national antipathies and bind together more closely the great families of mankind. Disastrous though railway enterprises and speculations have proved to many concerned in them, and mixed up though they have been with much fraud and folly, the debt which the public at large owe to railways cannot be disputed; and after all temporary faults and blots have been admitted and disposed of, they must, nevertheless, be recognized as the most magnificent system of public intercommunication that has yet been given to the world. What manner of men were they by whom this great work was accomplished? How did the conception first dawn upon their minds? By what means did railways grow and quicken into such vigorous life? By what moral and material agencies did the inventors and founders of the system work out the ideas whose results have been so prodigious? These questions the Author has endeavoured to answer in the following Biography of George Stephenson, to whose labours the world is mainly indebted for the locomotive railway system. Indeed, he has been so closely identified with its origin, progress, and eventual establishment on a sound practical basis, that his life may be said to include the history of Railway Locomotion almost down to the present time. Independently, however, of these considerations, the life of George Stephenson will be found to furnish subject of interest as well as instruction. Strongly self-reliant, diligent in self-culture, and of indomitable perseverance, the characters of such menhappily numerous in England—are almost equivalent to institutions. And if the Author have succeeded in delineating, however imperfectly, the life and character of George Stephenson, the perusal of this book may not be without some salutary influence. The Author's acknowledgments are due to the following gentlemen, amongst others, for much valuable information as to the successive improvements effected by Mr. Stephenson in the locomotive engine, and also with reference to the various railways at home and abroad, with which he was professionally connected: Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P.; Mr. Edward Pease, of Darlington; Mr. John Dixon, C.E.; Mr. John Bourne, C.E.; Mr. Thomas Sopwith, C.E.; Sir Joshua Walmsley; Mr. Jonathan Foster, of Wylam; Mr. Charles Parker; Mr. William Kell, and Mr. Clephan, of Gateshead. Many interesting facts, relating to Mr. Stephenson's early career, have been obtained from William Coe and other humble persons, who were only too proud to have the opportunity of communicating what they remembered of their distinguished fellowworkman. The Author is also under obligations to Mr. F. Swanwick, C. E., Mr. C. Binns, of Clay Cross, and Mr. Vaugham, of Snibston, for various particulars, introduced in the present edition, illustrative of Mr. Stephenson's private life and habits while residing at Liverpool, Alton Grange, and Tapton House, and which supply an admitted defect in the earlier editions of this biography. 8, Glenmohr Terrace, Hyde Vale, Blackheath. CONTENTS. The Village of Wylam.-Birthplace of George Stephenson.-His Parent- Is employed as a Herd-boy.-Models Clay Engines.-Labours a-field.- Drives the Gin-Horse at the Colliery.-Bird-nesting.-Is made Assistant Fireman.-Jolly's Close.-Athletic Feats.-Is appointed Engineman.—- Newburn.-Experiments in Artificial Bird-hatching.-Puts himself to School and learns to Read and Write.-Learns Arithmetic.-Love of tame Birds and Animals.-His Dog Messenger.-Learns Engine-brake- Brakesman at Black Callerton.-Duties of the Brakesman.-Wages- 36-40 Removal to Willington.-Marriage.-Attempts to invent Perpetual Motion. -Makes Shoes and Shoe Lasts.-Clock-cleaning.-Birth of his Son.- Killingworth Colliery.-Death of his Wife.-Journey into Scotland.-Ap- pointed Brakesman at Killingworth.-Intends emigrating to the United States. Takes a Contract for Engine-brakeing. — Makes Improve- Self-improvement.-His Studies with John Wigham, the Farmer's Son.- Sends his Son to School.-The Cottage at West Moor.-Ingenuity of his Contrivances.-Is appointed Engine-wright of the Colliery.-Erects his First Engine.-Evening Studies.-His Obligations to the Newcastle The Beginnings of Railways and Locomotives.-Early Tramroads.-Spec- ulations as to mechanical Methods of Traction.-Cugnot's Model Locomotive.-Symington's Model. - Murdoch's Model. - Trevethick's Steam-carriage and Locomotive.-Blenkinsop's Engine.-Mr. Blackett's Mr. Stephenson contemplates building a Locomotive.-Is encouraged by Lord Ravensworth.-Want of competent Mechanics.-Mr. Stephenson's First Locomotive described. - Successful Application of the Steam Blast.-His Second Locomotive.-Summary of the important Results Fatal Accidents from Explosions in Coal Mines.-Blasts in the Killing- worth Pit.-Mr. Stephenson's Experiments with Fire-damp.-Contrives the First practicable Miners' Safety Lamp.-Its Trial in the Killing- worth Pit. Further Experiments and Improvements on the Lamp.— The Invention of the Tube Lamp.-Mr. Stephenson charged with Pirat- 108-125 Further Improvements in the Locomotive.-Invents an improved Rail and Chair.-Invents Steam Springs.-Experiments on Friction and Gravity. -Views on Flat Gradients.-Superiority of Iron Roads over Paved His Self-education continued.-Views on Education.-The Sun-dial at Slow Progress of Opinion as to Railway Locomotion.-Sir Richard Phil- 143-157 Defective Communication between Liverpool and Manchester.-A Tram- road projected.-Mr. James surveys a Line.-Visits Mr. Stephenson at Killingworth.-Is admitted to an Interest in the Patent Locomotive.- Fails in introducing it.-Fails to produce his Plans of the Liverpool Mr. Stephenson's Introduction to Mr. Pease.-Is appointed Engineer to Working Survey of the Stockton and Darlington Line.-Locomotive Fac- tory at Newcastle commenced.-Wrought-iron Rails adopted.-The Gauge of the Railway settled.-The Tractive Power to be employed.— Anticipations of Railway Results.-Public Opening of the Line.-The "Experiment."-Rival Coach Companies.-Race between Locomotive and Coach.-Results of the Traffic.-Creation of Middlesborough-on- Project of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway revived.-The Canal |