Filmore at Berlin, and also to Lord Cowley, and the others at Brussels, Stuttgardt, &c. to beg the reports may be urged forward without delay, and transmitted to me in Calcutta, and upon them you shall have a resumé with the documents themselves, and such engineering notes as I have had the opportunity to make. "Had I but myself to think of, I should have gone to Constantinople, and taken a fishing boat, or in some other way have got to Alexandria even at the risk of missing the boat, but I feel myself interdicted from incurring more than ordinary risk as I have very many dependent on me. In one of Lord Bacon's Essays he says:-"He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune, for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief." Now as my hostages are much heavier and by no means limited to these, I fear that my wings are clipped effectually for good or ill. There is, however, yet a little hope at the bottom of the box-and with your good aid, and steady support, and the valuable advice of the one or two friends who are kind enough to extend it, I much mistake if I will not do much to shew that there is an exception to Lord Bacon's axiom, assuming the undertaking to come under his category of great enterprises." "I leave this on the 27th and hope to reach Calcutta on the 4th or 5th May. As soon as I receive the reports you shall hear—and as it may take some time yet, should the occasion offer of referring at all to the subject I hope you will endeavour to obtain for it a right direction, as you may take my word, confirmed by what I have seen, it is not alone a question of time, but of a much less distant period than to many may appear probable. With best wishes and regards, (Signed) Believe me, Ever, my dear Sir, In the following letter Mr. Stephenson reported progress to the Minister, Lord Palmerston, who had so thoroughly appreciated him : 9th July, 1850. "MY LORD,-I have the honor to report to your Lordship the result of my continental enquiry, in reference to the future intercommunication by land, between Great Britain and British India. "The letters of introduction with which your Lordship favored me, to her Majesty's representatives at the several European Courts, obtained upon all occasions prompt attention, and enabled me to prosecute the object with despatch and effect. "In Belgium, his Majesty personally expressed deep interest in a work which, as conducing to such momentous results, claimed and should assuredly receive the most cordial support which could be in any way afforded by the Belgian Government and with a view to this end, desired that the Belgian representative in Constantinople should be apprised of his Majesty's views and wishes, and that he should render all the assistance in his power to promote the object. "In France, (alternative lines traversing both Belgium and France), the apprehension of interference with the existing Marseilles route was admitted by M. Bineau, the Minister of Public Works, who eventually intimated that although France could take no part in initiating such a measure, the French Government, whenever the time arrived for discussing the terms of an international highway treaty, would be prepared to entertain it in a liberal and catholic spirit. "In Wurtemburg, the importance of the measure was appreciated, and many valuable suggestions submitted,, with the assurance of earnest support in any way that can be indicated as tending to its promotion, provided the Austrian Government are not opposed to it. "In Bavaria, and the Germanic confederation, the unsettled state of the country both politically and in reference to the proposed Zollverein modification, prevented any more definite assurance of support, than that as it was palpably the interest of those States to concur, and co-operate, they would doubtless do so, when the disturbed state of affairs permitted its deliberate consideration. "From Prussia the views of the Government have not been yet ascertained, the comparatively slight interest, which in a commercial point of view Prussia will have in the line, and the more important subjects which have of late engrossed the attention of that Government have probably prevented its early and full consideration. "In Austria, the full value of the work was at once understood and admitted, and though in some respects interfering with the present Trieste route, the Government intimated through the Ministers, M. Bach and M. de Brück, that it should have their most strenuous support, and that the Government had already decided upon extending their existing lines of Railway in both the directions desired, from Vienna, by Sattyburg and Lintz to Manech, and also to the confines of Turkey. "From the Ottoman Porte, the views of the Government have not yet been signified. The necessity for reaching Calcutta by a specified date, prevented my proceeding as I had intended, to Constantinople, to submit personally the plans, which I therefore communicated by writing. "The enclosed document will apprise your Lordship of the form in which on the present occasion I have requested the cooperation of foreign states, and upon receipt of the reports referred to, I shall have the honor to again address your Lordship. "To Lord Howard de Walden, H. E. the Marquis of Normandy, J. R. Milbanke, Esq., Sir Alex. Malet, the Lord Cowley, and H. E. Viscount Ponsonby, I am indebted for sound and judicious counsel, by which I have been invariably guided. "To Prince Mutternich, Viscount Kerekhove, to Count William of Wurtemburg, Prince Callimaki, M. de Mussurus, Baron Rothschild, and to the Austrian Ministers M. M. Bach, and de Brück, I am bound to acknowledge my obligations for their zealous exertions to promote a great national work, with the full value and effects of which, they appeared sensibly impressed. I have the honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's obedient and faithful servant, (Signed) ROWLAND MACDONALD STEPHENSON. In another letter to Lord Palmerston Mr. Stephenson, twelvemonths since, thus summed up the results of his efforts : March 31st, 1855. MY LORD,-" I have the honor to request your Lordship's consideration of a subject which