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CHAPTER V.

PREPARATIONS FOR AMERICA.

(ETAT. 20-21.)

George Stephenson's Rupture with Mr. Losh-The Establishment of the Firm of R. Stephenson and Co. of Newcastle-The Colombian Mining Association-George Stephenson a Chief Agent for the Project Robert Stephenson visited with renewed and aggravated Symptoms of Pulmonary Disease - Robert Stephenson proposed as Engineer to the Colombian Mining Association'- His Visits to Cornwall and other Places - Newcastle - The London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill-Robert Stephenson accepts the Post of Engineer-in-Chief to the Colombian Mining Association-In London - Preparations and Hard Work-Home, sweet Home'-Letter to 'the North'-Conduct of the Association'- Liverpool - Sails for South America.

IN

N forming his new connection at Darlington, George Stephenson made the acquaintance not only of Mr. Pease, but also of Mr. Michael Longridge of the Bedlington Iron Works, and the influential associates of both those gentlemen; and by his conduct towards them he gained their respect and confidence. Unfortunately, however, in acting honourably towards his new friends, he was compelled to give offence to an old patron. On being asked what rails he would recommend to be laid down on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, he frankly replied to the directors-Gentlemen, I might put £500 into my pocket by getting you to buy my patent cast-iron rails. But I know them. Take my advice, and don't lay down

a single cast-iron rail.' Of course it was his paramount duty to give this advice to his employers, but his condemnation of cast-iron rails, and recommendation of malleable bars, not only kept £500 out of his own pocket, but withheld the same sum from the purse of his co-patentee and old employer, Mr. Losh. The latter, not then believing in the relative inferiority of the castiron rails which he and George Stephenson had patented in 1816, was naturally irritated, and imprudently wrote a letter to Mr. Pease reflecting on George's conduct in violent and unjust terms. The contents of this epistle were inconsiderately imparted by Mr. Pease to George Stephenson; and the consequence was a stormy interview between the latter and Mr. Losh, in which the capitalist accused the engineer of ingratitude, and the engineer retorted on the capitalist a charge of self-interest and cupidity. The consequence of this was, that the rupture between the elder Stephenson and Messrs. Losh, Wilson, and Bell was final; and George attached himself to another interest.

Whilst he was superintending the construction of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, George Stephenson induced Mr. Edward Pease, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Longridge, to join him in establishing the 'manufactory,' now celebrated, wherever locomotive engines are used, under the name of 'Robert Stephenson and Co.' It has been already seen how he put Robert Stephenson's name on the map as engineer of the Stockton and Darlington line. In like manner, now that he was about to embark in a great commercial speculation, he made his son the prominent engineer, as well as an actual partner, and was

pleased to keep himself in the background. The partnership was formed in 1823, and forthwith the ground was purchased on which the factory of Robert Stephenson and Co.' yet stands -an imposing and extensive mass of building, visible to travellers through smoke and fog, as the train bears them along the superior road of the High Level Bridge. The originators of the factory, interested deeply in the Stockton and Darlington Railway, were bent on supplying the new line with the steam locomotives, which their influence would cause to be adopted in preference to fixed engines. With the commencement of 1824 the factory was at work. George Stephenson, fully engaged with the Stockton and Darlington line, thirty or forty miles distant from Newcastle, could give but little personal care to the new factory. Robert Stephenson was, therefore, called upon to superintend its earliest operations. It was a trying position for a young man, only twenty years of age. To be so trusted was the grandest sort of education-but it was an education fitted only for an able man. He had to supervise the building operations, engage men, take orders, advise on contracts, draw plans, make estimates, keep the accounts, and in all matters, great or small, govern the young establishment on his own responsibility.

All this, however, was mere child's play compared with his next task.

A more fascinating scheme than that of the Colombian Mining Association' had not for years roused the imaginations of speculators. The proposal was to recommence working in Spanish America the gold and silver mines, which, it was averred, had been wrought with great profit

before the Revolution. The cautiously expressed opinion of Humboldt, that such operations might lead to successful results, induced men of wealth and high reputation in the money market to support the project with their names and their gold. The first plan of the projectors was departed from in important particulars; and when the Company took form as a working power, its title was the Colombian Mining Association,' and the attention of the directors was concentrated on the mineral wealth of Colombia.

Amongst the most sanguine projectors of this speculation was Mr. Thomas Richardson, the founder of the famous discount house of Richardson, Overend, and Gurney. Mr. Richardson was an intimate friend and family connection of Mr. Pease of Darlington. He took shares in the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and became a partner in the firm of 'Robert Stephenson and Co., of Newcastle.' Frequently coming into contact with George Stephenson, he admired his soundness of judgement as much as he did his genius for mechanical contrivance, and consequently consulted him on the arrangements of the 'Colombian Mining Association.' Of course, steam-engines and iron goods would be required in abundance for effectually working the old mines; and Mr. Richardson calculated that his influence would obtain large orders for the house of Robert Stephenson and Co.' On George Stephenson, therefore, it eventually devolved to select miners, artisans, inspectors, and implements, and to make heavy shipments of iron and goods for America. Indeed, not only Mr. Richardson, but the general body of directors, relied on George's

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guidance in all the engineering part of their preliminary operations.

He was pining to get

Although the earlier commissions were sent to his father, young Robert Stephenson had to attend to many of them; and he did the work in such a manner that Mr. Richardson formed a yet higher opinion of his energy and capacity. Mr. Longridge, with whom George Stephenson had now, for more than three years, been in communication, also formed the highest estimate of Robert's abilities. Overtures were then made through Mr. Richardson to Robert Stephenson, sounding him whether he would like to accompany the expedition. The proposal put the young man in a fire of excitement. away from Newcastle. The threatening symptoms of pulmonary disease, which had from childhood made his friends anxious for him, seemed decidedly on the increase; and in his secret heart he believed that the harsh winds of Newcastle would, before many years, lay him in a premature grave. In the warm luxurious atmosphere of Colombia, surrounded by the gorgeous beauties of animal and vegetable life, which had stirred Humboldt from his philosophic calm, he anticipated renewed vigour of mind and body. Moreover, the dreams of wealth, which had fascinated apparently cautious and practical men like Mr. Richardson, seemed to Robert Stephenson's young mind no visionary hopes, but realities beyond the reach of doubt. He argued, not unreasonably, the Spaniards, with imperfect appliances and a rude knowledge of their art, extracted from those mines vast revenues, and therefore greater wealth will flow to labourers aided by the latest inventions of science, and having a supply of skilled artisans.