Meetings, in consequence, took place, from the last of which emanated the following requisition to the High Constable, to convene a “Town Meeting” on the subject.

“To the High Constable of the Town of Brighton.

“Sir,

“We, whose names are undersigned, do hereby request that you will call a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Brighton, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means of rendering the method invented by Mr. Vallance, for the conveyance of passengers and goods by atmospheric pressure, beneficial to the town of Brighton.”

[Signed by about eighty of the inhabitants.]

In consequence of this requisition, the High Constable took the usual course of convening town meetings at Brighton, by advertisements in the newspapers, and by crying, and placarding the requisition all over the place, with the following addition at the foot of it:—

“In compliance with the above request, I do hereby call a meeting, to be holden at the Old Ship Tavern, Brighton, on Tuesday, 5th June, 1827, at eleven for twelve o’clock.

“E. H. Creasy, H. C.”

A “town meeting” accordingly took place; though, prior to stating the resolutions which were then passed, I solicit your attention to the following paragraph from the Brighton Herald of the 16th September previous; for the reason, that the explanation which it gives of the method alluded to, may serve to render more evident the justness of the decision to which the said “town meeting” came.

“NEW MODE OF CONVEYANCE.

“Our readers may remember that about two years ago, we discussed, somewhat at large, a principle of motion, by which, it was stated, we might be conveyed from one place to another ten times as fast as we now travel; that is, one hundred miles an hour instead of ten. It is unnecessary to say that expedition such as this, appeared so utterly beyond what was conceived to be within the bounds of possibility, that the theory was consigned to the oblivion it seemed to merit; and the author of it classed among those for whom, in the opinion of the world, St. Luke’s is the only fitting residence.

“General, however, as this opinion was, we have, during the past week, witnessed that which most importantly counteracts it as relates to ourselves; and could the doubts which the world at large entertain on the subject, have been concentered in a number of individuals, small enough to have both seen and felt what was experienced by us, we see not how the whole world could have avoided entertaining the opinion, that it is as certainly in our power to cause ourselves to be conveyed from one place to another at the rate of 100 miles an hour, by combining the operation of the necessary apparatus, as it is to cause ourselves to be conveyed at the rate of ten miles an hour, by adapting wood and iron so as to form the combination of apparatus commonly designated a stage coach; and that too, with a degree of safety and convenience at which stage coaches can never arrive.

“It may be recollected that the principle, or theory alluded to, was, that by properly combining the operation of steam-engines and air-pumps, such as are daily used for certain large manufacturing processes, we might create a kind of artificial wind; which wind, if made to blow in a previously constructed channel, would draw, or drive, a properly constructed carriage, at any rate not greatly exceeding what has been adverted to. Since, as in manufacturing processes, air is daily caused to move at rates varying from 200 to nearly 700 miles an hour, a proper combination of the same apparatus must certainly enable us to cause it to move at the lower rate of 100 miles an hour; and, as the current of a river will carry a vessel down at nearly the rate at which itself moves in its channel, so would this current of air carry us along with a velocity nearly equal to its own.

“This, in brief, is the theory. What we have witnessed of the practice is as follows. It being impossible to give motion to the whole atmosphere, as nature does when she causes a wind, we were first shown into a construction which formed a channel, within which the motion of air could be so directed as to cause it to blow full against any object placed inside such channel.

“This channel (which is, in fact, a very large tunnel), did not, in this instance, connect any two distant towns: it being of a length sufficient only to illustrate the principle; but it was self-evident that it (or another) might be extended to any length required. On the bottom of this channel (or tunnel) was a railway, on which ran a carriage. This carriage had a circular end, composed of thin boards. This circular end was as large as the tunnel, excepting about an inch all round, and was fixed to the carriage, so as to stand across the tunnel; as the sail of a ship stands across the line of her length. Consequently, if motion were given to the air within the tunnel, it would press, or blow, full against this end of the carriage, and tend to push the carriage forward; as the sails of a vessel going right before the wind are pressed against by the atmosphere at large. Each end of this tunnel was so connected to large air-pumps, that air could be drawn from one end of it, while the atmosphere was at the same time permitted to enter freely at the other.

“After examining the construction of the apparatus sufficiently to give us to understand as above, we got into the carriage; and, on the air-pumps being set in motion, we were moved along the railway from one end of the tunnel to the other. When we arrived there the motion of the carriage was reversed, and we were moved back again.

