is cut very deeply through
rock, and there is a long tunnel which leads into a yard where omnibusses
wait to convey passengers to the inns. The tunnel is too low for the
engines at present in use, and the carriages are drawn through it by
donkeys. The engines are calculated to draw fifty tons. . . I cannot
say that I at all liked it; the speed was too great to be pleasant, and
makes you rather giddy, and certainly it is not smoother and easier than
a good turnpike road. When the carriages stop or go on, a very violent
jolting takes place, from the ends of the carriages jostling together. I
have heard many say they prefer a horse-coach, but the majority are in
favour of the railroad, and they will, no doubt, knock up the coaches."

"Monday, Sept. 12, 1831.--Left Manchester by coach at ten o'clock, and
arrived in Liverpool at half-past two. . . The railroad is not supposed
to answer vastly well, but they are making a branch to Warrington, which
will hurt the Sankey Navigation, and throw 1,500 men out of employment;
these people are said to be loud in their execrations of it, and to
threaten revenge. It is certain the proprietors do not all feel easy
about it, as one living at Warrington has determined never to go by it,
and was coming to Liverpool by our coach if there had been room. He
would gladly sell his shares. A dividend of 4 per cent. had been paid
for six months, but money had been borrowed. . . . Charge for tonnage of
goods, 10s. for thirty-two miles, which appears very dear to me."

CRABB ROBINSON'S FIRST RAILWAY JOURNEY.

"June 9th, 1833.--(Liverpool). At twelve o'clock I got upon an omnibus,
and was driven up a steep hill to the place where the steam carriages
start. We travelled in the second class of carriages. There were five
carriages linked together, in each of which were placed open seats for
the travellers, four or five facing each other; but not all were full;
and, besides, there was a close carriage, and also a machine for luggage.
The fare was four shillings for the thirty-one miles. Everything went on
so rapidly that I had scarcely the power of observation. The road begins
at an excavation through a rock, and is to a certain extent insulated
from the adjacent country. It is occasionally placed on bridges, and
frequently intersected by ordinary roads. Not quite a perfect level is
preserved. On setting off there is a slight jolt, arising from the chain
catching each carriag