over the blocks and sleepers, and they were thus kept retained firmly in their places. The surface was finally formed in such a manner as to carry off, with the greatest facility, any water that might be collected on the road, from rain or springs; and it is thus kept perfectly dry, and in a state to be at all times easily repaired.

The line then passes through another short cutting, succeeded by an embankment of trifling height, and over a bridge built askew of the angle of 70 degrees, with a span of 30 feet, crossing the old Castle Bromwich road, which fortunately was upon a level not to require any alteration for the purpose of the Railway. On the right of this embankment and bridge lies the little village of Saltley, with its chapel of a size so diminutive as to prove the existence of few inhabitants or few worshippers. Beyond, where the ground rises to some eminence, is the house erected by the Birmingham historian, Mr. Hutton; and still further, to the distance of about five miles, the road stretches to Castle Bromwich, where is the ancient manorial residence of the Earl of Bradford-a family whose personal urbanity and active benevolence make them the delight and comfort of the neighbourhood. The Railway now enters another cutting, which supplied fitting materials of clay and gravel for the last embankment, and passes under three neat bridges, built of brick and stone, which have been formed principally to preserve the communication of the town with the lands and roads on the opposite side. Emerging from the obscurity of the cutting, the line enters upon the Aston embankment, which may be considered as a chef d'œuvre in the art of roadmaking, from the beauty of its curving line, the massy strength of its structure, the manifold difficulties that were

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to be overcome, the ingenuity with which the materials were supplied, and the celerity with which the whole was executed. This embankment is about 101 chains in length, varying in height from 12 to 30 feet. It consumed, in its formation, 300,000 cubic yards of materiel, which was obtained at the south end from previous cuttings, and from lowering considerably a large portion of the adjacent lands near the centre. At the north end of the embankment, the necessary materials were amply supplied by diverting the course of the river Tame into a new channel, cut by the side of the Railroad, and by scooping out a large artificial pool on a contiguous piece of land purchased by the Directors. This last expedient yielded an amount of above 20,000 cubic yards of good clay and gravel. Several accidents occurred in the course of raising this embankment, which had well nigh frustrated all the plans of the Engineer, and effectually prevented its completion by the time determined upon for the opening of the line to the public. The foundation of the embankment, which skirted the side of the old course of the river, consisted of deposits left from time to time by the stream, to the depth of many feet; which, being too weak to sustain its weight, in many instances gave way, and were forced out; and, in one case, the embankment sank nearly the depth of eight feet in the course of an hour. Fortunately the substratum was formed of hard and firm gravel, which preserved its level unbroken, and offered a sound and sufficient foundation, which has never since moved. The difficulties presented by these accidents, in connection with the fast approaching time when the Railway was to be thrown open for actual operation, rendered its completion by the appointed period a matter of most arduous exertion. The workmen were urged to the top of

their strength; and night and day, by sunlight and moonlight, they toiled on in their determined course; and, with an enthusiasm rarely surpassed under circumstances of a much more stirring nature, they accomplished their Herculean task, without the loss of one hour to the arrangements of the Company.

Advancing onwards, the Railway crosses diagonally a millpool, originally of about 10 chains distance from side to side, but now divided by the road into two, one of which serves the purpose of a feeder to the other. The bottom of the pool, underneath a layer of about six feet of mud, which was speedily displaced by the weight of the embankment, was of most excellent gravel, and served admirably as a foundation to the superincumbent road. The line pursues its way by means of a beautiful viaduct over the Birmingham and Fazeley canal, a township road, and the turnpike road leading from Birmingham to Lichfield.

This viaduct consists of 10 arches, and is one of the great ornaments on the line of the Grand Junction Railway. Its structure is of singular and varied design, ingeniously adapted to the many purposes it had to accomplish. The first arch crosses a small brook running between the pool and the canal, and is 18 feet span, askew at an angle of 63 degrees. The next, which is thrown over the canal lock and towing path, is of 30 feet span, and askew at the same angle as the first. The third arch, which is of corresponding form and dimensions with the preceding one, has its mediate pier carried below the bottom of the lock, to secure the safety of the viaduct, should the Canal Company, at any future time, determine upon erecting another lock. The next six arches are of 18 feet span, and all of them at different angles, to allow the last arch, which spans the turnpike road, to be made at a fixed.

angle, varying from those under which the canal passes. To effect this, the piers of the smaller arches were made thicker at one end than the other. Under the centre arch of these smaller ones, the main pipes of the Birmingham Water Works pass towards the town, conveying this salutary element from the river Tame to its inhabitants.

The curving line of the Railroad extends from the Great Station, in Nova Scotia Gardens, to the distance of about three miles and a half, forming a crescent of extraordinary magnificence and beauty, such as no other line can exhibit. In traversing its periphery, the most animating and interesting objects and scenes present themselves to the traveller; and the only regret he feels is, that he cannot linger for a longer time in association with their charms. From the embankment and viaduct, which rises to the height of 30 feet above the level of the surrounding country, his eye ranges to the right over the fertile valley of the Tame,—the nearer objects being the reservoir of the Water Works, spreading out like a beautiful inland lake, with its extensive works and tall chimneys piercing the skies; and the distant ones of Gravelly-hill, with its villas and humbler domiciles; and the table land of Erdington Slade, with its village of the same name. On the left the eye glances up the noble avenue of patriarchal elms, at the extent of which rises Aston Hall, the magnificent residence of James Watt, Esq., the son of the memorable inventor of the steam engine. The road winds round the extensive park and woods which enclose the mansion; and its venerable towers are seen rising above the tops of the surrounding trees, in peerless grandeur. This structure, of which a very correct idea is given by the enclosed plate, is an excellent specimen of the style of domestic architecture in the 17th