CHAP. XII. LIFE AT HOME. 239 



would proceed to dispose of his correspondence, or pre- 

 pare sketches of drawings, and give instructions as to 

 their completion. He would occasionally refresh himself 

 for this evening work by a short doze, which, however, 

 he would never admit had exceeded the limits of 

 * winking," to use his own term. Mr. Frederick 

 Swanwick, who officiated as his secretary, after the 

 appointment of Mr. Gooch as Resident Engineer to 

 the Bolton and Leigh Railway, has informed us that 

 he then remarked what in after years he could better 

 appreciate the clear, terse and vigorous style of Mr. 

 Stepheiison's dictation ; there was nothing superfluous 

 in it ; but it was close, direct, and to the point, in 

 short, thoroughly business-like. And if, in passing 

 through the pen of the amanuensis, his meaning hap- 

 pened in any way to be distorted or modified, it did 

 not fail to escape his detection, though he was always 

 tolerant of any liberties taken with his own form of 

 expression, so long as the words written down conveyed 

 his real meaning. His strong natural acumen showed 

 itself even in such matters as grammar and composition, 

 a department of knowledge in which, it might be 

 supposed, he could scarcely have had either time or 

 opportunity to acquire much information. But here, as 

 in all other things, his shrewd common sense came to 

 his help ; and his simple, vigorous English might almost 

 be cited as a model of composition. 



His letters and reports written, and his sketches of 



nor; and as that gentleman was a eulogium, at length asked, "Well, 



connoisseur in port wine, his host , Sandars, how d'ye like the port?" 



determined to give him a special treat " Poor stuff! " said the guest, " Poor 



of that drink. Stephenson accord- stuff!" George was very much 



ingly went to the small merchant , shocked, and with difficulty recovered 



with whom he usually dealt, and ; his good-humour. But he lived to be 



ordered "half a dozen of his very best ! able to treat Mr. Sandars to a better 



port wine," whicli was promised of J article at Tapton House, when he used 



first-rate quality. After dinner the 

 wine was produced; and when Mr. 

 Sandars had sipped a glass, George, 

 alter waiting a little for the expected 



to laugh over his first futile attempt 

 at Liverpool to gain a reputation for 

 his port. 



