly expect to see a most clean and orderly appearance, that not a speck may appear to sully; but we cannot, I think, expect to see railways like this; as well might we expect to see Fleet Street or Cheapside like the carriage-ways in Windsor Park.

You follow the above-noticed remarks, by animadverting upon the faces of the men engaged upon the railway: and here again we differ; I feel confident that you cannot find a man in their situation, I mean a real practical man, one who hesitates not at putting his hand to any part of his occupation, that be he ever so clean in the morning of his day's work can possibly keep himself so for any length of time. Unless he be prevented by pride, foolish ignorant pride-if he would do his duty in that situation, he cannot always be clean. And what, sir, is the sign which demonstrates itself, upon this reflection? Simply, that from this very dirt, or defilement, call it as you will, of which you complain, proceeds the means of their existence their very comforts spring from it-every parcel of dirt provides for them a meal of substantial food, and the streaks marked by perspiration upon their faces, are channels which convey to them

draughts of refreshing beverage. I think, sir, we should incline ourselves to look at the origin of your complaint in this instance, much as we look at the heap which is about to be carried into the field for manure; there is a necessity for the smell and the appearance which offend the delicate organs, but let us consider for an instant, and we shall find that the golden grain which springs from it, counterbalances by far the offence it gives to the nose and the eye: so with the railway and the men employed thereon; the very Anti-Bond-Street appearance of them which offends, is the source of the immense advantages which we derive therefrom, and without the former trifling evil, we cease to reap the latter sterling good. It is impossible in such employments to have the working men put up in millinery style, and kept in a band-box, as it were, and I think your remarks will rather tend (and it is upon this hint I speak), being so public a censure upon them, to induce the men, who at present are heedless of their dinginess of appearance, and only anxious for the well-being of their work, to be more saving of the former, and less so of the latter. You must not imagine, sir, by these remarks, that I do not like to see men cleanly, as my feelings are quite contrary to such a supposition, and I am in fact and truth an advocate for the infliction of some punishment on every man who does not appear cleanly at his work in the morning.

I have a few more remarks to make, sir, and I perhaps ought to apologize for engrossing so much of your time.

We cannot for an instant but believe that you, being convinced of the benefits to be derived from railways by the commercial world at large, are favourable to them in general; and that you would not wantonly urge any thing upon public notice, which might convey any either direct or indirect injury; yet I certainly think, nor, what is the material import, am I, I am confident, single in my opinion, that your remarks respecting the impression made upon you when ascending the Whiston inclined plane, are calculated to create a feeling prejudicial to railways in general. Many, by your description, may picture to themselves the passage as a most frightful one. describe the engines as imps of torture from his Satanic Majesty ; why not rather portray them as beneficent genii, who have come forth from their dwellings of thousands of ages to shower their blessings upon the earth and its inhabitants: the four elements, the water, the earth, the air, and the fire, have all sent their spirits, and all are combined by the same kindly feeling to render their services unto the Lord of the creation, for their sole benefit.

You

I shall not longer trespass, sir, but conclude by assuring you that I am equally an admirer of your quoted line as yourself; but I trust, and I do so because I am also with yourself a well-wisher to the shareholders of the Companies alluded to, I trust that ere long, when seeking for the maiden bloom upon those railways which you admire, we shall find it chased away by the multiplicity of traffic, and ourselves left to exemplify it, in the words of the poet, "Heu quove fugit Venus? Quove color decens ?"-HOR.