140 A Journey to London in 1840. 



21 J miles an hour, and this was inclusive of stoppages at seven 

 stations. I think the noise and tremulous motion was somewhat 

 greater than I had formerly experienced on the Liverpool and 

 Manchester Railway, but I am not sure. At any rate there was 

 nothing that was in the least degree disagreeable in the motion, 

 but much that was admirable and striking in this new and almost 

 miraculous mode of travelling. Man, a rational creature, whose 

 position whether in savage or civilized life is made to depend 

 exclusively on the use which he makes of his reason — man has 

 existed in the world for about 6000 years, and yet it is only 

 within a very few years that the powers of steam have been pro- 

 perly understood or have been converted to any useful purpose, 

 notwithstanding that steam seems to be the greatest and mosi 

 stupendous agent in neutralizing time and distance and in pro- 

 duction of all commodities to which it can be applied. The 

 materials and agents of which a locomotive steam-engine are 

 composed existed since the beginning of the world. But these 

 and all other substances in the physical world meant for the 

 benefit of man are destined to lie dormant till by his mind, by the 

 application and exercise of his intellectual faculties, he discovers 

 their properties and ascertains their uses. God has bountifully 

 spread the seeds of prosperity and happiness all around us, but it 

 is only by the exercise of our own mental endowments, as well as 

 our physical powers, that we can reap the fruit. A greater num- 

 ber of important discoveries and inventions have been made within 

 •the last eighty years, or since the year 1767, when Hargraves and 

 Arkwright achieved their memorable inventions, than had been 

 made during the whole previous period of the history of the 

 world. Hence it is that society in this countr}- has made greater 

 progress within the comparatively short time specified than it had 

 experienced from the date of the first peopling of the island. We 

 have more than doubled our population while all classes of this 

 exorbitant population are far superior in intelligence, in physical 

 comforts, and in all the dignities of life, than our ancestors previ- 

 ously to the time of George III. ever knew or dreamt of. I 

 believe improvements are still in their infancy and that we have an 

 indefinite career of yearly increasing comfort, wealth, and glory to 

 run. If England is true to herself no period can be as.signed to 

 her intellectual, manufacturing, and commercial greatness but 

 that last period when time shall be no more. 



