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This Railway is an undertaking of great magnitude, and exhibits proofs of the surpassing skill of its engineers. Some of its tunnels are of enormous length, passing through the hill ridges that divide Lancashire from Yorkshire, and opening a communication with the northern and eastern parts of the kingdom.

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* Near Sowerby Bridge is HALIFAX, a well built and opulent town, deriving its importance from the manufacture of cloth, which was commenced here about the middle of the sixteenth century. It has numerous cotton mills and factories, and is the principal mart for stuffs, such as shalloons, serges, &c. for the sale of which an immense building, called the Piece Hall, has been erected, having 315 rooms for the lodgement of goods, which are open for sales once a week. The vicinity of Halifax abounds with coal, and the Calder navigation affords a ready communication with Hull and the east, and the Rochdale Canal with Manchester, Chester, Liverpool, and Lancaster in the west. Halifax has two churches. The old church is a venerable Gothic structure, containing several ancient monuments. There are also several meeting-houses and charitable institutions, a free school, &c. Halifax once had criminal jurisdiction, even in capital cases.

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Any person found guilty of theft was beheaded by means of a machine resembling the guillotine, called the "Maid of Halifax." Two M. P. Pop. of township, 19,881.

Oldham branch of the Manchester and Leeds Railway.-This short line was opened on March 31, 1842, and constructed at a cost of L.45,000.

OLDHAM is situated on an eminence on the western bank of the Medlock and near the source of another stream called the Irk. It is only about six miles distant from Manchester, and this circumstance, together with the advantages of water carriage, and especially its mineral resources, have constituted this one of the most extensive seats of the staple manufacture in the county. The goods chiefly made here are fustian, velveteens, calicoes, and cotton and woollen cords. The silk manufacture is making progress. The original staple trade is the manufacture of hats, which still prevails to a very large extent. It was in this branch of manufacture that Mr Thomas Henschaw, the principal benefactor of the town, realized his great wealth. He was the founder of a blind asylum at Manchester, and a blue coat school at Oldham. Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, who founded and endowed the free school of Manchester, derived his name, if not his origin, from this town. Oldham was first constituted a burgh by the Reform Act, and now returns two members. No town in this vicinity has grown in size and numbers more rapidly than Oldham. In 1760, it is said to have consisted of only sixty dwellings. The population in 1841 amounted to 42,595.

Manchester and Sheffield Railway.-This railway is now in the course of completion, and has been opened as far as Glossop. The total length of the line when completed will be 40 miles.

XCII. BIRMIN GHAM AND DERBY JUNCTION RAILWAY, 38 Miles in length, commences at the Hampton Station of the London and Birmingham Railway.

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DERBY is situated on the bank of the Derwent, which is navigable hence to the Trent. The town is very ancient, and took its name from the river on which it is situated. On the east bank of the river, opposite to Derby, was the Roman station Derventio. Derby contains seven churches, several meeting houses, a Roman Catholic chapel, a Mechanics' Institute, and a Philosophical Society founded by Dr Darwin, who here composed the greater portion of his works. Here are extensive manufactories of silk, cotton, and fine worsted stockings. The silk-mill is the first and largest of its kind erected in England. Here also are large porcelain works and manufactories, where all kinds of ornaments are made of the marbles, spars, petrifactions, &c. found in the neighbourhood. All Saints' Church contains numerous monuments of the Cavendish family. Rich

ardson the novelist was a native of this town. A castle once existed at Derby; but the last remains of the building are said to have disappeared during the reign of Elizabeth. Several religious establishments were founded here at a very early period; but no vestiges of them now remain. Prince Charles Stuart advanced as far as Derby on his march into England, and the house in which he lodged is still pointed out. Through the noble munificence of Joseph Strutt, Esq. the working classes of Derby possess peculiar opportunities of enjoyment and gratification. This public-spirited individual appropriated nearly eleven acres of land, containing an extensive collection of trees and shrubs, for the recreation of the inhabitants and their families. This piece of land called the Arboretum was laid out, at the donor's expense, by J. C. Loudon, Esq. with great taste and judgment. The value of the Arboretum, including the ground and buildings, is estimated at £10,000. The Derby Grammar School is supposed to be one of the most ancient foundations of the sort in the kingdom. Flamstead the astronomer received his early education in this school. Derby returns two members to Parliament, Pop. 32,741.

XCIII. MIDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY, 49 Miles.

This Railway was begun in 1837, and opened throughout the whole line, June 30, 1840. It com. mences at the Rugby Station of the London and Birmingham Railway, and runs to Derby, where it joins the North Midland to York and Leeds.

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