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

CHAP. XXXV.] COKRESPONDENCE WITH INVENTORS. 429
Another inventor induced a mutual friend to write requesting
his opinion respecting an improved steamboat for the working
of canals. He wrote in reply, commending the plan of the boat,
but at the same time expressing his belief that " no boat can be
made now to work against the locomotive.'' When Beale's Eota-
tory Engine came out, although entertaining a strong opinion
against it, he nevertheless subscribed a sum of money for the
purpose of having it fairly tried. A boat was fitted up with
the engine, and the trial came off at Yarmouth. After describ-
ing the experiment at a meeting of the Mechanical Engineers,
he said, " When the engine was put to work we could not get
the boat to move forward, and the experiment failed. We man-
aged, indeed, to get the boat'to sea, but it cost me and the party
40^. to bring her back again."
While Mr. Stephenson was in the full tide of railway business
in London, these frequent applications of inventors to submit
their plans for his consideration had not always been so favour-
ably received. They broke in upon him at a time when every
moment was precious, preengaged by railway companies with
large interests at stake. Absorbed by work, and his mind full
of the business in hand, it was scarcely to be expected that he
should listen with patience to plans fifty times before proposed
and rejected,—to crude and wild theories believed in only by
their projectors. But when he had secured leisure, and could
call his time his own, he was always ready to give an ear to
those who consulted him upon such subjects. Thus, when Mr.
Smith of Nottingham, an ingenious person in humble life, waited
upon him with his invention of a steam-gauge, for the purpose
of obtaining his patronage and assistance, Mr. Stephenson at
once saw its uses, and said " Oh ! I understand it altogether ; it
will do very well." Overjoyed with this approval, and with the
practical suggestions with which it was accompanied, the inven-
tor said, " Before I leave, will you be pleased to tell me what
is your charge ? " " Charge ! " replied Mr. Stephenson, " oh,
nonsense, I make no charge ; but I'll tell you what you must do.
The last two lines state a fact beyond dispute. The number of inventions in
connection with railways thrust upon the Messrs. Stephenson for their opinion
during the railway mania, was almost beyond computation.