§ THE EARL OF HARRINGTONrose to ask Her Majesty's Government the following Questions:—Are the Railways on the High Roads sanctioned by Her Majesty's Government, and made under the Control of Government Engineers? If so, are they intended to improve the Roads, to facilitate the Traffic, and to cheapen the Fares in Public Conveyances? According to present Experience, have these Railways answered? The noble Earl said he protests against a third portion of the road from the Marble Arch for a mile westward, being taken up by Mr. Train's two railway carriages, while the thousands of other vehicles that were constantly passing were 1485 obliged to content themselves with the remaining portion. If they could have some broad tramway, something similar to those of granite at Milan, they would probably be of considerable advantage.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, with regard to the first question, the Commissioners of Roads had given permission to lay down these rails, and he thought rightly. With regard to the second question—namely, were they intended to improve the roads and facilitate traffic? he presumed that was precisely for which they were made. On the third question, as to the fares, her Majesty's Government could not give any opinion whatever. And as to the fourth, whether these railways have been found to answer? he might say they had been found to work well in New York and in Paris, and he did not see why they should not do so here.