CHAP. XVII.

A SPANISH SURVEY.

391

under the wide porch, beneath the shadow of the church, were seated nearly all the inhabitants of the place. They were dressed in their holiday attire. The bright bits of red and amber colour in the dresses of the women, and the gay sashes of the men, formed a striking picture, on which the travellers gazed in silent admiration. It was something entirely novel and unexpected. Beside the villagers sat two venerable old men, whose canonical hats indicated their quality as village pastors. Two groups of young women and children were dancing outside the porch to the accompaniment of a simple pipe; and within a hundred yards of them, some of the youths of the village were disporting themselves in athletic exercises; the whole being carried on beneath the fostering care of the old church, and with the sanction of its ministers. It was a beautiful scene, and deeply moved the travellers as they approached the principal group. The villagers greeted them courteously, supplied their present wants, and pressed upon them some fine melons, brought from their adjoining gardens. Mr. Stephenson used afterwards to look back upon that simple scene, and speak of it as one of the most charming pastorals he

had ever witnessed.

They shortly reached the site of the proposed railway, passing through Irun, St. Sebastian, St. Andero, and Bilbao, at which places they met deputations of the principal inhabitants who were interested in the subjeet of their journey. At Raynosa Mr. Stephenson carefully examined the mountain passes and ravines through which a railway could be made. He rose at break of day, and surveyed until the darkness set in; and frequently his resting-place at night was the floor of some miserable hovel. He was thus laboriously occupied for ten days, after which he proceeded across the province of Old Castile towards Madrid, surveying as he went. The proposed plan included the purchase

T

VOLI OF SPAN RAL WAY.

CHAP. XV.L

elenai. and har property was also surveyed. Te text presiei Ese rial, simated at the foot waruma numrains, through which he font. 1

↑ VOILL TT O CORSICr vo formi lable THE S it v Tue le scertained that the cOILITY hermen 3 Exorai and Madrd vas of a very Efenit wi omensoma "mrwer to work french. Taking these remstnes no es enr, and looking at the expected motong pa ne mesei "ine. Sir Josina Walmsley, acting mier te vines of I. Sternenson, fered to construct ine Mairie Bar of Biscay, only on contempusire and vis given the Company rer sind be allowed every

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ble top open sei mcer el reing the Crown e tapusi ir de tumoses of the railway:

tato maruls tram road for the venementen nå de ne sui be admired free of dry. ve Poe Pressions the Company offered to

CHAP. XVII.

TRAVELLING INCIDENT.

393

Mr. Stephenson was now anxious to be in England. During the journey from Madrid he often spoke with affection of friends and relatives; and when apparently absorbed by other matters, he would revert to what he thought might then be passing at home. Few incidents worthy of notice occurred on the journey homeward, but one may be mentioned. While travelling in an open conveyance between Madrid and Vittoria, the driver urged his mules down hill at a dangerous pace. He was requested to slacken speed; but suspecting his passengers to be afraid, he only flogged the brutes into a still more furious gallop. Observing this, Mr. Stephenson coolly said, "Let us try him on the other tack; tell him to show us the fastest pace at which Spanish mules can go." The rogue of a driver, when he found his tricks of no avail, pulled up and proceeded at a moderate rate for the rest of his journey.

Urgent business required Mr. Stephenson's presence in London on the last day of November. They travelled, therefore almost continuously, day and night; and the fatigue consequent on the journey, added to the privations voluntarily endured by the engineer while carrying on the survey among the Spanish mountains, began to tell seriously on his health. By the time he reached Paris he was evidently ill, but he nevertheless determined on proceeding. He reached Havre in time for the Southampton boat; but when on board, pleurisy developed itself, and it was necessary to bleed him freely. During the voyage, he spent his time chiefly in dictating letters and reports to Sir Joshua Walmsley, who never left him, and whose kindness on the occasion he gratefully remembered. His friend was struck by the clearness of his dictated composition, which exhibited a vigour and condensation which to him seemed marvellous. After a few weeks' rest at home, Mr. Stephenson gradually recovered, though his health remained severely shaken.

F. JERY STEPHENSON'S CAREER-THE STEPHENSONS AND BRUNEL — EAST COAST EUTE TO SCOTLAND-ROYAL BORDER BRIDGE, Fawx-Hoa LAVEL BEIGE, NEWCASTLE

Ter oner of George Stephenson was drawing to a dise. He blir some time been gradually retiring active pursuit of railway engineering, ins to the promotion of only a s which he took a more than ordiIn 1840, when the extensive

in the MiBland districts had been finished and opened for the pul diely expressed his intention of withdns wig from the protissin. He had reached sixty, & & having spent the greater part of his life in wry lend work, le naturally desired rest and retirement There was the less necessity for his conTetess" as Rert Stephenson was now in cowrasa ka railway engineer, and his father stre in lang over to him, with the sanction ofte oma les ored, nearly all the railway