several coaches,
caravans, or wagons, linked together until they arrive at their
respective branches, when other engines might proceed on with them to
their destination. By a due regulation of the departure and arrival of
coaches, caravans, and wagons along these branches the whole
communication throughout the country would be so simple and so complete
as to enable every individual to partake of the various productions of
particular situations, and to enjoy, at a moderate expense every
improvement introduced into society. The great economy of such a measure
must be obvious to everyone, seeing that, instead of each coach changing
horses between London and Edinburgh, say twenty-five times, requiring a
hundred horses, besides the supernumerary ones kept at every stage in
case of accidents, the whole journey of several coaches would be
performed with the simple expense of one steam engine. No animal
strength will be able to give that uniform and regular acceleration to
our commercial intercourse which may be accomplished by railways; however
great animal speed, there cannot be a doubt that it would be considerably
surpassed by mail steam carriages, and that the expense would be
infinitely less. The exorbitant charge now made for small parcels
prevents that natural intercourse of friendship between families resident
in different parts of the kingdom, in the same manner as the heavy
postage of letters prevents free communication, and consequently
diminishes very considerably the consumption of paper which would take
place under a less burdensome taxation."

Mr. Gray's book would no doubt excite ridicule and amazement when
published sixty years ago. The farmers of that day might well be excused
for incredulity when perusing a passage like the following:--"The present
system of conveyance," says Mr. Gray, "affords but tolerable
accommodation to farmers, and the common way in which they attend markets
must always confine them within very limited distances. It is, however,
expected that the railway will present a suitable conveyance for
attending market-towns thirty or forty miles off, as also for forwarding
considerable supplies of grain, hay, straw, vegetables, and every
description of live stock to the metropolis at a very easy expense, and
with the greatest celerity, from all parts of the kingdom."

A writer in Chambers's Journal, 1847, remarks:--"It was not until after
four or five years of agitation, and several edit