working, even for a single day, might cause the destruction of every plant in the building. This consequence appears almost inevitable, when any accident occurs to pipes worked on the high pressure plan; for not only would the plants suffer by the non-performance of the apparatus, but such is the expansive force of steam at a high pressure, that the smallest fissure happening in the pipes would instantly be followed by the rending asunder the whole of that part of the apparatus; the escape of steam completely destroying the plants, and not improbably the building also, by its uncontrollable violence. (To be continued.) LONDON, SALISBURY, AND EXETER RAILWAY. OWING to the late time at which the report of this railway reached us, we are unable to enter into the detail of this magnificent work in the manner we could wish. We shall, therefore, merely make an extract from the Western Times, which, better than anything we can say, will shew the favour with which it is regarded by one of the local journals on the line, and therefore the best able to appreciate its merits. ED. LONDON, SALISBURY, EXETER, PLYMOUTH AND FALMOUTH RAILWAY. "This magnificent undertaking is progressing with the speed of a locomotive engine, and such is the conviction in the public mind, of its expedience, utility, and general success, that we are informed applications for shares are pouring in from all directions; upwards of 12,000 shares were taken in a few days at Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Leeds; Sheffield, York, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, have also eagerly shewn their unbounded confidence in the success of this improved source of national communication by applying extensively for shares.-The government, no doubt, appreciate the advantages they will derive in the conveyance of the mails, troops, baggage, &c., and we understand that to ensure a good working line, they intend sending their own engineers to survey and report upon the line previous to a bill being obtained; but from Colonel Landmann's scientific and practical acquirements, exemplified in the construction of the Greenwich railway, combined with Mr. Charles Dean's local knowledge, this at first sight would seem superfluous, and it only shews the anxious wish of the government to do that which will permanently benefit the country. The railway will run parallel to the city of Exeter, from St. Anne's Chapel to the Depot in the Barnfield, and thence to the New Bason, from whence the lines to Plymouth, Falmouth, and Barnstaple will spring, and will confer advantages on the city of Exeter, which cannot be otherwise than appreciated by the inhabitants at large, and ensure their zealous co-operation." SITE OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY. THE situation of our national Observatory has long been considered anything but eligible for its object by astronomers. A hundred and sixty years ago, when the population of London perhaps scarcely exceeded the present united populations of Deptford and Greenwich, with their neighbourhoods, and when these villages were villages indeed, and London in reality five or six miles off, the situation of the Observatory was good, and probably unobjectionable. But now that the capital, besides stretching immensely to the north and south, has actually marched down to the very doors of the Observatory, and Greenwich and Deptford have extended far round it, with a population exceeding that of many cities, such vast volumes of smoke are wafted over it with westerly winds that is commonly for seven days out of ten in the year-that little use can be made of the Observatory. Besides, the lofty trees of the Park must tend very much to circumscribe the observations, if they do not indeed actually affect the refraction. Under all these circumstances, it certainly is desirable that the Royal Observatory should be removed to some better situation; and, before many years elapse, there is little doubt but it will. As to disturbing the meridian, any complaint on that score, men of science know to be absurd. But if there was any thing in it, a good situation may easily be found in the same meridian, either north or south of Greenwich Park, within, I think, 20 or 30 miles, which would obviate every thing. Except the great trouble of re-fixing the instruments, &c. which would fall heavily on the Astronomer Royal, I can scarcely believe the rebuilding of the Observatory would cost more than from 5,000l. to 7,000l. But this is, of course, little better than guess work, or jumping at the cost.—ED. RAILWAY NOTICES AND INTELLIGENCE. Maps for Railways. As economy is the order of the day, our attention has been called to a very good idea for saving expense as well as for dispatch in publishing any new line of railway. We have just seen announced, published by LACEY, St. Paul's Church-yard, some steel plate engravings of the county maps, which he proposes to supply to engineers, &c., with their line of railroad laid down, at little more than the price of the paper and printing. We have seen the maps, which are a double royal folio page, containing the hills, rivers, towns, &c., and the roads minutely described; the last having the advantage of being distinguished into mail, turnpike, good travelling, and bye roads, besides other useful information. When a line of railroad, therefore, is laid down on such maps, information and particulars, which it would be impossible to have without great expense, and not then with any thing like the Should the intended line pass accuracy, are at once presented to the view. through parts of more than one county, some little inconvenience may perhaps be felt by a difference of scale, but the advantages of having the line on such maps, are so many and so obvious, as infinitely to overbalance any objection of this kind. Besides, every plate that has a line on it, will become a faithful record of what actually exists, and in the course of a few years will therefore become almost invaluable.-EDITOR. Bath and Weymouth Railway.-Subscriptions for this extended Railway are going on it is said rapidly. London and Brighton Railway.—(Stephenson's line).—The greatest anxiety pervades the sittings of the Committee (of which Lord G. Lennox is the chairman) on this Bill, before whom also the interests of the supporters of the two other projected lines, viz., that proposed by Sir John Rennie, and the other by Mr. Gibbs, are represented by counsel. Mr. Sergeant Mereweather, with whom is Mr Wood, supports the bill, and Mr. D. Pollock appears in support of Sir John Rennie's line, to oppose it; and Mr. Hillier for the supporters of Mr. Gibbs' line. From what we have seen, it would appear to us to be very judicious if the parliament would turn them all out for the present session, as well as the Dover and any others in which great opposition is manifested. Though a session might thus be apparently lost, the probability is that time would in the end be gained, while there would be the certainty of affording more opportunity for the examination of the country, and consequently of securing the best possible line, which, if a railway be a benefit, would be the greatest that could be conferred upon it. Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. This bill has passed through the Committee, and is ordered to be reported to the house. Calcutta and Saugur Railway.-This railway appears to progress rapidly in public opinion, and there is the highest confidence in the vigour, talent, and energy of the directory; public opinion seems to be settled into a conviction of its utility and success. The tunnel under the line of the Durham and Sunderland Railway near Hetton-le-hole has been completed. Grand Junction Railway.-Which it is proposed to commence near the Regent's Canal, in the parish of St. Pancras, and extend through Clerkenwell and Hatton Garden to Skinner-street, it is said is likely to be carried. South-Eastern Dover Line.-Great opposition is manifested to this line from all who have the interest of the country at heart, and generally from all quarters, except from two or three little places near which it passes. These seem to think that the sight of trains flying along to and from Dover will be a great benefit to them, and exalt them into importance; and that the destruction of the great towns, now the heart and arteries of their county, must be to their advantage. It is a pity that such delusions prevail. London and Greenwich Railway.—In consequence of the conduct of the Greenwich people the line will now turn off at Deptford, and the town of Greenwich will be left to that quietude which, from their opposition to the original intention of carrying the line through that place to Gravesend and Dover, it may naturally be inferred, they coveted. The successful opposition to the Gravesend bill, seems indeed to have been as short sighted as it was unexpected and captious. A locomotive carriage, having a very simple engine on a new principle, is nearly completed for the Greenwich Railway Company; the frame of which is constructed so that the wheels cannot deviate from the rails at any speed, and that their revolving motion can be instantly changed to a sliding motion; thus the trains, being powerfully retarded by friction, are speedily brought to rest, and the risk of accidents to the spectators and passengers on the viaduct, is materially diminished. Great curiosity was excited in the city on Saturday, the 5th of March, on the passing along Cornhill of the frame of an engine now constructing for the London and Greenwich Railway Company. This frame is formed on the model of an ancient Roman galley, and when flying along the line will present to the spectator no bad idea of one of those vessels of war, by |