"Dang it, they can't
make this here railway arter all, and they've set it o' fire to cheat their
creditors."

On leaving Wolverton, before arriving at Roade, a second-class station, after
clearing a short cutting, looking westerly, we catch a glimpse of the tower
of the church of Grafton, where, according to tradition, Edward IV. married
Lady Gray of Groby. The last interview between Henry VIII. and Cardinal
Campeggio, relative to his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, took place at
the Mansion House of this parish, which was demolished in 1643.

About this spot we enter Northamptonshire, and passing Roade, pause at
Blisworth station, where there is a neat little inn.

BLISWORTH, NORTHAMPTON.

Miles. Miles.
BLISWORTH. 34.5 OUNDLE.
4.75 NORTHAMPTON. 40.75 WANSFORD.
15.75 WELLINGBOROUGH. STAMFORD by Coach.
20 HIGHAM FERRERS. 47.25 PETERBOROUGH.
26 THRAPSTON.

From Blisworth branches out the line to Peterborough, with sixteen stations,
of which we name above the more important.

The route presents a constant succession of beautiful and truly English rural
scenery, of rich lowland pastures, watered by the winding rivers, and bounded
by hills, on which, like sentinels, a row of ancient church towers stand.

The first station is Northampton.

* * * * *

NORTHAMPTON, on a hill on the banks of the river Nene, is a remarkably
pleasant town, with several fine old buildings, an ancient church, an open
market square, neat clean streets, and suburbs of pretty villas, overlooking,
from the hill top, fat green meadows, flooded in winter. Shoemaking on a
wholesale scale, is the principal occupation of the inhabitants. For strong
shoes Northampton can compete in any foreign market, and a good many light
articles, cut after French patterns, have been successfully made since the
trade was thrown open by Peel's tariff. There are several factories, in
which large numbers of young persons are employed, but the majority work by
the piece at home for the master manufacturers.

Northampton is also great in the fairs and markets of a rich agricultural
district, and rejoices over races twice a year, in which the facilities of
the railroad have rendered some compensation to the inn-keepers for the loss
of the coaching trade. Northampton was originally intended to be a main
station of the railway between London and Birmingham. The inhabitants were
silly enough to resi