He also became a large shareholder in railways.  His status in the South-Eastern line was so great, that he was invited to become chairman of the company.  He was instrumental, in conjunction with the late Sir William Cubitt, in pushing on the line to Dover.  But the Dover Harbour Board being found too stingy in giving accommodation to the traffic, and too grasping in their charges for harbour dues, Mr. Baxendale at once proceeded, on his own responsibility, to purchase Folkestone Harbour as the port of the South-Eastern Company.  He next proceeded to get up the Boulogne and Amiens Railway, which was for the most part constructed with English capital; and the direct line from London to Paris was thus completed.

His arduous labours in connection with his own business, as well as with railway extension, having thrown him into ill-health, he went abroad for repose.  While absent, a faction was got up in Liverpool for the purpose of appointing another chairman in his stead; and though he was unseated by a trick, he himself accepted his dismissal with pleasure.  His sons were now able to help him in the conduct of his business, though he continued to the close of his life to take an interest in everything that was going on.  He was never weary of well-doing; he never rested in giving his good advice, the results of his large experience, to the assistants, clerks, and working men employed in his various offices.  We conclude our brief notice of his life by giving another of his “Run-and-Read Sermons,” which he distributed plentifully among his employes, and had affixed in various portions of his warehouses.  It was entitled “Good Maxims and Advice.”

“An old servant of the concern observed, a short time ago, that he began life in the employ of Pickford, upon low wages, and that by frugality and industry he had gained a competency.  His maxim was, never to spend more than ninepence out of every shilling.  Although this may appear a trifle, recollect that it is five shillings in twenty, ten pounds in forty.

“Suppose a young man to pursue this system:  Let him obtain the first twenty pounds, add each year ten pounds, he will at the end of six years be possessed of upwards of one hundred pounds.  If in early life the opportunity is suffered to pass, it rarely happens that one can save money when more advanced in years.

“The concern in which we are engaged has been defrauded by those who have for thirty years received salaries, the savings from which, had they followed the plan that is recommended, would have placed them in situations of comparative affluence; and we should now have seen them respectable members of society.

“Upon industry and frugality our well-doing depends.  It is not great talents, but steady application, that is required.  There are none of us that may not obtain stations of respectability.  ’God helps them that help themselves.’  ’He that follows pleasure instead of business will shortly have no business to follow.’