402 MEETING WITH BRUNEL IN NEWCASTLE. CHAP. XVIII. 



in which its great powers had been first developed. 

 Nor did he relish the appearance of Mr. Brunei as the 

 engineer of Lord Howick's scheme, in opposition to the 

 line which had occupied his thoughts and been the object 

 of his strenuous advocacy for so many years. When 

 Stephenson first met Brunei in Newcastle, Ee good- 

 naturedly shook him by the collar, and asked " AVhat 

 business he had north of the Tyne ? " George gave 

 him to understand that they were to have a fair stand-up 

 fight for the ground, and, shaking hands before the 

 battle like Englishmen, they parted in good humour. 

 A public meeting was held at Newcastle in the following 

 December, when, after a full discussion of the merits of 

 the respective plans, Stephenson' s line was almost una- 

 nimously adopted as the best. 



The rival projects went before Parliament in 1845, 

 and a severe contest ensued. The display of ability and 

 tactics on both sides was great. Mr. Hudson and the 

 Messrs. Stephenson were the soul of the struggle for the 

 locomotive line, and Lord Howick and Mr. Brunei in 

 support of the atmospheric system of working. Robert 

 Stephenson was examined at great length as to the 

 merits of the former, and Brunei at equally great length 

 as to the merits of the latter. Mr. Brunei, in the course 

 of his evidence, said that after numerous experiments, 

 he had arrived at the conclusion that the mechanical 

 contrivance of the atmospheric system was perfectly 

 applicable, and he believed that it would likewise be 

 more economical in most cases than locomotive power. 

 " In short," said he, " rapidity, comfort, safety, and 

 economy, are its chief recommendations." 



Notwithstanding the promise of Mr. Sergeant Wrang- 

 ham, the counsel for Lord Howick's scheme, that the 

 Northumberland atmospheric was to be " a respectable 

 line, and not one that was to be converted into a road 

 for the accommodation of the coal-owners of the district," 

 the locomotive again triumphed. The Stephenson Coast 



