THE courteous reception given to the First Edition of the Grand Junction Road Book, and the substantial proofs of approbation which a rapid sale has afforded, render it a duty as proper as it is pleasant, for the Author and Publisher to return their joint thanks for the liberal patronage already bestowed on their work; and to engage a continuance of the same, by their assurances that in the present edition every possible improvement has been carefully effected in its various departments. Spirited wood and steel engravings {v} of the most important spots on the line have been introduced, and much new and interesting matter supplied. The whole of the information concerning fares, regulations, stations, and accommodation in towns on the route, has been recast, corrected, and enlarged; and a brief but comprehensive directory added, under the head of “VISITER’S GUIDE,” page 97, containing lists of public buildings; institutions of all kinds; places of worship of all denominations, with names of the officiating ministers; principal show rooms and manufactories; times of arrival and departure of mails at the post office; hackney coach fares; bankers, inns, boarding houses, omnibus offices, newspapers, canal conveyances, waggon warehouses, packets, &c., &c., for Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool. The exceeding utility of this new division of the volume will be obvious to every one. The Map has also been revised, and greatly improved; and the “GRAND JUNCTION ROAD BOOK” again makes its bow to the public, in full expectation that its old fame and new merits will be rightly appreciated. * * * * * _Birmingham_, _September_ 1, 1838. SONNET BY WORDSWORTH, ON STEAM BOATS, VIADUCTS, AND RAILWAYS. MOTIONS and means, on land and sea at war With old poetic feeling; not for this, Shall ye, by Poets even, be judged amiss! Nor shall your presence, howsoe’er it mar The loveliness of nature, prove a bar To the mind’s gaining that prophetic sense Of future change that point of vision, whence May be discover’d what in soul ye are. In spite of all that beauty may disown In your harsh features, Nature doth embrace Her lawful offspring in Man’s art; and Time, Pleased with your triumphs o’er his brother Space, Accepts from your bold hands the proffer’d crown Of hope, and smiles on you with cheer sublime. [Picture: Map of the route of the Grand Junction Railway] CHAPTER I. BIRMINGHAM. NAME—HISTORY—MANUFACTURES—PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS, &c., &c. OUR native town of BIRMINGHAM, of whose celebrity and importance we are justly proud, demands our first attention in this our Itinerary; although the numerous publications which give more circumstantial particulars respecting it than the brief limits of the present work will admit, render it an unnecessary task here to occupy many pages with our notice. * * * * *