GEORGE STEPHENSON. u 



at that time for the miHtia. He found a substitute, however, 

 by paying a certain sum. So down-hearted was he at this lime 

 that he meditated emigrating to the United States. An oppor- 

 tunity was not long in occurring, which, being taken advantage 

 of, materially helped him forward. The engineers of that time, 

 as Mr. Smiles tells us, worked very much in the dark, and, for 

 the most part, without any knowledge of the principles of 

 mechanics. An atmospheric or Newcomen engine, made by 

 Smeaton, had proved a failure, and no engineer or workman 

 could put it right. A speech which Stephenson had made 

 being reported to the head viewer of the pit as to his ability to 

 " alter her and make her draw," and he being dead beat at the 

 time, he at once entrusted him with the work. " Well, George," 

 said the viewer, " they tell me you think you can put the engine 

 at the High Pit to rights." " Yes, sir," said George, " I think 

 I could." " If that's the case, I'll give you a fair trial ; and 

 you must set to work immediately. We are clean drowned out, 

 and cannot get a step further. The engineers are all beat, 

 and if you really succeed in accomplishing what they cannot 

 do, you may depend upon it I will make you a man for life." 

 The repairs occupied Stephenson about four days, and were 

 done, if roughly, yet on scientific principles ; and before the 

 end of the same week the pit was so far clear of water that the 

 miners could be sent to the bottom. For the successful 

 accomplishment of this work, Stephenson received the sum of 

 ;^io, with which he was highly gratified. In addition, he was 

 appointed engineman at the High Pit on good wages. His 

 success in doctoring the engine led to his being very extensively 

 consulted by the owners of wheezy and ineffectual pumping- 

 machines in the neighbourhood ; and in his treatment of them 

 he is said to have left the regular engineers far behind. 



