The marvellous enlightenment of the 19th century, great as we deem it, has not yet penetrated those holes and corners of prejudice and credulity, which serve for the hiding places of superstition, for even in the eye of the Railroad itself are those living who speak with awe of the so-called prophecies, said to be made by the poor driveller Robert Nixon, the Cheshire sage. It so happens, very oddly, that predictions are sometimes remembered when verified, and not before. So was the curious and very oracular one of the past year, so often quoted,—

“A summer without a spring,
And an autumn without a king,”

which no one can deny was very remarkable indeed—only it was too disloyal to be circulated till certainty had secured its truth. Poor Nixon wishing, doubtlessly, to compliment his patrons, the Cholmondeley family, with a “May-the-king-live-for-ever” kind of benediction, promised that till certain stones or rocks near Warrington came to Vale Royal, the prosperity of their family should continue. Unluckily, stones have grown locomotive of late, and “Birnam Wood doth come to Dunsinane,” for the fatal rocks have become part of the grand viaduct, which, far from bringing ill to the noble Delamere, is a link in the mighty chain now weaving, which shall bind together art, science, talent, wealth, and greatness, for the good of all who are so blessed as to live in the age of RAILROADS.

The line passes through a deep cutting before arriving at the

HARTFORD STATION.

Distance to Birmingham, 65¾—Liverpool and Manchester, 31¾ miles.

DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—

Places W. ofStation.

Places E. ofStation.

Newchurch

2¼ miles.

Davenham

1½ miles.

Little Budworth

5½ —

Northwich

2 —

Tarporley

8 —

Great Budworth

6 —

Tarvin

10 —

Nether Knutsford

9 —

Great Barrow

11 —

Rostherne

10½ —

Guilden Sutton

13 —

Mobberley

11½ —

Waverton

13½ —

Wilmslow

15½ —

Christleton

13½ —

Chester

16 —

CHAPTER VII.
HARTFORD TO WARRINGTON,
Twelve and ¼ Miles.

Proceeding from the Hartford station, the banks of the cutting conceal much of the scenery. The small and scattered village of Gorstage appears on the W. From Hartford station to Acton station the evenness of the ground renders a train visible to a spectator, at either place, the entire distance.

The town of Northwich lies two miles E. of the railway; has a market on Friday, and fairs on April 10, for cattle only, August 2, and December 6. Camden is of opinion, that the brine springs here were used by the Romans, and says, the town was anciently called Hellah-Du, or the Black Salt Town. The town has a very antique appearance, and contains a church very remarkable for its semi-circular choir, and for the curious decorations of the roof of the nave, which consist of numerous figures of wicker baskets, similar to those used in the process of salt-making. The commercial prosperity of Northwich, is entirely dependent upon its numerous brine springs and extensive mines of rock salt; in which article the trade is so great, as to produce an annual export of 100,000 tons from the springs alone. They were discovered at a very early period, and are usually more than one hundred yards in depth. The brine, being raised by pumps set in motion by steam-engines, is conveyed by pipes into pans, thirty or forty feet square: these are fixed over furnaces, the heat arising from which, causes the water to evaporate, and the salt to crystallise; it is then drained and dried, and is fit for sale. The mines of rock salt were discovered in 1670, the upper stratum, lying about sixty yards below the surface of the earth, is ten yards thick. About 1772, a second stratum, ten feet thick, and of superior quality, was discovered, at the depth of one hundred and ten yards, the intermediate space being occupied by a solid mass of stone. This latter bed alone is worked by the following process:—A shaft is sunk, and on reaching the mine a roof of salt is left, supported by pillars of the same material. As the excavation proceeds, the fragments are raised in buckets by means of steam-engines. The pits form an area of two, three, or four acres, and when illuminated, present a singularly beautiful and magnificent appearance; the light being reflected from all points in every variety of hue, as from a promiscuous assemblage of mirrors and prisms. This fairy palace was the scene of an elegant entertainment, given by the spirited proprietors, to about a hundred of the members of the British Association, during the meeting at Liverpool, in 1837.

From an account published in 1818, it appeared that 200,000 tons of manufactured salt, and upwards of 40,000 tons of rock salt, were landed at Liverpool during the preceding year, and that upwards of 280,000 bushels are annually sold for internal consumption, by far the greatest proportion having been obtained in this neighbourhood; since that period the business has materially increased. The river Weaver and the Grand Trunk Canal afford great facilities for water-carriage from Northwich; and three hundred vessels are employed in the salt trade alone, which return laden with coal.

Passing through one or two slight cuttings, the line commands a fine view of Grange Hall, which stands on a well-wooded hill, near to the railway on the W. Eastward, is the village of Weaverham, and Winnington Hall, and, in the distance, the Overton Hills. The cutting at Acton Heath terminates near the