f 1 8 HEROES OF INVENTION AND DISCO VER Y. 



had a private interview with him, when he is said to have been 

 easy and self-possessed while explaining to him the structure 

 of the Belgian coalfields, with the rise and progress of trade 

 and manufactures, which were so closely dependent for their 

 existence on these coalfields. In 1845 he visited Spain, in 

 order to report on " The Royal North of Spain Railway," but 

 his report was so unfavourable that the scheme was aban- 

 doned. 



Towards the close of his days, George Stephenson lived the 

 life of a country gentleman, and began to take a greater interest 

 than he had ever previously time or opportunity to do in horti- 

 cultural pursuits. He built melon-houses, pineries, and vineries, 

 and workmen were continually busied in his garden. He also 

 carried on farming operations to some extent. His old love 

 for birds and other animals returned, and he soon knew every 

 bird's nest in the neighbourhood. He read few books, loving 

 to gather most of his information from intelligent conversation, 

 and the most of his letters were dictated. His simple tastes in 

 eating and drinking continued to the last, and he could still 

 enjoy a bowl of " crowdie," a dish made with oatmeal and boil- 

 ing water — a reminiscence of his pitman days. He despised 

 foppery of all kinds, and one day when a young man, desirous 

 to be an engineer, came to him for advice, flourishing a gold- 

 headed cane, he said, " Put by that stick, my man, and then I 

 will speak to you." To another affectedly-dressed young man 



he one day said, " You will, I hope Mr. , excuse me ; I 



am a plain-spoken person, and am sorry to see a nice-looking 

 and rather clever young man like you disfigured with that fine- 

 patterned waistcoat, and all these chains and fang-dangs. If I, 

 sir, had bothered my head with such things when at your age, 

 I would not have been where I am now." Occasionally he 



