The Mails carried otherwise than by Railway appear, for the same year, as follows : 8. d. d. It thus appears that out of the total number (129,480) of miles per week-day, mails are still carried over a greater number of miles by Coaches and Carts, &c., than by Railway; and the number of miles over which they are carried on Foot is about double that of either of the former modes of convey. ance, and more than both put together." The foregoing figures would give (including an estimate of about one-half the week-day mileage for Sundays) the following numbers of miles over which mails are carried in the United Kingdom in a year: . 10,228,308 miles per annum. Total, . . 43,893,720 , a The Post Office report in 1858 states that“ of the whole number of letters last year (1857), nearly a quarter were delivered in London and the suburban district; and counting those also which were dispatched, nearly one-half passed through the London Office." By Railway, . . . . 12,161,964 Accidents. degree of safety with which passengers have been conveyed is greater than in any year since 1851.” It appears from the same report, that out of the 130 millions of passengers who travelled by Railway in 1856 in the United Kingdom, only 1 in 16,168,449 was killed, and I in 458,370 injured, from causes beyond their own control." The facts supply an antidote to unfounded panic. Before the very salutary requirements in regard to Railways, of 3 & 4 Vic., c. 97, § 3, and 5 & 6 Vic., c. 55, § 7, 8, there was no provision for reporting to any organized authority “moving accidents by flood and field,” or by coach and horses, by boats, &c.; and the majority of coach and car accidents, or the mishaps of ordinary bygone conveyances, were probably never heard of through “the usual channels of information.” The public, and usually the Companies too, are pretty sure to hear of every “alarming Railway accident." There are, however, no means of comparing the number of Railway Accidents with the number of accidents by other public conveyances; but it may be fairly predicated that the number of the former, as compared with the number of persons conveyed, is proportionately far smaller than of the latter°. No doubt the number would be still smaller if the public and the post office would be content with something less than the now common speed of Express and Mail trains. a It has since appeared that in 1857, the numbers were, from causes beyond their own control, I killed in 5,560,355 of passengers, and 1 hurt in 220,299. Since this was written, Dr. Lankester has expressed nearly the same idea in connection with another subject. He is reported thus: ** Were the same number of deaths to occur on a Railway, as happened every year in consequence of the state of the Serpentine, a great deal would be heard about it: bat because the Serpentine had been going on slowly destroying life for centuries, their forefathers not having cared about it, therefore it would seem to be inferred that they of the present generation ought not to care about it."-Times, 23 July 1858. e Captain Galton's report to the Board of Trade, published since this was written, gives a return of accidents by the French diligences of the Messageries Impériales et Générales, from which it appears that the general average proportion of accidents to passengers by those conveyances gives 1 killed in 335,463, and I injured in 29,871. The following is a summary of Railway Accidents in the United Kingdom in the year 1856" : England. Scotland. Ireland. Total. Accidents: 1856. Killed. Injured Killed. Injured Killed. Injured Killed. Injured 282 25.5 To Persons, from Causes beyond their own Control: Passengers, . . 1 31 291 Passengers, Total, . . 576 E 28 . a The Board of Trade Report for 1857 has since appeared, from which the following particulars for that year are obtained. Total number of Passengers in that year, 139,008,888; of Railway Servants, 153,697 ; total, 139,162,585 persons. Out of these, 25 Passengers are returned as having been killed by accidents from causes beyond their own control. The total numbers of accidents on Railways to persons of all descriptions, in 1857, were In England: Killed, 190) Injured, 691) | Total, 881) 1 » 65 974. » Ireland, 3 22) 6 28 It may be useful to add the following summary of Fees Fees. allowed by the statutes herein contained, where other provi. sion is not made in the Special Acts of Companies. . Share certificate to replace share certinca. 2s.6d. Table of Fees. 8 Vic., c. 16, § 10. · Copy or extracts from shareholders' address book, 6d. per 100 words. . . 2s.6d. destroyed, 28. 6d. of transmission of shares otherwise than by . . . . 58. , § 47. . Registry of transfer of mortgages, . . 28. 6d. 8 Vic., c. 18, 50. . Inspection of verdict and judgment of jury awarding compensation for land, 1s. Copy or extracts from ditto, : 6d. per 100 words. 14 & 15 Vic., c. 70, Inspection of plans and sections, and books of refer84,9, 11. ence, &c., deposited with clerks of peace, clerks 1 Vic., c. 83, 82. of unions in Ireland, and other local officers, ls. And for every hour after first hour of such inspec tion, : : : : : : Copies or extracts therefrom, 6d. per 100 words. 14 & 15 Vic., c. 99, § 14, . Copies or extracts from public documents admissible in evidence, . 4d. per folio of 90 words. 9 & 10 Vic., c. 28, § 19. . Inspection of returns to Registrar of joint stock companies, ... 2d. 6d. Certificate from Registrar of joint stock companies, 28. 6d The following is a summary of Stamp Duties required on Stamp Scotland, given or made as security for the payment of any definite Sono . . . . Exceeding £50, and not exceeding £100, . 150 200 250, . . . . . 300, . . the sum of, . . . . . . . . . 200, • ...... a owococo as on a Mort set for the such Princi. as on a Mortgage or Wadset for such Stamp Duty: On Transfers of Mortgages; under 13 & 14 Vic. c. 97:- any Mortgage or Wadset, or of any such other Security as The same Duty gage or Wad. If such Principal Money or Stock already secured shall not exceed in amount or value in the whole the sum total Amount or Value of of £1,400, . . . . . . . . pal Money or Stock. And if such Principal Money or Stock shall exceed in amount or value in the whole the sum of £1,400, . £1 15s. The same Duty And where any further sum of Money or Stock shall be added to the Principal Money or Stock already secured, further Money or Stock only. And in every other case not hereinbefore expressly provided for, such Transfer, Assignment, Disposition, or Assigna tion shall be chargeable with the Duty of, . . . £1 15s. on Transfer On Transfers of Shares or Stock; under 13 & 14 Vic. c. 97 :of Shares, CONVEYANCE, whether Grant, Disposition, Lease, Assignment, Transfer, Release, Renunciation, or of any other kind or de- £ s. d. . 50, 125, 150, . 100. 175, Cocott EarorNOGET Saverioso 300, 350, 400, 450, 450, 500, 550, 500, 550, 600, |