CHAP. XI. THE CKOSS-EXAMINATION. 207 



and that a cow were to stray upon the line and get in 

 the way of the engine ; would not that, think you, be a 

 very awkward circumstance ? " " Yes," replied the 

 witness, with a twinkle in his eye, "very awkward 

 for the coo ! " The honourable member did not pro- 

 ceed further with his cross-examination ; to use a 

 railway phrase, he was " shunted." Another asked if 

 animals would not be very much frightened by the 

 engine passing at night, especially by the glare of the 

 red-hot chimney ? " But how would they know that it 

 was'nt painted ? " said the witness. 



On the following day (the 26th April), Mr. Stephenson 

 was subjected to a very severe examination. On that 

 part of the scheme with which he was most practically 

 conversant, his evidence was clear and conclusive. Now, 

 he had to give evidence on the plans made by his 

 surveyors, and the estimates which had been founded on 

 such plans. So long as he was confined to locomotive 

 engines and iron railroads, with the minutest details of 

 which he was more familiar than any man living, he 

 felt at home, and in his element. But when the designs 

 of bridges and the cost of constructing them had to be 

 gone into, the subject being in a great measure new to 

 him, his evidence w^as much less satisfactory. 



Mr. Alderson cross-examined him at great length on 

 the plans of the bridges, the tunnels, the crossings of 

 the roads and streets, and the details of the survey, 

 which, it soon clearly appeared, were in some respects 

 seriously at fault. It seems that, after the plans had 

 been deposited, Mr. Stephenson found that a much more 

 favourable line might be made ; and he made his esti- 

 mates accordingly, supposing that Parliament would not 

 confine the Company to the precise plan which had been 

 deposited. This was felt to be a serious blot in the par- 

 liamentary case, and one very difficult to be got over. 



For three entire days was Mr. Stephenson subjected 

 to cross-examination by Mr. Alderson, Mr. Cullen, and 



