e collier was soundly
pummelled, but the natives poured in volleys of stones upon the surveyors
and their instruments, and the theodolite was smashed to pieces.

An outline-survey having at length been made, notices were published of
an intended application to Parliament. In the mean time Mr. James
proceeded to Killingworth to see Stephenson's locomotives at work.
Stephenson was not at home at the time, but James saw his engines, and
was very much struck by their power and efficiency. He saw at a glance
the magnificent uses to which the locomotive might be applied. "Here,"
said he, "is an engine that will, before long, effect a complete
revolution in society." Returning to Moreton-in-the-Marsh, he wrote to
Mr. Losh (Stephenson's partner in the patent) expressing his admiration
of the Killingworth engine. "It is," said he, "the greatest wonder of
the age, and the forerunner, as I firmly believe, of the most important
changes in the internal communications of the kingdom." Shortly after,
Mr. James, accompanied by his two sons, made a second journey to
Killingworth, where he met both Losh and Stephenson. The visitors were
at once taken to where the locomotive was working, and invited to mount
it. The uncouth and extraordinary appearance of the machine, as it came
snorting along, was somewhat alarming to the youths, who expressed their
fears lest it should burst; and they were with some difficulty induced to
mount.

The engine went through its usual performances, dragging a heavy load of
coal-waggons at about six miles an hour, with apparent ease, at which Mr.
James expressed his extreme satisfaction, and declared to Mr. Losh his
opinion that Stephenson "was the greatest practical genius of the age,"
and that, "if he developed the full powers of that engine (the
locomotive), his fame in the world would rank equal with that of Watt."
Mr. James informed Stephenson and Losh of his survey of the proposed
tramroad between Liverpool and Manchester, and did not hesitate to state
that he would thenceforward advocate the construction of a locomotive
railroad instead of the tramroad which had originally been proposed.

Stephenson and Losh were naturally desirous of enlisting James's good
services on behalf of their patent locomotive, for as yet it had proved
comparatively unproductive. They believed that he might be able so to
advocate it in influential quarters as to ensure its more extensive
adoption, and with this objec