that Mr. Giles has selected the best line between London and Basnigstoke; and is exceedingly wise in not recommending a tunnel through the long summit between Basingstoke and Winchester, of nineteen miles; and the line appears to me, without a tunnel, impracticable. According to the law of railroads, as will be found in theory and practice, no railroad for despatch of business, speed, and safety, should rise more than from twelve to fourteen feet per mile. The law of gravity, propulsion, and speed, will be found to be obstructed about one hour in every two feet rise, in twenty miles; so that the speed of a steam engine that could perform thirty miles an hour on the level, will be reduced to less than five miles per hour, upon a rise of twenty feet per mile. And the Great Western Railway is proposed to pass almost parallel with the Southampton, from London to Basingstoke, Reading, and Newbury, would reduce the estimated traffic on the Southampton line considerably. And it appears, by the estimate of traffic, that the revenue chiefly depends upon the coach trade on the line to Basingstoke. Southampton is a beautiful town, and a place more for fashion than trade, and this line can never be made a line of despatch or speed, owing to the rapid rise and fall of the country; consequently, the Southampton railroad cannot be considered a national object.
The 4th railroad in progression is the Grand Western Line, between London, Bath, and Bristol; the line of distance is about 122 miles. This line of country is very favourable for a railway, about sixty miles on the line from London. This great national work is projected by Mr. J. E. Brunel, who is the engineer to the company, and who has investigated that line of country; and I feel no doubt, from Mr. Brunel's activity and talent, that he has selected the best line
