Page:A protest against the extension of railways in the Lake District - Somervell (1876).djvu/68



The humble petition of the undersigned, sheweth, that whereas a tract of country, comprising parts of the Counties of Westmorland, Cumberland, and Lancashire, and commonly known as the Lake District of England, contains some of the most beautiful scenery in Her Majesty's dominions, and has in time past been, and at this present time is, visited by large numbers of Her Majesty's subjects, and by them used as a place of enjoyment, health-getting, and relaxation of mind and body.

And whereas it is expedient to preserve the aforesaid District from the encroachment of all that may tend to destroy its natural beauty, or open the way for such destruction.

And whereas it is proposed in a Bill now before your Honourable House to extend a line of railway from to ,

Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honourable House will refuse to pass the said Bill, or any Bill proposing to extend any line of railway into the district aforesaid.

And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.

''It is possible that upon notice of a Railway Bill being given, it may be deemed desirable to re-collect the signatures, to a definitive Petition. In that event every signatory will be communicated with direct. The present collection of names is the most necessary and important part of the work; as it is desirable that in an emergency every one interested in the matter may be promptly informed. To defer organization until Parliamentary notice is given, would be to court certain defeat.''