Page:Bradshaw's Monthly - Number 164.djvu/4

☞The Editorial department of Bradshaws Railway Publications being superintended at Manchester, it is particularly requested that all communications bearing upon the character of the same, or requiring editorial judgment, may for the future be forwarded to the Editor, at his office, No. 27, Brown street, Manchester. By adopting this course, much unnecessary delay will be prevented, and correspondents may thus depend upon their suggestions and communications meeting with immediate attention.

The Proprietors and Publishers have received numerous communications, complaining of the difficulty of obtaining, through Booksellers and News Agents, copies of the threepenny edition of the Railway Guide, published on the first of every month, independently of the Railway Companion and Railway and Steam Navigation Guide. They know from experience, as well as from the assurance of their complainants, that in the great majority of cases where the threepenny book cannot be purchased, the other edition will not. They beg, therefore, to call the attention of the trade generally to this circumstance; and to assure them that the object in publishing these separate editions, is to meet the wishes and convenience of the public in its fullest extent. The proprietors trust, therefore, that Booksellers and News Agents will so far promote their own interest and public convenience, by KEEPING ON SALE ALL THE EDITIONS

Stomped editions of the Threepenny Book may be sent, post free, to all parts of the United Kingdom, on four postage stamps being remitted to either of the offices, 59, Fleet-street, London, or 27, Brown-street, Manchester.

To Railway Companies.—The almost unanimous exertions made by Railway Companies to supply their information at an early period this month, induces us to express our best thanks. If it had not been the case, we should not have been able, owing to the extraordinary shortness of the month, to have published as usual on the first.

J. Bates's idea is deserving of merit, though not always practicable. In a few cases we have adopted the system some time ago, whilst in others, amongst which is the London and North Western, we find no scale by which to calculate the exact charge for double tickets. A reduction of from one-fifth to one third on the double journey would be an approach as near as we could make by fractional application. The London and North Western do not at present publish their fares up and down. We have attempted to elucidate the Peterborough and Northampton trains, in such a way as we think will meet the exigencies of the public.

Punctum is referred to pages 68 & 69 of the present edition. Trains which do not take private carriages and horses are not always pointed out by companies.

R. M.'s complaint of various steam packet omissions has not been without reason. Much difficulty has been experienced in having that class of information supplied sufficiently early for our purposes; and almost invariably happens that a very large amount of steam communications come to hand at a time when the bulk of our issue is disposed of. We do however intend to use some effort, in making that department much more compendious.

Richard Pollen is informed that changes were made in the month of January on the Liverpool and Manchester line, of which we were not apprised until too late for the February edition, hence the error to which he alludes.

G. Braham displays much interest on our behalf; we thank him accordingly. Many difficulties arise in framing an Index to our work, sufficiency explicit, and to occupy reasonable space. We shall be obliged if he can suggest what is requisite, with an eye to economising space. Lancaster having three or four arrivals of trains in the course of the day from London, whilst Carlisle has only one, is the reason why we adopt the one in preference to the other. The other item will have our attention.

Charles Bellingham will be considered when we are more at leisure.

John Hawkins and A Traveller have our kind acknowledgments.