wn in the village. It is said that the man was on the point of giving
up all further search, when the happy thought struck some of the
colliers' wives who had gathered about him, that it must be "Geordie the
engine-wright" the man was in search of; and to Geordie's cottage he
accordingly went, found him at home, and delivered the letter.

About the end of September, Stephenson went carefully over the line of
the proposed railway, for the purpose of suggesting such improvements and
deviations as he might consider desirable. He was accompanied by an
assistant and a chainman,--his son Robert entering the figures while his
father took the sights. After being engaged in the work at intervals for
about six weeks, Stephenson reported the result of his survey to the
Board of Directors, and showed that by certain deviations, a line shorter
by about three miles might be constructed at a considerable saving in
expense, while at the same time more favourable gradients--an important
consideration--would be secured.

It was, however, determined in the first place to proceed with the works
at those parts of the line where no deviation was proposed; and the first
rail of the Stockton and Darlington Railway was laid with considerable
ceremony, near Stockton, on the 23rd May, 1822.

It is worthy of note that Stephenson, in making his first estimate of the
cost of forming the railway according to the Instructions of the
directors, set down, as part of the cost, 6200 pounds for stationary
engines, not mentioning locomotives at all. The directors as yet
confined their views to the employment only of horses for the haulage of
the coals, and of fixed engines and ropes where horse-power was not
applicable. The whole question of steam locomotive power was, in the
estimation of the public, as well as of practical and scientific men, as
yet in doubt. The confident anticipations of George Stephenson, as to
the eventual success of locomotive engines, were regarded as mere
speculations; and when he gave utterance to his views, as he frequently
took the opportunity of doing, it even had the effect of shaking the
confidence of some of his friends in the solidity of his judgment and his
practical qualities as an engineer.

When Mr. Pease discussed the question with Stephenson, his remark was,
"Come over and see my engines at Killingworth, and satisfy yourself as to
the efficiency of the locomotive. I will show you the colliery books,
that you