122 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



tending to the advancement of the general good ; that 

 it is the duty of a Government to promote, to the ut- 

 most, all feasible enterprise and undertaking, proved to 

 be conducive to the interests of the State ; and we 

 reconcile ourselves to any changes which the con- 

 dition of the community to which we belong may de- 

 mand. But when we consider the magnitude of the 

 convulsion which this mighty railroad delusion will 

 effect, the fearful extent of its operation, the thousands 

 of human beings thrown out of employ, the incalculable 

 diminution in the number of horses, and the consequent 

 deficiency in demand for agricultural produce — not to 

 mention the enormous deduction from the revenue, 

 consequent upon the abolition of the post-horse duties ; 

 when we think of its varied and multitudinous bearings 

 upon the present state of society ; and add to all this the 

 fact, that in no quarter of the globe were the means 

 of travelling established on so admirable a basis as 

 hitherto in this country, — that, like the dog and the 

 shadow, we are about to cast away the substance of 

 good for the sake of catching at a change of prob- 

 lematical good, in the opinion of some, and fraught 

 with positive evil in the estimation of many ; — when 

 we reflect on these things, we cannot but wonder 

 at the blindness which has countenanced the growth 

 of a monster, which will rend the vitals of those 

 by whom it has been fostered. But let us turn from 

 the contemplation of a gloomy prospect ; let us 

 hope that Heaven may avert from old England — and 



