86 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
be derivable from the construction of this line, it is not surprising 
that the matter should have been taken up by a company, and 
accordingly we find a Plymouth paper indulging in the following 
somewhat high-flown language : . 
" The time is at length arrived so long, and yet whether in good report or 
evil report, so invariably anticipated by us, when the benefits of this measure 
are to be thrown open to the public. To Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt, as the 
original projector of this railway, and his able coadjutors in this port 
and other places, who have advanced cautiously but steadily to their object, 
may be assigned a praise which future generations will gratefully rejoice 
to perpetuate. It is not simply for themselves, but for posterity that 
they have devoted their time, their talent, and their capitals to the realization 
of a plan which not only reflects the greatest honour on the county of Devon, 
but will prove to the whole of this neighbourhood an inexhaustible source of 
advantage. Whether nationally or locally considered, it is a theme of proud 
congratulation. Whilst the region around, once apparently condemned 
to sterility, by the use of proper manures, will take its merited rank in 
British agriculture." 
Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt was an eminently practical and thorough- 
going man, but events have shown that his estimate of the 
agricultural value of Dartmoor was fortunately wrong. Although 
Plymouth has lost the valuable back-country promised her, and 
Dartmoor is still apparently condemned to what is called sterility, 
it must not be lost sight of that its value as an unenclosed space, 
where the public may trespass off the roads without being taken 
for amateur poachers, and where they can wander unfettered by 
hedges, or fear of damaging crops — its value, in fact, as a public 
park, similar to though smaller than the great American national 
parks, will grow and increase year by year ; while it is probable that 
as a sheep run and cattle pasture of the first order it is of much 
greater value than it ever could be as very inferior arable land. 
A tender for the ironwork of the line was accepted on terms 
much below the estimate, and two hundred men were set to work 
quarrying and dressing granite on the moor, a lease of stone on 
Walkhampton Common having been granted by Sir M. M. Lopes. 
The road as constructed consists of a single line only, and this 
doubtless accounts for the capital raised under the first Act, 
passed July 2nd, 1819, amounting only to £27,783, instead of 
£45,000, as estimated by Sir Thomas in his statement. On 
September 20th, 1819, the first general meeting of the proprietors 
took place, when a managing committee was elected : Mr. William 
Stuart, superintendent of the Plymouth Breakwater works, being 
