Yesterday was consummated, in comparative quietness and with little ceremonial, an event that is likely to be the forerunner of the greatest political and social revolution that has marked either the past or modern history of China—an event that will do more, if properly followed up, to the people of this great Empire within the fellowship of nations, than almost anything else that could be devised it is the thin end of a wedge, powerful enough to break the toughest obstacle to which its force can be applied. So familiar have foreigners become with the changes wrought among Western nations by steam locomotion, that to attempt to enlarge upon them would be to indulge in what would seem to be the merest platitudes, The facts, and their corresponding benefits, are 40 well known to us, that novelty has given place to custom and familiarity; and the history of the old coach-road, with its dashing four-in-hand, is now only to be found recorded by pen or pencil, or in the spasmodic efforts in a few favoured resorts of the old country, to revive, as a source of pleasure, that mode of transit which, till within a very few years, was the only means of business locomotion. Steam has conquered, and will go on conquering, even in China, Here, there are no old coach interests to set aside, no ronds to render next to uuseless—all is fresh and novel as regards eduction of steam on land, and the widest possible expanse is presented to the skill and energy of the modern The only interest to be overact, interest of a class, large true of itself, but small in comparison with the immense population to be benefitted, In the early days of railways in England, the atrongeat opposition was offered to their introduction, even by the so-called enlightened classes—noblemen and gentlemen objected to the trigging out of a line near their country seats, and even the inhabitants of inland and sea-coast watering places petitioned against their towns being annoyed by their introduction. In fact, to such an extent was this opposition carried, that Parliament was obliged to step in, and enact the Compulsory Powers Bill (as it was familiarly called), which, by enabling promoters of railways to secure land at a somewhat reasonable pri gave such an impetus to the construction of the iron ways, that in a few years they spread in all directions—the sinews of wealth and prosperity. The benefits derived were soon seen to besogreat that all opposition ceased, and the sound of the railway whistle was everywhere welcomed. And, given a fair start, so will it be in China. Steamboats were quickly i—opposition ceasing, railways will ly follow.
The little line, the opening of four miles and a quarter of which, between Shanghai and the village of Kungwang, we have now to record, is only a model to show the Chinese what railways are. But people will come from all parts of the country to see, and to travel by it, and will gradually become familiarized with the idea of steam carriage ashore, as well as afloat.
But it is time to notice the modest proceedings of yesterday. The line being so far completed, it was deemed uuadvisableto delay the opening any longer, and accordingly the managers issued invites to as many ladies and gentlemen of the Settlements as the six carriages, which at present constitute the total passenger rolling stock of the Company, would comfortably accommodate, That number was 164, and we believe all accepted the invitation, Half-pagt five was the time appointed for the start, from the goods platform, at some distance down the line from where the Shanghai Station is in course of erection and almost to the minute, the guests having taken their places, Mr. Morrison, the engineer and traffic manager, gave the word to go, and the first ' Pufling Billy" (appropriately named the Celestial Empire), in China, drawing a regular passenger train, gaveitspremonitory shriek and whistle, and the train quickly beg station, amid the ch on the platform. The open country sassoon reached, and as the train went steadily along at about fifteen miles per hour, and with a remarkable absence of oscillation, the country people at work in the fields simply ceased from their labour for the little time occupied in passing by, and then quietly resumed the sense of enjoyment rather than hostility, Several bridges and crossings were passed, at each of which there was a group of lovers-on, but these probably had been so accustomed to the daily passing to and fro of the little engine Pioneer, with the ballast waggons, that the sight of the passenger carriages with the larer engine was no great novelty, Kungwang was reached in seventeen minutes; and here, the company alighting, found a little station waiting-room and office a also provided to allow the passing of the up and down trains, In the room, which by the way is open on the side fronting the line, as at home, was provided an ample supply of champagne and cake, The popping of corke was soon heard, and bumpers were drank between friends of many different nationalities, to the success of the first railway in Chima, These ebullitions of congratulation, were, however centralized soon afterwards, by Mr. Medhurst, who, mounting a table, in response to repented calls, and amid loud cheers, said.
Ladies and Geutlemen,—You will all agree with me that this is one of the moat eventful days that Chiva has' ever seen, It is that which witnesses the opening of the first railway—and we owe it almost entirely to the energy and perseverance of Mr. Morrison, I get up here to ask you to give three cheers for Mr. Morrison, and to join with me in wishing success to this magnificent undertaking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.