ention not his
own. He had already accomplished a far greater feat than the making of a
safety-lamp--he had constructed a successful locomotive, which was to be
seen in daily work on the Killingworth railway. By the improvements he
had made in the engine, he might almost be said to have _invented_ it;
but no one--not even the philosophers--detected the significance of that
wonderful machine. What railways were to become, rested in a great
measure with that "engine-wright of Killingworth, of the name of
Stephenson," though he was scarcely known as yet beyond the bounds of his
own district.

As to the value of the invention of the safety-lamp there could be no
doubt; and the colliery owners of Durham and Northumberland, to testify
their sense of its importance, determined to present a testimonial to its
inventor. The friends of Sir H. Davy met in August, 1816, to take steps
for raising a subscription for the purpose. The advertised object of the
meeting was to present him with a reward for "the invention of _his_
safety-lamp." To this no objection could be taken; for though the
principle on which the safety-lamps of Stephenson and Davy were
constructed was the same; and although Stephenson's lamp was,
unquestionably, the first successful lamp that had been constructed on
such principle, and proved to be efficient,--yet Sir H. Davy did invent a
safety-lamp, no doubt quite independent of all that Stephenson had done;
and having directed his careful attention to the subject, and elucidated
the true theory of explosion of carburetted hydrogen, he was entitled to
all praise and reward for his labours. But when the meeting of
coal-owners proposed to raise a subscription for the purpose of
presenting Sir H. Davy with a reward for "his invention of _the_
safety-lamp," the case was entirely altered; and Stephenson's friends
then proceeded to assert his claims to be regarded as its first inventor.

Many meetings took place on the subject, and much discussion ensued, the
result of which was that a sum of 2000 pounds was presented to Sir
Humphry Davy as "the inventor of the safety-lamp;" but, at the same time,
a purse of 100 guineas was voted to George Stephenson, in consideration
of what he had done in the same direction. This result was, however very
unsatisfactory to Stephenson, as well as to his friends, and Mr.
Brandling, of Gosforth, suggested to him that, the subject being now
fairly before the public, he should publi