ogs the omnibuses had to be
withdrawn from the roads, the steamers had to be moored on the river,
and the traffic on the streets was almost at a standstill, nevertheless
we carried through the fog, in and out of London, above one million six
hundred thousand passengers _without_ _accident_!"

The "hear, hear," which burst from the audience at this point might have
satisfied even the toady himself!

"And yet," continued the chairman, with emphasis, "if a single mishap
had occurred owing to the mistake of any of our half-blinded men, we
should probably have been let in for compensation to the extent perhaps
of 20,000 pounds! Is this fair? If it be so, then one may be tempted
to ask why does not the same `sauce' suit shipowners, many of whom are
notorious for sending to sea unseaworthy craft, and who consign above
one thousand human beings to an untimely grave _every_ _year_ without
being punished in any way or being asked for a farthing of compensation?

"I have already said so much on this point gentlemen, that I shall make
but a few remarks on the other two subjects. Well, then, as to
efficiency. Our carrying ten millions of passengers in safety and
comfort is one proof of that--and, I may remark in passing, that our
receipts for the conveyance of these ten millions amounts to nearly half
a million of money. Another proof of our efficiency lies in the fact
that all the compensation we have had to pay for loss or detention of
luggage has been only 100 pounds. Then as to goods. For merchandise
carried we have received about 150,000 pounds, and the total
compensation for the half-year amounts to only about 660 pounds. Surely
I may say with truth that such facts speak to the regularity and
efficiency of your service.

"If the public only knew the anxiety and care with which its interests
are looked after both by night and by day by our excellent passenger and
goods-managers they would perhaps present each of these gentlemen with a
testimonial piece of plate, and would for evermore lay aside that wicked
and ungrateful idea that railway companies are `fair game,' to be
plundered by every one who receives, or fancies he has received, the
slightest possible amount of damage to limb or property. Railway
companies are not perfect any more than other companies. There are
certain faults, it may be, and weak points, which all of us deplore, and
which are being remedied as fast as experience and the progress of human
kn