i88 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



line, and I pointed out to them old George Stephen- 

 son's original scheme to the north, through Bir- 

 mingham. We drove to Claydon, saw Sir Harry 

 Verney, who was Chairman of the ' Buckingham- 

 shire,' and when 1 explained to him my plans, he 

 was greatly pleased, and agreed to assist by every 

 means in his power the object in view. On our 

 return I took them to Wotton, calling on the 

 Marquis of Chandos, afterwards third Duke of 

 Buckingham, fortunately finding him at home, and 

 explained our purpose in coming. He welcomed 

 us most cordially, and expressed himself heartily in 

 support of the scheme, and said he would subscribe 

 5,000/., and become chairman of the company ! As 

 he was then Chairman of the London and North- 

 Western Railway Company, this was far in excess 

 of our expectations, and I need not say that I looked 

 on our Bill as safe, and the line as good as made. 

 We arranored for a future conference and returned 

 to Aylesbury. 



At a future meeting the preliminary company 

 was formed, the Marquis becoming chairman of the 

 directors, Sir Harry Verney vice-chairman, with a 

 strong addition of some leading county gentlemen, 

 bankers, and others, with myself, the company being 

 duly registered as the ' Aylesbury and Buckingham 

 Railway Company,' afterwards generally known as 

 the ' A and B ' Company. The surveys were made, 

 the Bill deposited, and in 1861 our Act of Parlia- 

 ment was obtained. Shortly afterwards the pro- 

 spectus was issued, the subscription list opened, and 



