In the course of a long letter objecting to the railway printed in Morning Post of 20th December 1844, p5; Wordsworth included the following poem which takes up his complaint that railway speculators are seeking to profit by encouraging poor city dwellers to travel for pleasure to the Lake district.
Proud were ye, Mountains, when, in times of old,
Your patriot sons, to stem invasive war,
Intrenched your brows; ye gloried in each scar :
Now, for your shame, a power, the Thirst of Gold,
That rules o'er Britain like a baleful star,
Wills that your peace, your beauty, shall be sold,
And clear way made for her triumphal car
Through the beloved retreats your arms enfold !
Heard ye that Whistle ? As her long-linked Train
Swept onwards did the vision cross your view ?
Yes, ye were startled; and, in balance true,
Weighing the mischief with the promised gain,
Mountains, and Vales, and Floods, I call on you
To share the passion of a just disdain.