PT. Hi. Progress and Civilisation. 115 



by the tragical death of Mr. Huskisson. The new 

 invention did not make any rapid progress at first, 

 and it was not till the ten years from 1840 to 1850 

 that our principal lines were completed. Since that 

 time these mighty works of human skill and power 

 have been extended with wonderful rapidity. 

 Kailways traverse, more or less completely, every 

 country in Europe. The great Continent of North 

 America is intersected by them. In India they are 

 in course of construction. We may safely assume, 

 however the process may be delayed by the immense 

 amount of Capital they require in their formation, 

 that another half century will see them everywhere 

 co-extensive with European civilisation, and bringing 

 new regions and semi-barbarous peoples under their 

 beneficial and humanising influences. The progress 

 of Steam Navigation, as it was earlier in date, and 

 is created with less amount of Capital, has been 

 still more generally diffused. Ships navigated by 

 Steam, either wholly or in combination with sails, 

 traverse every sea and ascend every river. They 

 are to be found in the Chinese waters, the Eastern 

 Archipelago, the Caspian Sea, and the Kiver Wolga 

 No one whose attention is alive to the presenl 

 temper of the times can fail to remark that this 



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