CHAP. XT. MR. HARRISON'S SPEECH. 209 



pulpy, wet moss, is no very easy task. Who but Mr. 

 Stephenson would have thought of entering into Chat 

 Moss, carrying it out almost like wet dung? It is 

 ignorance almost inconceivable. It is perfect madness, 

 in a person called upon to speak on a scientific subject, 



to propose such a plan Every part of the scheme 



shows that this man has applied himself to a subject of 

 which he has no knowledge, and to which he has no 

 science to apply." Then adverting to the proposal to 

 work the intended line by means of locomotives, the 

 learned gentleman proceeded : " When we set out with 

 the original prospectus, we were to gallop, I know not 

 at what rate ; I believe it was at the rate of twelve 

 miles an hour. My learned friend, Mr. Adam, con- 

 templated possibly alluding to Ireland that some of 

 the Irish members would arrive in the waggons to a 

 division. My learned friend says that they would go at 

 the rate of twelve miles an hour with the aid of the 

 devil in the form of a locomotive, sitting as postilion on 

 the fore horse, and an honourable member sitting behind 

 him to stir up the fire, and keep it at full speed. But 

 the speed at which these locomotive engines are to go 

 has slackened : Mr. Adam does not go faster now than 

 five miles an hour. The learned serjeant (Spankie) says 

 he should like to have seven, but he would be content 

 to go six. I will show he cannot go six ; and probably, 

 for any practical purposes, I may be able to show that 



I can keep up with him by the canal Locomotive 



engines are liable to be operated upon by the weather. 

 You are told they are affected by rain, and an attempt 

 has been made to cover them ; but the wind will affect 

 them ; and any gale of wind which would affect the traffic 

 on the Mersey would render it impossible to set off a loco- 

 motive engine, either by poking of the fire, or keeping 

 up the pressure of the steam till the boiler was ready to 

 burst." How amusing it now is to read these extra- 

 ordinary views as to the formation of a railway over 



VOL. III. P 



