The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

FIRST ENGLISH LOCOMOTIVE. 75
first locomotive imported and put upon a railroad in
America.
:
In this work tlie author has promised to sulastan-
tiate every position he may assume, by giving to the
readers all the evidence upon which his statements
are based, and thereby enable them to judge for them-
selves as to the correctness of his history.
On this visit of Mr. Allen to England, he purchased
for the Delaware and Hudson Canal and EaUroad
Company three locomotives. The " Stourbridge Lion "
was one of these, and the first, which soon after arrived
in New York. Its performances in the yard of the
works where it was landed (the West Point Foundery
Works, foot of Beach Street) were witnessed by thou-
sands, attracted by the novelty of the machine. In a
letter addressed to the author by David Matthew, Esq.,
late of Philadelphia, who resided in New York in 1829,
and had charge of the men while fitting up the machin-
ery in the shops of the West Point Foundery Association,
to whom the author had addressed a letter making
some inquiries, he writes
" Philadelphia, December 6, 1859.
"Me. Wm. H. BBO-wif—
"Deae Sie : Yours of the 20th November is received, inquii'ing
about the first locomotive imported into this country; the first
built here, and on what date and railroad it was run. In compli-
ance with your request, I herewith with pleasure send you the following
history, partly from memory and partly from records and
memoranda upon the subject in some documents I have preserved
among a file of old papers and documents.
"Some time about the middle of May, 1829, the locomotive
called the Stourbridge Lion arrived from England, on the ship
John Jay. It was landed at the wharf of the West Point
Foundery Works, foot of Beach Street, New-York City. This
engine was in charge of Horatio Allen, Esq., assistant engineer of
the Delaware and Hudson Canal and Kailroad. Company. The
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