GEORGE STEPHENSON. 97 



navigation, and originated with it, but will be found, as it be- 

 comes more perfect, to add to the efficiency and utility of that 

 system of communication, whilst every step in advance must 

 materially promote the interests of the agriculturist, the miner, the 

 merchant, the mariner, and, in short, of the community at large. 



" The system of cast-iron railways is as yet to be considered 

 but in its infancy. It will be found to be an immense improve- 

 ment on the common road and also on the wooden railway. 

 It neither presents the friction of the tramway nor partakes ot 

 the perishable nature of the wooden railway, and, as regards 

 utility, it may be considered as the medium between the 

 navigable canal and the common road. We may, therefore, 

 hope that as this system develops itself our roads will be laid 

 out as much as possible on one level, and in connection with 

 the great lines of communication throughout the country." 



Such were the modest anticipations of Edward Pease respect- 

 ing railways, about the year 181 8. Ten years after, and an age 

 of progress, by comparison, had been made. Mr. Pease did 

 not at first so much as dream of the locomotive, his anti- 

 cipations being solely based on the employment of horse- 

 power. 



If no other, the Act of 19th April, 1821, had one important 

 and immediate consequence in bringing " the engine-wright ol 

 Killingworth " (as George Stephenson modestly styled himself) 

 into contact with Edward Pease. He called at his house, as 

 he told the worthy Quaker, because he had heard of the Act, 

 bringing with him a letter of introduction from the director ot 

 the KillingAvorth pits. The conversation that followed, after 

 George Stephenson had presented his letter to Edward Pease, 

 was highly characteristic of both men. As recorded by Dr. 

 Smiles, the originator of the Stockton-Darlington line "very 



