The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1843-6] PARLIAMENT AND THE RAILWAYS. 2$
of railway director, and though it was grief and
bitterness to me to be so long kept aloof from my
true work, yet, considering the close connection
between railway companies and the Post Office, and
the consequent importance of the knowledge I had
been enabled to gain, I could not regard the time as
ill-spent.
Before leaving the subject of railways, however, I
must mention one occurrence, typical, I believe, of
many others, the whole forming one of the great
causes of that unfortunate depreciation in railway
property of which the world is now but too well aware.
At the time of my joining the company the town
of Hastings enjoyed no railway communication with
any other place. Two projects were started for
connecting it with London one by the Brighton
Company, and the other by the South- Eastern. In
the parliamentary contest that ensued, the Brighton
Company dwelt much on the importance of a coastline,
so
at that
useful in defence against
time there was no small
invasion, of which
apprehension. Of
the military advantage of such a line, strong evidence
was given, I think, by the Duke of Wellington. The
South-Eastern Company, on the other hand, whose
projected line was in effect of the same length, based
its claim mainly on the fact that by taking the inland
route it would open up a new tract of country
of great agricultural importance. The Committee,
naturally desirous of obtaining both advantages,
suggested for the consideration of the Brighton
Company
whether it would not be worth while to
construct its coast-line, even though the inland line
should also be made. As, however, the Brighton
directors distinctly rejected this proposal, on the ground
that the traffic would not suffice for two lines, the