has been permitted to remain in temporary abeyance, awaiting the precise period at which it could be most opportunely and effectually acted upon. "2. The establishment of the National Highway via Constantinople, connecting Europe and Asia, under the combined protection of the principal European powers, was proposed in 1850 under your Lordship's favorable auspices, to the Governments of France, Austria, Belgium, Bavaria, Wurtemburg and to the Authorities in Constantinople, whose cordial concurrence and cooperation were promised whenever the time arrived to proceed with the undertaking. "3. I am most reluctant to trespass upon your Lordship's valuable time, and shall therefore briefly state that the progress of the Railways in India is so far satisfactory that the first section of 121 miles is in full operation, and that the line between Calcutta and Delhi (about 1000 miles) will be completed in 1857. "4. The connection between the east and west coasts of India, by which Calcutta will join Hyderabad in Scinde, will be carried out at an early period, and the European lines will be soon extended as far as the Danube. 5. The intermediate links depend entirely upon the Sultan. The present occasion appears especially favorable for settling the terms of a concession which shall enable a private association under the protection of the European powers, to open the communication by Constantinople between the West and the East. "6. Your Lordship I hope will concur in the views most respectfully submitted, that the construction of a Railway through European and Asiatic Turkey, Persia and Beloochistan, to Hyderabad in Scinde (which will soon be connected by rail with Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Delhi and Lahore) would contribute materially to the interests of the countries traversed-that unless the present occasion be availed of, such another opportunity may not again be afforded for so favorable terms being obtained for Great Britain to secure that which is of so much real importance as a direct communication with her Indian possessions-and that a measure which shall secure the means of proceeding from London to and from all parts of India within a period of one week, and at a cost of less than half what is now paid for a six weeks' or four months' passage, are points deserving the serious consideration of your Lordship. "7. I feel personally most anxious that this great enterprise should be determined upon and carried out, under the administration, as it was commenced under the auspices, of your Lordship; and I have only to state that should your Lordship deem it advantageous for the general interests that I should personally communicate with your Lordship upon the subject, I have no doubt but that the permission of the Government of India and of the Board of Directors would be granted to my temporary absence under the circumstances; when the complete arrangements which I shall propose and which with their concurrence previously obtained shall be prepared to carry out, shall be submitted to your Lordship, and if approved of, I will undertake to connect London and Calcutta by Railway and reduce the travelling distance to a few days and the telegraphic distance to as many hours, before the end of the year 1865. "8. I shall require no pecuniary assistance from the Government. The moral influence and support of Great Britain, and the other European powers interested, and the assurance of security and the protection of life and property, with the concession, by the Sultan, of land, and defined local privileges will alone be required. "I await the favor of your Lordship's views before proceeding further in the matter, and I have the honor to subscribe myself, My Lord, Your Lordship's faithful servant, (Signed) ROWLAND MACDONALD STEPHENSON. And last though far from least, comes Lord Dalhousie. The great proconsul whose reign has been illustrated by so many vast undertakings has deeply considered the plan. His approval is thus cautiously but unmistakeably bestowed: "SIR,-I have received and laid before the Most Noble the Governor General in Council your letter dated the 11th instant submitting a plan which you have projected for uniting Europe with India by a line of Railway communication continued through Asiatic Turkey. "2nd. The project consists of a proposal for continuing the European Railways, already completed, (His Lordship in Council is informed,) as far as Belgrade, and about to be constructed from Belgrade to Constantinople, by a line of rail from Constantinople through Asiatic Turkey to Bussorah. The project contemplates hereafter a prolongation of this line from Bussorah through Persia and Beloochistan, but at present the scheme would complete the communication with India by steamers from the month of the Euphrates down the Persian Gulf. "3rd. You desire to elicit from the Government of India, an expression of its approval of your project, and of its readiness to render assistance in the way of surveys and otherwise. "4th. This great project is, of course, in the merest outline at present. But such an undertaking once completed, and reducing the distance between England and her dominions in India to little more than ten days journey, would prove of vast national importance, and would be a great step in the progress of the world. "5th. The Government of India has no hesitation, therefore, in expressing, to that extent, its approval of your project; and its readiness at the proper time to give such assistance in respect of surveys and otherwise, as its authority and the means at its command may enable it to contribute. I have the honor to be, Sir, Fort William, the 30th January, 1856. The commercial prospects remain alone to be discussed. We have paid less attention to this than to the other portions of the plan. We do not write Essays to prove that the sun shines'; and that fact is scarcely more self-evident than that the line whose route we have indicated must be a paying speculation. The total length of the line from Belgrade to Bussorah, including the branch line from Bir to Scanderoon, is about nineteen hundred miles. The experience of the Continent and of the United |