CHAP. X. JAMES'S VISITS TO KILLINGWORTH. 187 



alarming to the youths, who expressed their fears lest 

 it should burst ; and they were with some difficulty 

 induced to mount. 



The engine went through its usual performances, 

 dragging a heavy load of coal-waggons at about six 

 miles an hour, with apparent ease, at which Mr. James 

 expressed his extreme satisfaction, and declared to Mr. 

 Losh his opinion that Stephenson "was the greatest 

 practical genius of the age," and that, " if he developed 

 the full powers of that engine (the locomotive), his fame 

 in the world would rank equal to that of Watt." Mr. 

 James informed Stephenson and Losh of his survey of 

 the proposed tram road between Liverpool and Man- 

 chester, and did not hesitate to state that he would 

 thenceforward advocate the adoption of a locomotive 

 railroad instead of the tramroad which had originally 

 been proposed. 



Stephenson and Losh were naturally desirous of en- 

 listing James's good services on behalf of their patent 

 locomotive, for as yet it had proved comparatively 

 unproductive. They believed that he might be able so 

 to advocate it in influential quarters as to ensure its 

 more extensive adoption, and with this object they pro- 

 posed to give him an interest in their patent. Accord- 

 ingly they assigned him one-fourth of the profits derived 

 from the use of their patent locomotive on any lines 

 which might be constructed south of a line drawn across 

 England from Liverpool to Hull. The arrangement, 

 however, led to no beneficial results. Mr. James endea- 

 voured to introduce the engine on the Moreton-on- 

 Marsh Eailway ; but it was opposed by the engineer of 

 the line, and the attempt failed. He next urged that 

 a locomotive should be sent for trial upon the Merstham 

 tramroad ; but, anxious though Stephenson was respect- 

 ing its extended employment, he was too cautious to 

 risk an experiment which might only bring discredit 

 upon the engine ; and the Merstham road being only 



