CHAP. XVI. RESULTS OF RAILWAYS. 349 



quence of the approach of railways to London, 1 were 

 also disappointed ; for, while the new roads let citizens 

 out of London, they let country-people in. Their action, 

 in this respect, was centripetal as well as centrifugal. 

 Tens of thousands who had never seen the metropolis 

 could now visit it expeditiously and cheaply ; and Lon- 

 doners who had never visited the country, or but rarely, 

 were enabled, at little cost of time or money, to see 

 green fields and clear blue skies, far from the smoke 

 and bustle of town. If the dear suburban-grown cab- 

 bages became depreciated in value, there were truck- 

 loads of fresh-grown country cabbages to make amends 

 for the loss : in this case, the " partial evil " was a far 

 more general good. The food of the metropolis became 

 rapidly improved, especially in the supply of wholesome 

 meat and vegetables. And then the price of coals an 

 article which, in this country, is as indispensable as 

 daily food to all classes was greatly reduced. What a 

 blessing to the metropolitan poor is described in this 

 single fact ! 



The prophecies of ruin and disaster to landlords and 

 farmers were equally confounded by the openings of the 

 railways. The agricultural communications, so far from 



1 When the first railways were | Lord Dundonald's, called the Scor- 

 opened in the immediate neighbour- pion, 86 feet long, having for some 



hood of the metropolis, they were na- 

 turally regarded with great curiosity, 

 and crowds flocked to see them. The 

 Greenwich Railway was opened in 



time been a principal attraction. It 

 seems to have been apprehended that 

 the engines would be apt to run off 

 the line at night, unless they had the 



1836, and was for some time one of advantage of lights to enable them to 

 the principal shows of London. When | see their way ; and lamps were ac- 

 the first locomotive was run upon it, a j cordingly placed at intervals of 88 

 large sum was taken for admissions of yards along the entire railway. When 

 persons to witness the sight. Half-a- railways ceased to be a novelty the 

 guinea was charged for reserved seats. Greenwich Company paid off their 

 When the passenger-trains began to \ band, took down their lamps, and de- 

 run, a regular band of musicians was i voted themselves to the conveyance of 



engaged to play in front of the station 

 to attract customers. The line was 

 also used as a show-ground for new 

 inventions a singular machine of 



the regular traffic, which soon became 

 quite as large as they could conve- 

 niently manage. 



