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infancy, matured, and at length diversified, till nearly every 
department of human labour, animal toil, and marine transit, 
has been revolutionised by its sublime and stately growth. 
One achievement of its noble powers has succeeded another 
till the toils of animals, and of man, have been reduced 
comparatively to a pastime and sport. Alike insensible to 
the severity of winter and the relaxing heats of summer, our 
iron-horse enables us to glide through space ; and with 
rapidity and ease, all but miraculous when contrasted with the 
facilities of intercourse known to our grandsires, we traverse 
the very length or breadth of our sea-girt isle, until at last 
even Neptune himself shall bow to the sceptre of our 
triumphant power, and a few weeks shall suffice to witness 
the launch of a vessel whose proportions and strength will 
enable her to tread his aqueous domain, bidding defiance to 
his storms, and securing digestive tranquillity and repose to 
the pilgrims whom, hitherto, it has been his delight to torture 
and afflict. 
But if such be the transition which so short a period has 
witnessed, does it not reflect the labour and activity by which 
such an altered state of things has been brought about and 
maintained. And what class amongst the entire community 
can be said, now, to bear the severest remnant of bygone 
miseries and toil ? Surely the poor collier, who, in his grim 
pursuit, raises the fuel and food of our Leviathan machine, 
should be at once the object of our attention and solicitude. The 
hardy ploughman, in light of day and sweetness of refreshing 
breeze, cultivated and produced the food for former agents, 
by whose power the means of transit, and excursive jaunt, 
were maintained. But the food we now require is had by 
toil, where even light is, at its best, but darkness visible, — 
and where the salubrity of nature's grand element of respi- 
ration and of life may be unconsciously and instantaneously 
rendered the medium of horror and of death. 
