Punch,  46 (1864), 49.

Railway Aggression on London

Anon

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Railways, Environmentalism, Engineering, Commerce, Politics, Government, Class


    Opens by describing the action that Englishmen will have to take in order to thwart the advances of 'the emissaries of the Railway Company', and condemns the threat to English homes by 'a society of speculative adventurers, pursuing self-aggrandisement under the pretence of public advantage'. Considers such an invasion to be 'the legalised burglary of the Railway Companies'. Asking whether any means exist for 'averting the imminent destruction of the little beauty which our capital possesses', urges householders in London and its suburbs whose property is under threat to 'get up a petition and present it to the Houses both of Lords and Commons'. Bitterly condemns the proposal for 'a railroad cut through Kensington Gardens', an 'impossible' act of 'desecration' that Parliament now seems likely to permit. Thinks it is 'all very well' for the railways to encroach on the property of a 'bloated aristocrat' but 'when the levelling agency of the dumpy level' affects the property of the 'middle classes' then 'Railway aggression is an insufferable nuisance'. Concludes by reiterating the call for a petition.



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