272 FAILUEE OF THE OTHER ENGINES. CHAP. XIII. 



all false prophets and fickle counsellors, the locomotive 

 system was now safe. When the " Bocket," having 

 performed all the conditions of the contest, arrived at 

 the " grand stand " at the close of its day's successful 

 run, Mr. Cropper one of the directors favourable to 

 the fixed-engine system lifted up his hands, and ex- 

 claimed, " Now has George Stephenson at last delivered 

 himself." 



Neither the " Novelty " nor the " Sanspareil " was 

 ready for trial until the 10th, on the morning of which 

 day an advertisement appeared, stating that the former 

 engine was to be .tried on that day, when it would 

 perform more work than any engine upon the ground. 

 The weight of the carriages attached to it was only 

 about seven tons. The engine passed the first post in 

 good style ; but in returning, the pipe from the forcing- 

 jpurnp burst and put an end to the trial. The pipe was 

 jafterwards repaired, and the engine made several trips 

 by itself, in which it was said to have gone at the rate 

 of from twenty-four to twenty-eight miles an hour. 



r The "Sanspareil" was not ready until the 13th; 



/ and when its boiler and tender were filled with water, 

 it was found to weigh four hundredweight beyond the 

 weight specified in the published conditions as the limit 

 of four-wheeled engines ; nevertheless the judges allowed 

 it to run on the same footing as the other engines, to 

 enable them to ascertain whether its merits entitled it to 

 favourable consideration. It travelled at the average 



/ speed of about fourteen miles an hour, with its load 

 attached ; but at the eighth trip the cold-water pump 

 got wrong, and the engine could proceed no further. 



It was determined to award the premium to the 

 successful engine on the following day, the 14th, on 

 which occasion there was an unusual assemblage of 

 spectators. The owners of the " Novelty " pleaded for 

 another trial ; and it was conceded. But again it broke 

 down. Then Mr. Hackworth requested the opportunity 



