CHAP. XVIII. GEOEGE STEPHENSON AND LORD HOWICK. 403 



Line secured the approval of Parliament ; and the share- 

 holders in the Atmospheric Company were happily 

 prevented investing their capital in what would unques- 

 tionably have proved a gigantic blunder. For, less than 

 three years later, the whole of the atmospheric tubes which 

 had been laid down on other lines were pulled up, and the 

 materials sold including Mr. Brunei's immense tube on 

 the South Devon Railway 1 to make way for the working 

 of the locomotive engine. George Stephensoii's % first 

 verdict of " It won't do," was thus conclusively con- 

 firmed. 



Robert Stephenson used afterwards to describe with 

 great gusto an interview which took place between Lord 

 Howick and his father, at his office in Great George 

 Street, during the progress of the bill in Parliament. 

 His father was in the outer office, where he used to 

 spend a good deal of his spare time ; occasionally taking 

 a quiet wrestle with a friend when nothing else was 

 stirring. 2 On the day in question, George was standing 

 with his back to the fire, when Lord Howick called to 

 see Robert. Oh ! thought George, he has come to try 

 and talk Robert over about that atmospheric gimcrack ; 

 but I'll tackle his Lordship. " Come in, my Lord," said 

 he, " Robert's busy ; but I'll answer your purpose quite 

 as well ; sit down here, if you please." George began, 

 " Now, my Lord, I know very well what you have come 

 about : it's that atmospheric line in the north ; I will 

 show you in less than five minutes that it can never 

 answer." " If Mr. Robert Stephenson is not at liberty, 

 I can call again," said his Lordship. " He's certainly 



1 During the last half-year of the 

 atmospheric experiment on this line, 

 in 1848, the expenditure exceeded the 

 gross income (26,782Z.) by 2487Z., or 

 about 9f per cent, excess of working 

 expenses beyond gross receipts. 



2 "When my father came about 

 the office," said Robert, "he some- 

 times did not well know what to do 

 with himself. So he used to invite 



Bidder to have a wrestle with him, 

 for old acquaintance' sake, And the 

 two wrestled together so often, and 

 had so many * falls ' (sometimes 1 

 thought they would bring the house 

 down between them), that they broke 

 half the chairs in my outer office. I 

 remember once sending my father in 

 a joiner's bill of about 21. 10s. for 

 mending broken chairs." 



2 D 2 



