68 RAMBLES AND REVERIES. 



face with plates of iron cemented together. The 

 French have already met with one of these 

 fractures, but were able easily to get back into the 

 right formation. 



As regards the commercial advantages which this 

 country would derive from the Channel Tunnel 

 there is scarcely any division of opinion. The total 

 exports and imports between England and the Con- 

 tinent reach an annual value of 400 millions sterling. 

 Hence there must be considerable loss by damage, 

 as well as delay, in loading and unloading, especially 

 in cases of transhipment at London, all of which 

 might be avoided if goods could be taken direct 

 from this country to any part of Europe. The 

 shipping interest has fiercely opposed the scheme ; 

 and Mr. Henry Lee was even requested by a section 

 of his constituents to resign his seat in Parliament 

 on account of the evidence given by him before the 

 Parliamentary Committee. The same spirit as 

 that which Southampton manifested would have 

 prevented the introduction of machinery into manu- 

 facturing industry, and so have checked the growth 

 of England's prosperity and wealth. Mr. Giffen, 

 of the Board of Trade, believes that ultimately the 

 shipping interest would reap great benefit from the 

 tunnel, for the loss now suffered is causing many 

 to send their cargoes direct to the continental 

 ports. 



It has been urged as a reason for not carrying 

 out the work that it might lead to a complete 

 breaking down of all our healthy insular peculiarities, 



