lesh increasing with the extension of
railways, and that the number of coaches running to and from the new
railway stations gave employment to a greater number of horses than under
the old stage-coach system. Those who had prophesied the decay of the
metropolis, and the ruin of the suburban cabbage-growers, in consequence
of the approach of railways to London, were also disappointed; for, while
the new roads let citizens out of London, they let country-people in.
Their action, in this respect, was centripetal as well as centrifugal.
Tens of thousands who had never seen the metropolis could now visit it
expeditiously and cheaply; and Londoners who had never visited the
country, or but rarely, were enabled, at little cost of time or money, to
see green fields and clear blue skies, far from the smoke and bustle of
town. If the dear suburban-grown cabbages became depreciated in value,
there were truck-loads of fresh-grown country cabbages to make amends for
the loss: in this case, the "partial evil" was a far more general good.
The food of the metropolis became rapidly improved, especially in the
supply of wholesome meat and vegetables. And then the price of coals--an
article which, in this country, is as indispensable as daily food to all
classes--was greatly reduced. What a blessing to the metropolitan poor
is described in this single fact!

The prophecies of ruin and disaster to landlords and farmers were equally
confounded by the openings of the railways. The agricultural
communications, so far from being "destroyed," as had been predicted,
were immensely improved. The farmers were enabled to buy their coals,
lime, and manure for less money, while they obtained a readier access to
the best markets for their stock and farm-produce. Notwithstanding the
predictions to the contrary, their cows gave milk as before, their sheep
fed and fattened, and even skittish horses ceased to shy at the passing
locomotive. The smoke of the engines did not obscure the sky, nor were
farmyards burnt up by the fire thrown from the locomotives. The farming
classes were not reduced to beggary; on the contrary, they soon felt
that, so far from having anything to dread, they had very much good to
expect from the extension of railways.

Landlords also found that they could get higher rents for farms situated
near a railway than at a distance from one. Hence they became clamorous
for "sidings." They felt it to be a grievance to be placed