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railway works, particularly the Edgehill Tunnel and the Liverpool 
and Manchester Railway. He gave a description of the “ Liverpool 
and Manchester Railway ” to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts 
in February 1835, and was awarded their medal for his exposition. 
This paper was followed, in March 1836, by “Remarks on the 
Dublin and Kingston Railway.” In 1835 Brunei asked Mr 
Stevenson to join his staff at the Thames Tunnel works, — an offer 
which he could not accept, as he had been appointed to superintend 
the construction of other works. 
During the summer of the year 1837, Mr Stevenson made a tour 
in Canada and the United States, and the result of his inspection 
of the engineering works of these countries was given in a volume, 
published in 1838, entitled “Sketch of the Civil Engineering of 
North America,” which was republished with additions in 1859, 
as one of Weale’s series of engineering works. The engineering 
practice therein described was peculiarly applicable to newly de- 
veloped countries, where timber forms the chief material employed. 
The views expressed and the drawings given in this book, with 
reference to the fine lines and speed of American river and lake 
steamers, were received in this country by shipbuilders with distrust, 
if not ridicule; but the bluff bows of British sea-going and river 
steamers, and short-stroke engines, all below deck, gave way to finer 
lines and engines of high power and long stroke ; and soon there- 
after steamships were plying on the Clyde at higher speed than in 
America. He had models made in New York of two of the fastest 
steamers, — a sea and river boat, — which were submitted to the 
Admiralty after his book was published; but as the “lines” had 
been there given, the authorities did not care for the models, and 
they ultimately went to the Russian Government. In this book Mr 
Stevenson also pointed out the true conditions under which waves 
are formed, which his subsequent experience as a marine engineer 
amply corroborated. 
Mr Stevenson entered into partnership with his father and 
brother Alan in 1838. As his father was then nearly 67 years of 
age, and his brother was wholly engaged with the arduous works at 
Skerryvore Lighthouse, the entire management of the business fell 
upon Mr Stevenson, and very soon his advice was much sought in 
reference to the improvement of rivers and harbours, and the con- 
