The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

174 LIFE OF GEOKGE STEPHENSON. [chap. xvr.
CHAPTER XVI.
MR. STEPHENSON APPOINTED ENGINEER OF THE STOCKTON
AND DAELINGTON RAIL"WAT.
Some time elapsed after the passing of the Act authorizing
the construction of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, before
any active steps were taken to carry it into eifeet. Doubts had
been raised whether the line was the best that could be adopted
for the district ; and the subscribers generally were not so san-
guine about their undertaking as to induce them to press on the
formation of the railway.
One day, about the end of the year 1821, two strangers
knocked at the door of Mr. Pease's house in Darlington ; and
the message was bi-ought to him that some persons from Killing-
worth wanted to speak with him. They were invited in, on
which one of the visitors introduced himself as Nicholas Wood,
viewer at Killingworth, and then, turning to his companion, he
introduced him to Mr. Pease as George Stephenson, of the
same place. Mr. Stephenson came forward and handed to Mr.
Pease a letter from Mr. Lambert, the manager at Killingworth,
in which it was stated that the bearer was the engine-wright at
the pits, that he had had experience in the laying out of railways
and had given satisfaction to his employers, and that he
would therefore recommend him to the notice of Mr. Pease if
he stood in need of the services of such a person.
Mr. Pease entered into conversation with his visitors, and
soon ascertained the object of their errand. Stephenson had
heard of the passing of the Stockton and Darlington Act, and
desiring to increase his railway experience, and also to employ
in some larger field the practical knowledge he had already
gained, he determined to visit Mr. Pease, the known projector