186 



ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



that lie did not wish his pocket-money to be appro- 

 priated by roughs, as he intended it for his wife. At 

 the time when he severed himself from the world he 

 had no less a sum than three thousand pounds in bank 

 notes in his pockets. That ' trifle ' was his ' pocket- 

 money ' ; but he was otherwise a very rich man, and as 

 he sprang from nothing, and was a man of only middle 

 life (45), his career must be regarded as an eminently 

 prosperous one. But, though prosperous, he was not 

 happy ; and yet we believe his domestic life was highly 

 commendable, and his bliss at home such as any man 

 need envy. 



" He was violent and impetuous beyond all men we 

 ever knew. He took nothing quietly. He was a 

 desperate rider to hounds, and in more senses than one 

 a * mighty hunter.' Though not a tall or heavy man, 

 his strength was prodigious; he had unusual width of 

 chest, and every time we saw him we were reminded 

 of the brawny Cleon immortalised in Bulwer Lytton's 

 imperishable lines which introduce his description of 

 O'Connell 



" ' But who, scarce less by every gazer eyed, 



Walks yonder, swinging with a stalwart stride 1 



With that vast bulk of chest and limb assigned 



So oft to men who subjugate their kind ; 



So sturdy Cromwell push'd broad -shoulder'd on ; 



So burly Luther breasted Babylon ; 



So brawny Cleon bawl'd his Agora down ; 



And large-limb'd Mahmoud clutch'd a Prophet's crown.'" 



" An inquest was held on the body, and Mr. George 

 Lambert, who had been associated with Mr. Stephenson 

 as a sort of partner, gave the following evidence : 



" ' I wish to state that for the last four years I have 

 shared with him every year there has been a large profit. 

 He has sustained no loss. He has died in a good 

 position. He has won upon everything.' 



