158 
pleasant bit of fun—a laugh at projects and 
projectors, and the speculations of this all- 
improving age. We found ourselves, how- 
ever, most egregiously cheated: and cheat- 
ed in the most unusual way—that is, into 
a much better thing than we bargained for. 
We looked for a laugh, that might tickle 
our spleen alittle, and we found a healthful 
recreation for the best faculties of our un- 
derstanding—facts, reasonings, sound prin- 
ciples, and good feelings. ‘The author ad+ 
yocates the cause of railways, and the co- 
operative aid of loco-motive steam impulse, 
upon grounds which, to say the least of 
them, demand the most serious considera- 
tion of all who have a voice or an influence 
in the agitation of the question; and we 
shall venture to add, has taken several sta- 
tions, upon those grounds, from which no 
force of antagonist logic can easily drive 
him ; whatever may be done by the force of 
interested or prejudiced combination, when 
the decision comes to be determined by 
the book of numbers. The objections of 
canal proprietors, on the claim of right, as 
an invasion of their chartered and incor- 
porated property, he effectually overthrows : 
correctly arguing, that just as well might 
the patentee pretend a right to preclude 
all ensuing inventions of superior utility 
that might supersede the advantages of his 
‘monopoly: and he even points out the 
means by which, in some instances, the 
canal property itself not only may be, but 
has been, improved by the introduction of 
railways, and by which, in others, the other 
properties of those most interested in ca- 
nals (as the Duke of Bridgewater, for 
example) may be much more improved by 
these than their interests in canals can be 
deteriorated. The ground, however, he 
principally stands upon is, that of the right 
of rival competition between the railway 
and loco-motive steam invention, and the 
already existing canals ; and, as for the pro- 
fit or loss, the reasonable calculations or 
enthusiastic infatuation of the speculators 
in these new projects, these are matters, 
he rightly considers, with which legislation 
has nothing to do; the parties themselves 
having a right to judge of the hope and 
hazard, of which they are to abide the con- 
sequences, Upon the subject of the rage 
for joint-stock and other speculations, his 
opinions appear to us to be equally sound 
and discriminative. In all those projects, 
in which the capital hazarded is to be em- 
ployed in national operations, the success 
or failure even of the most wild and vision~ 
ary schemes, however it may affect the 
parties in the speculation, can produce no 
injury to the nation: even the bursting of 
a bubble of this description only transfers 
the property from one hand to another, 
and the national stock is no way, thereby, 
diminished. But in what relates to such 
speculations as have reference to foreign 
operation, we will give his opinion im his 
own words : i 
Literary and Critical Proémium. 
[ Mar. 1, 
“« If it be necessary for the Government to take 
notice of, and to lay interdicts on this mania for 
speculation, one would think that the Anglo-Peru- 
vio-Americo-Mexican Mining Companies should be 
the first to awaken their attention.* It may, in- 
deed, well be questioned, whether this foreign rage 
for adventure does not threaten pernicious conse- 
quences to the commonwealth of our land. To me 
it is clear that though these associations bring home 
more galleons laden with the precious metals than 
ever Cortes and Pizarro, in the most golden mo- 
ments of their insatiable cupidity, anticipated; yet 
shall the smallest vein of coal in the island, capable 
of being worked, prove more intrinsically valuable 
to the state, and give more healthful vigour to the 
country.” 
We could quote, with pleasure, much more 
upon this and upon many other parts of 
the subject ; which is equably and judiciously 
handled. But, though there is more wisdom 
and knowledge in this little pamphlet than 
we meet with in many a quarto volume, 
still we must remember that it is but a 
pamphlet, and must keep within some 
bounds. We have scarcely resolution, 
however, sufficient to forbear from making 
some extracts from those passages of deep 
political consideration which occupy the 
pages 44-5 and 6, relative to the operation 
of the system of steam navigation in alter- 
ing the relative position of Great Britain, 
and the tendency of this steam-engine 
power “to break down the barrier be- 
tween her and the continent.”” The au- 
thor thinks, and we think so too (it has 
often disturbed our cogitations) that had 
** that meteor (Napoleon), while he rode in - 
the altitude of his greatness, been as fami- 
liar with the use of steam navigation as 
we are now, his ‘army of England’ had 
too surely roused the men of Kent from 
their beds in an hour they knew not of ;” 
and should a second Napoleon arise to 
darken the shores of France with another 
“army of England,” the Finger-post can 
point to no other expedient of preservation 
than such an improvement (which is up- 
held as practicable) of the projected system 
of railways and loco-motive steam-carriage 
as might enable ‘‘ ten thousand men, en- 
camped on Marlborough Downs at sun- 
set, to crown the heights of Dover before 
day-break,”’ and enable us, in short, to con- 
centrate the whole military force of the 
country in, comparatively, a few hours, on 
any given point of attack. Whether the 
inventions alluded to may ever be ccompe- 
tent to so desirable an effect, is a question 
upon which we presume not to give an 
opinion ; we are, however, completely sa- 
tisfied that the author has made out a good 
case on the justice, the wisdom, and the 
complete 
* What thinks he of the Foreign Gas-lighting 
Company? by which admirable project some twelve 
or fourteen individuals put £60,000 in their pockets 
for a ray of moonshine, which was to enablea throng 
of dupes and bubbles to embark £2,000,000 of Eng~ 
lish capital to light the streets of St. Petersburgh 
and Moscow, &c. &c. &c, ? 
