572 Original Articles. [Oct., 



might easily be afforded on long night journeys. The insertion of a 

 little vulcanized india-rubber between the bodies and the framing of 

 the carriages would render talking less laborious, reading less difficult, 

 and writing quite possible, in day journeys. Many broken legs and 

 severe contusions would be avoided if pads were more commonly added 

 to the edges of the seats in second and third class carriages ; and life 

 and limb are often sacrificed when stronger carriages, with a greater 

 proportion of break-power in the trains, would save them. The 

 carriage lamps, from being ill-constructed, out of repair, or badly 

 trimmed, often burn dimly or go out altogether. Improvements in 

 the construction and maintenance of the permanent way and the 

 rolling-stock ; locking apparatus at junctions, which render it impos- 

 sible for the signalman to make such a mistake in working his points 

 and signals as shall lead to a collision ; safety tyres, which cannot fly 

 from the wheels or cause an accident when fracture occurs, — have been, 

 or are being, less rapidly adopted than might be expected from the 

 great advantages that they afford. And we are still, in this year of 

 grace 1865, without any means of circulation or of passenger commu- 

 nication in the trains. 



A two hours' run without a stoppage is, when all goes smoothly, 

 a charming mode of passing over eighty or ninety miles of ground ; 

 and a private compartment for the journey is convenient for a family, 

 pleasant for a bride and bridegroom, and may be suitable to the desire 

 for seclusion which is supposed to be inherent in the English character. 

 The cellular principle, also, has unfortunately grown up with the 

 railway system, and become a fixed institution, with the usual hold on 

 certain prejudices. By means of two doors to each compartment the 

 readiest means of ingress and egress are afforded on either side at the 

 stations, or, when the doors are unlocked, in cases of emergency. 

 But the means of retirement for necessary purposes, or of obtaining 

 refreshments on the journey, are wanting ; and when a carriage 

 becomes disabled, or when a lunatic, a drunkard, or a villain forms 

 one of the party, or even when a nervous traveller is left alone with 

 one of the opposite sex, the pleasure of the journey becomes changed 

 into discomfort, terror, danger, or worse. The advantages of separate 

 compartments and isolated carriages are principally on the side of the 

 railway companies, while the comparative privacy is dearly purchased 

 by the passengers ; and there is no doubt that the strong feelings 

 which have been lately expressed are only lying dormant until some 

 new case, attended by startling results, calls them forth again, and 

 brings public attention and public discussion once more to bear upon 

 the subject. 



As it frequently happens, the case in connection with which the 

 necessity for passenger communication has been most prominently 

 insisted upon, is not only not the strongest that can be urged, but is 

 really not an instance at all in which such communication would 

 have been useful. Mr. Briggs was evidently stunned at once by an 

 unexpected blow. His murder, robbery, and ejection from the car- 

 riage, and the escape of the murderer, were all completed within so 

 short a time as to negative the idea of resistance, or opportunity for 



