ing themselves into companies
for the most blameless and legitimate purpose. It is a strange symptom
of the credulousness of the age, or rather of the ignorance of the
people in all matters relating to the science of government, that,
towards the close of September last, some such rumour was actually
circulated and believed, though its father was manifestly _a bear_,
and its birthplace the Stock Exchange. But if this merely is meant,
that there lies with the Imperial Parliament a controlling and
interferential power, and that the great estates of the realm may be
called upon to use it, we do not question the proposition. Whether,
however, it would be wise to use that power so sweepingly as the
journalist recommends, or whether, practically, it could be possible,
are very serious considerations indeed.

But the existence of any evil is denied _in toto_ by the other
journalist. In the crowded columns of the morning prints, driven to
supplement and even extra-supplement by the overwhelming mass of
railway advertisements, he can see no topic of alarm, but "matter for
high exultation, and almost boundless hope." His belief in
superabundance of capital, and its annual enormous increment, is fixed
and steadfast. He considers the railways as the most legitimate
channel ever yet afforded for the employment of that capital, and the
most fortunate in result for the ultimate destinies of the country. He
compares--and very aptly too--the essential difference between the
nature of the schemes in which the public are now embarking and those
which led to the disastrous results of 1825. His sole regret is, that
he must regard the present direction of enterprise, "as an
opportunity, that is, facility of investment, that from its nature can
be but temporary, though the profit of the investment must, from the
nature of things, be perpetual, and though even the temporary facility
may, and probably will, last for some years." This is a hopeful,
sunny-minded fellow, with whose aspirations, did our conscience permit
us, we should be thoroughly delighted to concur.

These writers may be taken as examples of two numerous classes. They
are, in fact, the Trois Eschelles' and Petit Andres of the railroads.
The first consider every commercial exertion consequent on a new
discovery, or the opening of a new channel for investment, doubtful in
itself, and highly dangerous if hurriedly and unhesitatingly adopted.
The social system, in their view, may