CHAP. XVI. STEPHENSON'S ASSISTANTS. 347 



for him several coal-lines in the North. John Dixon, 

 trained by him on the Stockton and Darlington Rail- 

 way, afterwards carried out his views on the Can- 

 terbury and Whitstable, the Liverpool and Manchester, 

 and the Chester railways. Thomas L. Grooch was his 

 representative in superintending the execution of the 

 formidable works of the Manchester and Leeds line. 

 Swanwick on the North Midland, Birkenshaw on the 

 Birmingham and Derby, and Cabrey on the York and 

 North Midland, seconded him well and ably, and esta- 

 blished their own reputation while they increased the 

 engineering fame of their master. All these men, then 

 comparatively young, became, in course of time, engi- 

 neers of distinction, and were employed to conduct on 

 their own account numerous railway enterprises of great 

 magnitude. 



At the dinner at York, which followed the partial 

 opening of the York and North Midland Eailway, Mr. 

 Stephenson said, "he was sure they would appreciate 

 his feelings when he told them, that when he first 

 began railway business, his hair was black, although 

 it was now grey; and that he began his life's labour 

 as but a poor ploughboy. About thirty years since, he 

 had applied himself to the study of how to generate 

 high velocities by mechanical means. He thought he 

 had solved that problem ; and they had for themselves 

 seen, that day, w r hat perseverance had brought him 

 to. He was, on that occasion, only too happy to 

 have an opportunity of acknowledging that he had, 

 in the latter portion of his career, received much most 

 valuable assistance, particularly from young men 

 brought up in his manufactory. Whenever talent 

 showed itself in a young man, he had always given 

 that talent encouragement where he could, and he 

 would continue to do so." 



That this was no exaggerated statement is amply 



