CHAP. XVII. STEPHENSON AGAIN VISITS BELGIUM. 387 



undertakings. One of the most agreeable of these j 

 excursions was to Belgium in 1845, in company with I 

 his friends Mr. Sopwith and Mr. Starbuck. His special 

 object was to examine the proposed line of the Sambre 

 and Meuse Railway, for which a concession had been 

 granted by the Belgian legislature. Arrived on the 

 ground, he went carefully over the entire length of 

 the proposed line, to Couvins, the Forest of Ardennes, 

 and Rocroi, across the French frontier ; examining the 

 bearings of the coal-field, the slate and marble quarries, 

 and the numerous iron mines in existence between the 

 Sambre and the Meuse, as well as carefully exploring 

 the ravines which extended through the district, in 

 order to satisfy himself that the best possible route had 

 been selected. Mr. Stephenson was delighted with the 

 novelty of the journey, the beauty of the scenery, and 

 the industry of the population. His companions were 

 entertained by his ample and varied stores of practical 

 information on all subjects, and his conversation was 

 full of reminiscences of his youth, on which he always 

 delighted to dwell when in the society of his more inti- 

 mate friends. The journey was varied by a visit to 

 the coal-mines near Jernappe, where Stephenson exa- 

 mined with interest the mode adopted by the Belgian 

 miners of draining the pits, inspecting their engines and 

 brakeing machines, so familiar to him in early life. 



The engineers of Belgium took the opportunity of 

 Mr. Stephenson's visit to their country to invite him to 

 a magnificent banquet at Brussels. The Public Hall, in 

 which they entertained him, was gaily decorated with 

 flags, prominent amongst which was the Union Jack, 

 in honour of their distinguished guest. A handsome 

 marble pedestal, ornamented with his bust crowned 

 with laurels, occupied one end of the room. The chair 

 was occupied by M. Massui, the Chief Director of the 

 Xational Railways of Belgium ; and the most eminent 

 scientific men of the kingdom were present. Their 



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