CHAP. xvii. INTERVIEW WITH THE KING. 389 



pointing out how closely they everywhere followed the 

 coal, being mainly dependent upon it, as it were, for 

 their very existence. 



The king seemed greatly pleased with the interview, 

 and at its close expressed himself obliged by the in- 

 teresting information which Mr. Stephenson had com- 

 municated. Shaking hands cordially with both the 

 gentlemen, and wishing them success in all their 

 important undertakings, he bade them adieu. As 

 they were leaving the palace Mr. Stephenson, bethink- 

 ing him of the model by which he had just been 

 illustrating the Belgian coal-fields, said to his friend, 

 "By the bye, Sop with, I was afraid the king would 

 see the inside of my hat ; it's a shocking bad one ! ". 

 Little could George Stephenson, when brakesman at 

 a coal-pit, have dreamt that, in the course of his life, 

 he should be admitted to an interview with a monarch, 

 and describe to him the manner in which the geological 

 foundations of his kingdom had been laid ! 



Mr. Stephenson paid a second visit to Belgium in the 

 course of the same year, on the business of the West 

 Flanders Eailway ; and he had scarcely returned from 

 it ere he made arrangements to proceed to Spain, for 

 purpose of examining and reporting upon a scheme 

 then on foot for constructing " the Eoyal North of 

 Spain Eailway." A concession had been made by the 

 Spanish Government of a line of railway from Madrid 

 to the Bay of Biscay, and a numerous staff of engineers 

 was engaged in surveying the proposed line. The 

 directors of the Company had declined making the 

 necessary deposits until more favourable terms had 

 been secured ; and Sir Joshua Walmsley, on their 

 part, was about to visit Spain and press the Govern- 

 ment on the subject. Mr. Stephenson, whom he con- 

 suited, was alive to the difficulties of the office which 

 Sir Joshua was induced to undertake, and offered 

 to be his companion and adviser on the occasion, 



