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

CHAP. XXII.] ADVENTURES OF TEEVETHICK. 257
Franpois Uvill^ arrived in England from Peru, for the purpose
of obtaining steam machinery wherewith to clear the gold mines
of water, by which some of the richest in that country had been
totally drowned, and consequently fallen into decay. Uville,
however, found little encouragement to pursue his plan. The
rarity of the atmosphere in the lofty regions of the Cordilleras*
and the impracticability of conveying large engines over almost
inaccessible mountains, presented difficulties apparently too
great to be surmounted. He was about to leave England in
despair, when, one day passing through a street leading out of
Fitzroy-square in London, he accidentally observed the model
of a steam-engine exposed for sale in the shop of a Mr. Roland.
It was Trevethick's model of his locomotive engine. Uvilld
was struck with its simplicity and excellence of construction, and
bought it at once for twenty guineas. He carried the model
with him to Lima, and tried its effects on the highest ridges of
Pasco. The action of the engine exceeded even his sanguine
expectations. An association was formed in Lima for the pur-
pose of contracting with the proprietors of the flooded gold
mines, to clear them of water by powerful engines similarly
constructed ; and M. UvilW again embarked for England, to
discover Trevethick and enlist him in the speculation.
Trevethick's sanguine mind was inflamed by the prospects
held out by his new friend. He entered into an engagement to
provide nine pumping engines made after his locomotive model,
at a cost of about 10,000Z. ; and they were made and shipped for
Lima in September, 1814.
Trevethick was meanwhile engaged in providing further sup-
plies of steam-engines, as well as in constructing coining appara-
tus for the Peruvian mint, and furnaces for purifying the silver
ore by fiision. In October, 1816, he set sail for Lima, thinking
no more of the locomotive engine, which was now safe in the
hands of George Stephenson. Trevethick had a more imme-
diate prospect before him of both fame and gain. On landing
at Lima, he was received with public honours and rejoicings,
was immediately presented to the Viceroy, and most graciously
received. His advent was described as forming an epoch in the
prosperity of Peru. The viceroy ordered a guard of honour to