There are many distinguished men in the railway world, who have been accustomed for many years to look afore and aft, who do not despair of seeing the Chester and Holyhead one of the most profitable, as it is one of the best officered, lines of railway in the kingdom; but we think that the government should take upon itself to cover the vast outlay which it caused in the erection of that wonder of the world, the Britannia Tubular Bridge—a NATIONAL CONVENIENCE.
It has been a cause of regret to thousands that the proposals for the erection of the Hotel in Britannia Park, the grounds of which are in rapid progress towards completion, have not been taken up with that warmth and spirit, which the zeal and penetration of S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., Chairman of the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company, led him to consider desirable. It is to be hoped, however, that the vast expenditure already incurred will not be thrown away, and the property suffered again to become almost a waste, affording as it does the most beautiful prospects, and the most healthy and convenient positions in the neighbourhood, to which multitudes of wealthy families, carrying on business in the crowded cities of England, would be glad to retire, could sufficient accommodation be secured to them. In conclusion, we would respectfully urge upon the shareholders not to sacrifice their interests in an undertaking whose prospects are of a most cheering character, in parting with their shares at present prices.
General Manager for the Line, J. O. Binger, Esq., Chester.—Resident Engineer, H. Lee, Esq., C.E., Bangor.
DEPARTURE OF TRAINS.
Mail Train, 2 a.m., and 7 p.m. Express, 2 40 p.m. For the Ordinary Trains see Time Table.
STEAM PACKETS.
Ploughing the seas
’Gainst wind, and tide, and elemental strife.
Holyhead derives its chief prosperity and consequence from being the Station of the Government Packets, which convey the London and other English mails to and from Ireland, to which it lies exactly opposite, and is the shortest and safest passage across St. George’s Channel; and now that the Railway is completed through to Chester, a new interest is awakened, and hopes entertained that the port will become one of the first importance to this remote peninsular of the kingdom. In addition to Her Majesty’s packets, there are regular steam vessels, in connection with the Railway Company, that sail from the harbour daily. These are splendid first class and fast sailing steam-ships; the fittings-up are of superior character, excellent tables are kept, stewards and stewardesses are most attentive, the crew are steady, sober, and experienced sailors, the commanders are true seamen, assiduous in the discharge of their highly responsible and arduous professional duties, civil and easy in address, intelligent in conversation, and most desirous to secure, by the best attention, the comfort and convenience of their passengers—these form an aggregate of all possible auxiliaries to the enjoyment of a swift and pleasant run of 4½ hours, which lands you on the Irish shores. These superb steamers dart boldly forward, like some ocean bird upon its wing, on their trip across the channel. There is something almost startling in looking intensely on that strange unconscious power which produces results of living motion, with a beauty, majesty, and rapidity of action, without any approach to violence or hurry; it is at such moments that the light of modern science appears almost too dazzling to the human eye. It is said that between Holyhead and Dublin no packet has been lost since the days of Queen Elizabeth. In 1652, a weekly postal communication was established between Dublin and England, by packet to Holyhead.