Previous to the establishment of the Manchester and Liverpool railway, the number of passengers making one trip was 400 per day ; immediately afterwards it rose to 1200 daily. Since that period the number has regularly increased, and it now amounts to 1500, which is a further increase of one in four. Previous to the railway there were twentv-six stage coaches daily running between Manchester and Liverpool ; now there is but one. The time of the journey by the fastest coaches on the road was three hours ; by the rail, it is one hour and twenty minutes. The rate of the fares is similarly reduced. This diminution of both the time and expense of travelling has increased the passengers fourfold. Between Newcastle and the village of Hexham, the effect of the railway there has been to increase the number of passengers from 1700 to 7060 ; which is also a fourfold increase. Between Dublin and Kingstown the increase has been from 800 daily, to an average of 3300 ; also a fourfold increase. Having given these examples to prove the ratio of increase, the learned Doctor shows that this increase was owing more to the saving of time than of money, by reference to the Dublin and Kingstown railway, where the price was actually raised higher than by the ordinary vehicles.
The engraving of the Greenwich railway on page 583 represents a perspective view of this splendid work as seen from an elevated position, and looking towards London, with the river Thames on the right. This railway, as most of our readers know, is a continued viaduct, built upon arches twenty-two feet high, and ex • tending in nearly a straight line from London Bridge to Greenwich, thus reducing the distance by the road of five miles to three and three quarters; and reducing the usual time of transit from fifty minutes to seven. The entire structure reflects great credit upon the engineer, Colonel Landmann, and it will doubtless prove a great benefit to the inhabitants of the important places it cunnects. The whole line from London Bridge to Deptford, (supported upon upwards of 800 magnificent arches,) was opened to the public on the 14th of December, 1836, with the usual pomp, ceremony, and music, that are customary on such important events; the interest of the scene being increased by the attendance of the Lord Major in state, accompanied by the sheriffs, city officers, and numerous persons of distinction.
In our endeavour to fulfil the undertaking which we announced at page 373, we have already, according to our publisher's report, far exceeded the prescribed Limits of the work. So very numerous are the inventions on this subject, so varied are they in their modifications, and so elaborate in their details, that we have found much difficulty in compressing them within their present space; and in so doing we regret the necessity which has compelled us to clip many of their fair proportions. Nevertheless, some few of a very recent date remain unnoticed.
These we hop:, to be able to place before the public, together with some important matter relative to the theory of the subject, as well as the actual practice of our railway engineers, which we are reluctantly obliged here to exclude. We had also in preparation for the engraver a series of views, with plans, elevations, and sections of several of the great works now rapidly progressing in the various parts of the kingdom; also some beautiful designs for bridges, tunnels, and other railway works, which latter were kindly ffirnished us by that eminent artist and engineer, Mr. Jones, of No. 7, St. Martin's-place, Caring Cross. This gentleman has lately proposed the employment of a spacious • to accompany the trains, fitted up with all the conveniences of a steam-boat, for the accommodation of the infirm or sick: In compiling this article, the Editor has been indebted to the works of Messrs. Wood, Tredgold, Palmer, Walker, Stephenson M'Neill, Booth, Ras trick, Scott, Larduer, and Gordon;• to the Repertory of Ark, the Journal of Patent Inventions, the Mechanics' Maya:eine, the London Journal of Arts, and the Transactions of various Scientific Institutions. If, in some instances, he has omitted to acknowledge his authority, it is attributable to the difficulty of filing the original author. The greater part of the subjects are, however, derived from the Editor's own resources, collected in his professional avoca tions of reporting upon new inventions, and of procuring letters patent for inventors.