1825.] 
who would dare to proclaim his. igno- 
rance, by opposing his single interest to 
that of the public: an act of despotic 
oppression, which, to say the least of 
it in this boasted land of liberty, would 
form an anomaly of the grossest kind; 
indeed, those only whose ideas are 
clouded in voluptuous ignorance could 
harbour the thought, or suppose for a 
moment, that any individual cbjection 
could be countenanced, in opposition to 
public welfare. In the execution of 
works of national utility, a wise Legis- 
lature acknowledges no distinction from 
the beggar to the prince. 
Now that public attention has been 
attracted towards my plan of a General 
Tron Rail-way, I hope those highly re- 
spectable companies formed in London, 
may be induced to listen to. my sug- 
gestion of making a Grand Trunk Rail- 
way from London to Edinburgh, and 
also from London to Falmouth. 
The plans now in hand seem in- 
tended as branches from one town to 
another; but these are secondary un- 
dertakings compared with the grand 
trunks, which ought to be the first step 
in the commencement of this national 
work. Were Government and the pub- 
dic sensible of the vast importance of 
this scheme, I am persuaded that every 
thing would be done to promote the 
accomplishment of my design ; and that 
from the companies now formed in 
London might emerge a Metropolitan 
Board or Company, to direct the whole 
conveyance along these Grand Trunks : 
this is more particularly worthy atten- 
tion at this time, when we witness the 
dreadful havoc and devastation of pro- 
perty under our present system of turn- 
pike roads. 
Rail-ways, unconnected with turn- 
pike roads and canals, present the most 
perfect conveyance : but should any 
company be artfully persuaded to con- 
nect the rail-way with a turnpike road, 
the proprietors of the rail-way will be 
burthened with the whole expense with- 
out deriving the smallest benefit ; and 
let it also be remembered, that wher- 
ever a rail-way may be connected with 
canals, the obstruction, so peculiar to 
the latter, will injure and impede the 
constant traffic which might otherwise 
be carried on by the former. 
The propriety of laying down the 
rail-roads in direct lines and perfect 
levels, is so obvious in every respect, 
as to induce me to hope that no other 
course may be adopted by our én- 
gineers ; however, lest they should re- 
iMonruty Mac. No. 408. 
Remarks on Steam Conveyanee. 
217 
commend other plans, I take the liberty 
of calling the public attention most par- 
ticularly to this point, as one of the 
very first importance; for should it be 
found impracticable to maintain one 
uniform level throughout the country, 
there can be no reason given for any 
deviation from the direct line. 
From the descent of vehicles upon 
_perfectly straight rails, and a favourable 
declivity, no danger whatever could be 
apprehended by passengers in case of 
defective machinery, for although the 
carriage might receive greater impetus, 
still the increased velocity would not, 
as on the common inclined plane with 
curves, produce any serious accidents, 
either to persons or goods, for the 
straight line would be the natural di- 
rection of the impetus given. 
The direct line is the shortest, there- 
fore the proprietors of the rail-way 
would reap quicker returns, with a less 
expenditure on the original construc- 
tion, as well as in annual repairs. 
Proprietors of steam-coaches, cara- 
vans, and waggons, would also perform 
their journeys in proportionately less 
time, and with less wear and tear, and 
with quicker returns; consequently, the 
charge of carriage and rate of fare would 
be reduced to the public. 
On the other hand, should the enter- 
prizing spirit of engineers be tolerated, 
the rail-ways, most probably, will be 
carried through all the devious winding 
paths, as our canals; and the numerous 
curves and inclined planes (their fa- 
vourite expressions) will form one con- 
tinual round of misfortunes, both to 
persons and goods.— Yours, &c. 
Tuomas Gray.* 
Nottingham, 1st March 1825. 
«> [Upon this subject, we find the fol- 
lowing observations, worthy, we .think; of 
particular attention, in a recent number of 
the London Journal of Arts and Scienees ; 
** From a variety of circumstances, it is utterly 
impossible that canal navigation can be conducted 
with the sameexpedition as land carriage; and, from 
the inequalities in the level of the country through 
which the canal passes, it necessarily follows that 
the route must be circuitous: canals, therefore, are 
only suited to the conveyance of bulky and heavy 
merchandize, not to ordinary travelling, or the 
transportation of Tight goods. It is stated, that a 
horse will draw a load ten times as great upon a 
rail-way 
* The fifth edition of whose “ Obserya- 
tions on a General Iron Rail-way,” just pub- 
lished, contains ample information relative 
to rail-roads and locomotive engines, with 
plates. — 
2F 
