CHAP. X. STEPHENSON'S SURVEY OPPOSED. 193 



gentlemen, five of whom were engineers, the speed 

 attained was from ten to twelve miles an hour. 



In the mean time the survey was proceeded with, in/ 

 the face of great opposition on the part of the proprietors/ 

 of the lands through "which the railway was intended to 

 pass. The prejudices of the farming and labouring 

 classes were strongly excited against the persons em- 

 ployed upon the ground, and it was with the greatest 

 difficulty that the levels could be taken. This opposition 

 was especially manifested when the attempt was made 

 to survey the line through the properties of Lords Derby 

 and Sefton, and also where it crossed the Duke of 

 Bridge water's canal. At Knowsley, Mr. Stephen son 

 was; driven off the ground by the keepers, and threatened 

 with rough handling if found there again. Lord Derby's 

 farmers also turned out their men to watch the survey- 

 ing party, and prevent them entering upon any lands 

 where they had the powder of driving them off. After- 

 wards, Mr. Stephenson suddenly and unexpectedly went 

 upon the ground with a body of surveyors and their 

 assistants, who out-numbered Lord Derby's keepers and 

 farmers, hastily collected to resist them ; and this time 

 they were only threatened with the legal consequences 

 of their trespass. The same sort of resistance was 

 offered by Lord Sefton's keepers and farmers, with whom 

 the following ruse was adopted. A minute was con- 

 cocted, purporting to be a resolution of the Old Quay 

 Canal Company to oppose the projected railroad by 

 every possible means, and calling upon landowners 

 and others to afford every facility for making such a 

 survey of the intended line as should enable the oppo- 

 nents to detect errors in the scheme of the promoters, 

 and thereby ensure its defeat. A copy of this minute, 

 without any signature, was exhibited by the surveyors 

 who went upon the ground, and the farmers, believing 

 them to have the sanction of the landlords, permitted 



VOL. in. o 



