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

408 LtFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap, xxxiii.
the construction of new lines in the country. Mr. Stephenson
>was professionally consulted respecting several of these in the
year 1845. The Sambre and Meuse Company having obtained
the concession of a line from the legislature,* Mr. Stephenson
proceeded to Belgium for the purpose of examining in person
the district through which the proposed line was to pass. He
was accompanied on this occasion by Mr. Sopwith and Mr. Star-
buck : the former gentleman a highly distinguished Northumber-
land geologist, intimately conversant with the coal-bearing strata,
who had already published an elaborate report on the nature
and extent of the coal and mineral districts of the Sambre
Meuse.
Mr. Stephenson went carefully over the whole length of the
proposed line, as far as' Couvin, the Forest of Ardennes, and
Rooroi, across the French frontier. He examined the bearings
of the coal-field, the slate and marble quarries, and the numerous
iron mines in existence between the Sambre and the Meuse,
carefully exploring the ravines which extended through the dis-
trict, in order to satisfy himself that the best possible route had
been selected. He was delighted with the novelty of the jour-
ney, the beauty of the scenery, and the industry of the popu-
lation. Plis companions were entertained by his ample and
varied stores of practical information on all subjects ; and his
conversation was full of reminiscences of his youth, on which he
always delighted to dwell when in the society of his more intimate
friends and associates. The journey was varied by a visit
to the coal-mines near Jemappe, where Mr. Stephenson examined
with interest the mode adopted by the Belgian miners of drain-
ing the pits, their engines and brakeing machines, so familiar to
him in ^ his early life. At intervals of their journey, Mr. Ste-
phenson prepared, in conjunction with Mr. Sopwith, the draft of
* The king, in his speech to the Chambers, in opening the session of 1846,
said, " Ever since the National Railways have reached the French and German
frontiers, the conveyance of goods and passengers, and the amount of the re-
ceipts, have rapidly and unceasingly advanced. The results obtained this year
have surpassed my expectations. Your last session was distinguished, towards
its close, by the vote of several projects of railways and canals. The favour-
able reception given to foreign capitalists has led to many demands for the con-
cession of lines. Some of these demands, after being examined, will be sub-
mitted to your deliberation."