CHAP. X. 



MR. JAMES SUPERSEDED. 



189 



and, what with illness and what with debt, he was no 

 longer in a position to fulfil his promises to the Com- 

 mittee. They were, therefore, under the necessity of 

 calling to their aid some other engineer. 



Mr. Sandars had by this time visited George Stephen- 

 son at Killingworth, and, like all who came within reach 

 of his personal influence, was charmed with him at first 

 sight. The energy which he had displayed in carrying on 

 the works of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, now 

 approaching completion ; his readiness to face difficulties, 

 and his practical ability in overcoming them ; the enthu- 

 siasm which he displayed on the subject of railways and 

 railway locomotion, concurred in satisfying Mr. Sandars 

 that he was, of all men, the best calculated to help for- 

 ward the Liverpool undertaking at this juncture. On 

 his return he stated this opinion to the Committee, who 

 approved his recommendation, and George Stephenson 

 was unanimously appointed engineer of the projected^ 

 railway. On the 25th May, 1824, Mr. Sandars writes 

 to Mr. James, " I think it right to inform you that the 

 Committee have engaged your friend Mr. George Ste- 

 phenson. We expect him here in a few days. The 

 subscription list for 300,000. is filled, and the Man- 

 chester gentlemen have conceded to us the entire 

 management. I very much regret that, by delay and 

 promises, you have forfeited the confidence of the sub- 



on your situation; "but yet a conso- 

 lation arises when I consider your 

 persevering spirit will for ever bear 

 you up in the arms of triumph, in- 

 stances of which I have witnessed of 

 too forcible a character to be easily 

 effaced from my memory. It is these 

 thoughts, and these alone, that could 

 banish from rny soul feelings of despair 

 for one, the respect I have for whom 

 can be easier conceived than described, 

 Can I forget the advice you have af- 

 forded me in your letters? and what 

 a heavenly inducement you pointed 

 before me at the close, when you said 



that attention and obedience to my 

 dear father would afford me music at 

 midnight. Ah, and so it has already. 

 .... My father and I set off for 

 London on Monday next, on our way 

 to Cork. Our return will probably be 

 about the time you wish me to be at 

 Liverpool. If all be right, we may 

 possibly call and see what is going on. 

 That line [the Liverpool and Man- 

 chester] is the finest project in Eng- 

 land. Hoping to see you and Mr. 

 Pad ley in a few days, believe me, &c. 

 &c., ROBERT STEPHEXSON." 



