TREVITHICK. 131 



back a pair of spurs and a few old coins, the sole remnants of the 

 colossal fortune made, 'but not realized,' in the Peruvian mines. 

 Before this occurred, however, Trevithick had visited various parts 

 of the West coast of South America ; part of this time he was in 

 the company of Earl Dundonald (then Lord Cochrane), but the last 

 four years of this period were spent by him at Costa Rica, in the 

 countries now so well known as the route of the Nicaraguan transit 

 and the scene of General Walker's filibuster warfare, where he pro- 

 jected mines and devised many magnificent schemes, but realized 

 no permanent good for himself. Among other things, having disco- 

 vered some valuable mineral deposits, he obtained from the govern- 

 ment a grant of the land which contained them, and on his return to 

 England succeeded, by his representations (which were confirmed by 

 a Scotchman of the name of Gerard, who had been his companion), 

 in organizing a company for sinking the necessary mines. Before, 

 however, active operations were commenced, Trevithick one day 

 entered the new company's offices to arrange finally about his own 

 interest in the concern. A cheque for 7000Z. was at once offered him 

 as purchase-money for his land in Southern America. This however 

 was not what he had wanted, and without giving a thought to the 

 largeness of the sum offered, he indignantly threw back the cheque 

 across the table and walked out of the office.* After this the com- 

 pany broke up, and Trevithick never realized a penny-piece from 

 his really valuable possessions in that country. 



After his return from America but little is known of Trevithick ; 

 late in life he commenced a petition to Parliament, in which he asks 

 for some grant or remuneration for his services to the country, by 

 reason of the superiority of his machinery, stating that from the 

 use of his engines the saving to the Cornish mines alone amounted 

 to 100,OOOZ. per annum ; but before presenting this petition, he met 

 with a monied partner, who supplied him with the means of perfect- 

 ing his never-ceasing inventions. This was all Trevithick wanted, 

 and the petition was consequently laid aside. Thus assisted he 

 obtained a patent in 1831 for an improved steam engine ; and ano- 

 ther in the same year for a method or apparatus for heating apart- 

 ments ; and a third on the 22nd of September, 1832, for improve- 

 ments on the steam engine, and in the application of steam power 

 to navigation and locomotion. This was the last patent he took 

 out ; he died at Dartford in Kent during the following year, at the 

 age of sixty-two. 



Trevithick, by his marriage with Miss Jane Harvey, had four eons 

 and two daughters, all of whom are still living. His manners were 



* The late Michael "Williams, M.P. for West Cornwall, was present during 

 this transaction, and afterwards remonstrated with Trevithick on his folly. 

 The cheque offered to him has been stated by one gentleman to have been for a 

 far larger sum. 



