The following advantages, among others, would, I expected, result from the proposed arrangements:-- 1. It would secure the cheap conveyance of the mails, and greatly promote the extension and perfection of the system of Post Office distribution. 2. It would secure the establishment of moderate fares, without resorting to competition, which it is now generally admitted would be as injurious to the public as to the companies. 3. It would secure the completion of the railway system at the least expenditure of capital, and in a manner most conducive to economy in working. 4. It would repress rash and unprincipled speculation; and 5. It would relieve Parliament from the drudgery of investigating hastily-devised and useless projects. As regards the interests of the companies, I pointed out that-- 1. It would relieve them from the ruinous expenditure now necessary to defend their property from aggression. 2. It would enable them to take advantage of the cheapness of labour or materials, and abundance of capital, gradually to extend the ramifications of their lines to all places capable of affording a remunerative traffic. And, finally, it would greatly benefit both the public and the companies, by enabling the directors and other officers to devote their time and energy (now mainly absorbed in Parliamentary contests) to the internal management of their affairs, thus conducing to economy, and to the comfort and safety of their passengers. All these important results, I was of opinion, would be obtained without any sacrifice on the part of the public or of the companies. In a Report, the primary object of which was to facilitate the use of railways by the Post Office, it may appear out of place to deal with the questions of charges for passengers and goods, railway extension, &c., but I found one part of the subject so linked with every other as to render separate treatment impracticable. Had this plan been adopted when originally proposed (more than twenty[41] years ago), the following results, I firmly believe, would have been obtained:-- 1st. The postal system would have been enormously improved. 2nd. The conveyance of passengers and goods would have been considerably cheapened. 3rd. The railway system would have been far more extended than it now is. 4th. A vast waste of capital would have been avoided. And, 5th. Railway property, instead of being almost a byword for depression and insecurity, would, under tolerable management, have been placed on a firm basis.