f the lithographic draughtsmen and printers in London
were excessive; people remained at work, night after night, snatching a
hasty repose for a couple of hours, on lockers, benches, or the floor.
Some found it impossible to execute their contracts; others did their
work imperfectly. One of the most eminent was compelled to bring over
four hundred lithographers from Belgium, and failed, nevertheless, with
this reinforcement, in completing some of his plans. Post horses and
express trains, to bring to town plans prepared in the country, were
sought in all parts. Horses were engaged days before, and kept, by
persons specially appointed, under lock and key. Some railway companies
exercised their power of refusing express trains for rival projects, and
clerks were obliged to make sudden and embarrassing changes of route, in
order to travel by less hostile ways. A large establishment of clerks
were in attendance to register the deposits; and this arrangement went on
very well, until eleven o'clock, when the delivery grew so rapid, that
the clerks were quite unable to keep pace with the arrivals. The
entrance hall soon became inconveniently crowded, considerable anxiety
being expressed lest twelve o'clock should arrive 'ere the requisite
formalities should have been gone through. This anxiety was allayed by
the assurance that admission into the hall before that hour, would be
sufficient to warrant the reception of the documents.

[Picture: Deposit of Railway Plans with the Board of Trade, 30 Nov.,
1845. Ill. Lon. News, 6 Dec., 1845, p. 358]

"As the clock struck twelve, the doors of the office were about to be
closed, when a gentleman with the plans of one of the Surrey railways
arrived, and, with the greatest difficulty, succeeded in obtaining
admission. A lull of a few minutes here occurred; but, just before the
expiration of the first quarter of an hour, a post chaise, with reeking
horses, drove up, in hot haste, to the entrance. In a moment, its
occupants (three gentlemen) alighted, and rushed down the passage,
towards the office door, each bearing a plan of Brobdingnagian
dimensions. On reaching the door, and finding it closed, the
countenances of all drooped; but one of them, more valorous than the
rest, and prompted by the bystanders, gave a loud pull at the bell. It
was answered by Inspector Otway, who informed the ringer it was now too
late, and that his plans could not be received. The