“We continued riding in this way, until we became so convinced that the invisible and intangible medium we breathe, might be rendered a safe and most expeditious means of getting from one place to another, as to be tired of riding.

“Further investigation gave us to perceive that the carriage might be stopped, and its motion reversed at pleasure; that so trivial was the degree of exhaustion (or vacuum) necessary to enable the atmosphere to drive the carriage forward, as the air-pumps drew the air from before it, that though we were exposed to this “vacuum” (as it is called) at every other turn of the carriage, yet did we experience no inconvenience from it. In fact, our feelings gave us no intimation on the subject, and we were wholly ignorant of it until it was pointed out to us. We were satisfied that persons or goods might be taken up, or set down, in any place through which the tunnel ran, or whose trade or population were at all important. And, as we were also convinced that it would be impossible to be overturned, it was out of our power to resist the belief that we had witnessed the operation of a principle by which we may be conveyed more safely, more cheaply, and many times more expeditiously, than we now travel.

“We cannot expect to carry to the minds of those who have not witnessed the operation of this principle, the conviction felt by us who have. But of this we are satisfied, that whoever sees it, will, with us, be satisfied, that we can render the principle practically effective, whenever we choose to be at the expense of doing so.

“It stands now, exactly as the steam-engine stood, when Watt had completed the first one he made: that is, certain in its effect, provided we will be at the charge of combining the necessary apparatus. We have steam-engines and air-pumps amply large enough for the purpose. So far from there being any insuperable difficulty in the construction of the tunnel, there are parties ready to contract for, and guarantee the execution of it, as relates to being air-tight; and, although we should begin by going only at the rate of ten, fifteen, or twenty miles an hour, yet have we no doubt that, in the time necessary to instruct us how to manage the carriage under higher velocities (as sailors get the “trim” of a new ship), we should be able to go several (and we see not why ten) times faster than we now travel. The chief, if not the only, difficulty to surmount in this, as in most scientific improvements in their origin, is public incredulity. This difficulty was felt and experienced, at the outset, in respect to the construction of steam-engines; in cutting canals; in laying down rail-roads; in rendering steam-engines locomotive on them; and superior to the tempest and the wave, at sea.

“But as the same spirit of perseverance which enabled us to overcome these past difficulties, will cause us to triumph over those before us with reference to this principle of motion, we are satisfied, that it is necessary only to go on, and prosper.”—Brighton Herald, 16th September, 1826.

This quotation from the Brighton Herald serving to convey an idea of the method of operation, I may return to the “Town Meeting”: with reference to which the Brighton Gazette of the 7th June, 1827, states:—

“A town meeting, which we never saw surpassed in respectability, and seldom more numerous, was held at the Old Ship Assembly Rooms, on Tuesday last, at the requisition of nearly eighty of our most respectable inhabitants, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means of rendering the method invented by Mr. Vallance, for the conveyance of passengers and goods by atmospheric pressure, beneficial to the town of Brighton. The High Constable was in the chair.”

The course of the business not being important, I beg to refer you to the columns of the Brighton Gazette for it, and state only the result; which will be found officially advertised in all the Brighton papers of that week, to the following effect:—

“TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

“At a numerous and highly respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants and Visitors of the Town of Brighton, held at the Old Ship Tavern, on Tuesday, the 5th day of June, 1827, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means of rendering the method invented by Mr. Vallance for the conveyance of passengers and goods by atmospheric pressure, beneficial to the Town of Brighton:

“The High Constable in the chair.

“A Committee having been appointed at a former General Meeting of the Inhabitants, to investigate the merits of the measure now under consideration, and their Report having been read to this Meeting, expressing a decided approbation of the undertaking—

“Resolved, unanimously, that the Report be sanctioned and adopted by this Meeting.

“Resolved, that in the opinion of this Meeting the method of transmission proposed by Mr. Vallance would be productive of the most important advantages to the Town of Brighton; and that the application of it, either as it relates to the transit of goods from Shoreham Harbour, or to the conveyance of passengers between Brighton and the Metropolis, is entitled to the most cordial support of the Town.

“Resolved, that the thanks of this Meeting be given to Mr. Vallance for bringing his important invention before the Inhabitants of the Town.

“Resolved, that the proceedings of this day be advertised in the Brighton papers.

“E. H. Creasy, Chairman.

“Resolved, that the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chairman for his impartial conduct in the Chair.”