sider the number of persons connected with these companies, the extensive ramifications of their connexions, in addition to the ground of opposition being one purely of theory, and, therefore, more open to debate, we may form some idea of the difficulties the Committee had to contend with. As this opposition was, however, overcome,—as it must be frivolous, though vexatious,—we trust that it will not be repeated when a project of which we have yet to speak comes before Parliament.
In 1831 preparations for applying to Parliament were again made; but the fate of previous attempts, and the opposition threatened, caused the Committee and subscribers to defer further proceedings that year.
In 1832 a meeting was held in Liverpool, John Moss, Esq., in the chair, when it was determined that one bill only, and that from Birmingham to Warrington, from which place there was a Railroad to Liverpool and Manchester, should be applied for; that the shareholders in the two concerns should be invited to unite in one, and the management be transferred to Liverpool. This was ultimately done, and Mr. Rastrick was appointed engineer for the Birmingham, and Mr. Stephenson for the Liver-
