CHAP. IV. WILLIAM FAIRBAIRN. 41 



was furnished with glass tubes filled with quicksilver ; 

 as the wheel rotated, the quicksilver poured itself down 

 into the lower tubes, and thus a sort of self-acting 

 motion was kept up in the apparatus, which, however, 

 did not prove to be perpetual. Where he had first ob- 

 tained the idea of this machine whether from conver- 

 sation, or reading, or his own thoughts, is not known ; 

 but his son Eobert was of opinion that he had heard of 

 an apparatus of the kind described in the " History of 

 Inventions." As he had then no access to books, and 

 indeed could barely read with ease, it is probable that 

 he had been told of the invention, and set about testing 

 its value according to his own methods. 



Much of his spare time continued to be occupied by 

 labour more immediately profitable, regarded in a pecu- 

 niary point of view. In the evenings, after his day's 

 labour at his engine, he would occasionally employ 

 himself for a few hours in casting ballast out of the col- 

 lier ships, by which means he was enabled to earn a 

 few shillings extra weekly. Mr. William Fairbairn of 

 Manchester has informed the author that while Stephen- 

 son was employed at the Willington Ballast Hill he 

 himself was working in the neighbourhood as an engine 

 apprentice at the Percy Main Colliery. He was very 

 fond of George, who was a fine, hearty fellow, besides 

 being a capital workman. In the summer evenings 

 young Fairbairn was accustomed to go down to Willing- 

 ton to see his friend, and on such occasions he would fre- 

 quently take charge of George's engine for a few hours to 

 enable him to take a two or three hours' turn at heaving 

 ballast out of the collier vessels. It is pleasant to think 

 of the future President of the British Association thus 

 helping the future Railway Engineer to earn a few 

 extra shillings by overwork in the evenings, at a time 

 when both occupied the rank but of humble working 

 men in an obscure northern village. 



Mr. Fairbairn was also a frequent visitor at George's 



