At length a suitable house was found—a small and unassuming dwelling (No. 5 Greenfield Place, Newcastle). The surrounding land has, during the last thirty years, been built upon in every direction, and the inhabitants of Greenfield Place would at the present date look in vain from their windows for a picturesque landscape, but when Robert Stephenson took his young bride there, the outskirts of Newcastle had few more pleasant places. Between January and June in 1829, he spent much of his time in Broad Street. Wherever he was stationedat Liverpool or Canterbury or Newcastle-it was to London that his thoughts turned, and under the pretext of business' he made frequent visits to the capital. The visits were brief, but they could scarcely be called flying visits, as the journeying to and fro had to be effected by stage-coaches. The men of grave years, given overheart, soul, and strength-to business, to whom Robert Stephenson locked for support, and who had hitherto regarded him as a promising young man,' shook their heads ominously. Mr. Richardson, taking a paternal interest in him, even went so far as to reprove him for wasting on a pair of bright laughing eyes the time that might be more profitably spent in paying court to the magnates of Change. Robert Stephenson deemed it prudent to defend himself against the reproaches of the worthy quaker, who, after reading the exculpatory epistle, laid it aside to be kept-but not until he had inserted at the proper place, 3 mo. 31, 1829,'-the giddy lover (in his sane moments most careful to date his letters, and mark off with a dash the spot on the outer sheet to be occupied by a seal) having actually omitted to put down the date. 29 Arundel Street, Strand. DEAR SIR,-You do me injustice in supposing that the ladies in Broad Street engross the whole of my time; I am at present so ardently engaged in the Carlisle opposition that I have neither time to visit Broad Street or the Hill (i. e. Stamford Hill, Mr. Richardson's residence), though a visit to either place would give me great pleasure. You are really too severe when you imagine, or rather conclude, that I neglect business for considerations of minor importance. I am well aware that it is only by close attention to my business that I can get on in the world. If any appearance of neglect on my part has been observed by you, I should esteem it a mark of friendship to have it pointed out by you. The valuation of the mill would have been forwarded to you immediately on my arrival in London but for the reason I stated in my last, the 28th. John Dixon having told me that you thought I was lazy, induced me to forward it to you in an unfinished state, inasmuch as concerned the tenor of occupation, which I have not been able to determine satisfactorily. I saw John Leigh this morning, who it appears had a lease of the mill from Lord Turner. He mentioned that some circumstances had removed the lease from his hands, but on what terms he was holding the establishment was not satisfactorily explained by him. Further than this, I fear I have no means of furnishing you with the requisite information. There seems to be some outs and ins which are not easily come at by ordinary enquiries. Yours most respectfully, ROB. STEPHENSON. As soon as we get through the Carlisle business, I will let you know when I shall be at Stamford Hill. In spite of hard work and petty annoyances, however, he contrived to enjoy himself in London. The preparations for marriage were modest, and precluded all unnecessary expense; for Miss Sanderson had no fortune, and Robert Stephenson-though he was confident and hopeful for the future was far from a rich man. His principal occupation was the superintendence of a factory which, instead of being a lucrative concern, absorbed all the money that he and his father could gather together. So the young people prudently adapted their expenditure to their means. They determined to keep only one domestic servant, and even debated whether they should spend money on a drawing-room sofa. Robert Stephenson opposed the outlay as unnecessary, and therefore bad in principle. Reason or no reason,' he wrote to a friend in Newcastle, Fanny will have a sofa à la mode in the drawing-room. I shall see you soon, when we will talk this over.' Of course the 'talking over' resulted in his compliance with the lady's wish. In May the young people shipped from London for Newcastle a piano, which in due course was placed in the little drawing-room in Greenfield Place. In June Robert Stephenson went up to London from Newcastle to be married. On the 4th of that month, writing to an old friend, with characteristic frankness he avowed how profoundly his feelings were moved by the prospect before him I was very much upset (he wrote) when I parted with you on Gateshead Fell. So many new feelings and novel reflections darted across my mind. It was no ordinary feeling that I was not to meet you again before my relation, and indeed connection, with the world would be materially changed. These sentiments you can appreciate more readily than I can describe them. The near approach of his wedding unsettled him for the performance of business, but did not make him less anxious to attend to the many calls on his time and care. The evening before his marriage he received depressing intelligence of a serious accident to one of the bridges on the Liverpool and Manchester line. On that same evening also he wrote to his good friend, but stern monitor, Mr. Richardson : London: June 16, 1829. DEAR SIR,- When speaking of the 'Tourist' steam-packet, I forgot to ask to whom the report of the boilers and flues was to be addressed. I have written to-day full particulars to Dickinson, saying that you would drop a line informing him how to address the report. I am reluctant to trouble you thus much, but hope you will excuse me. I am perhaps excusable for neglecting some little particulars last night. You will have the goodness to inform Mrs. Richardson that, unless something very extraordinary take place, I shall be married to-morrow morning. Afterwards I shall proceed by way of Wales to Liverpool, where I purpose arriving on Monday next. I remain, dear Sir, Yours most respectfully, ROB. STEPHENSON. On Wednesday, June 17, 1829, the bells of the parish church of Bishopsgate rang for Robert Stephenson's marriage. As far as bystanders could see, he had made a wise selection of a wife. Mrs. Stephenson was not beautiful, but she had an elegant figure, a delicate and animated countenance, and a pair of singularly expressive dark eyes. A near relation, who knew her intimately from childhood, bears testimony: 'She was an unusually clever woman, and possessed of great tact in influencing others, without letting anyone see her power. To the last her will was law with her husband; but, though she always had her way, she never seemed to care about having it.' CHAPTER IX. RESIDENCE IN NEWCASTLE-CONTINUED. (ÆTAT. 25-28.) Wedding Trip- Battle of the 'Locomotive'-'The Oracle' Construction of the 'Rocket' Steam Engine - The Rainhill Contest - Particulars concerning the 'Rocket' - History of 'the Blast-Pipe-Triumphant return from Liverpool to Newcastle Answer to Mr. Walker's Report — Letters to Mr. Richardson — Numerous Engagements - More Locomotives - Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway-Robert Stephenson appointed Engineer to the 'Warrington' and 'Leicester and Swannington' Lines -Discovery of Coal Strata, and Purchase of Snibstone-London and Birmingham Railway-Robert Stephenson employed to carry the Line through Parliament - Opposition to the Line -'Investigator's ' Pamphlet Robert Stephenson's Evidence before the Lords' Committee Rejection of the Bill in 1832 - Calumnies — Public Meeting at Thatched House Tavern in support of the London and Birmingham Railway Bill passes Parliament in 1833 - Robert Stephenson appointed sole Engineer-in-Chief to the London and Birmingham Railway- Leaves Newcastle-on-Tyne - Pupils. OBERT STEPHENSON'S wedding trip was a short ROBEER one. No sooner had he introduced his bride to her new home in Greenfield Place than he devoted all his energies to the superintendence of the works,' and especially to the construction of the 'Rocket.' The great and decisive battle of the locomotive, to be fought at Rainhill during the ensuing October, was fast approaching. He had to carry out the instructions which he had received from Mr. Booth and his father. A fearful |