e sharpness of the steam-blast in the chimney,
which blew a large proportion of the burning coke into the air.

The "Perseverance" was found unable to move at more than five or six
miles an hour; and it was withdrawn from the contest at an early period.
The "Rocket" was thus the only engine that had performed, and more than
performed, all the stipulated conditions; and its owners were declared to
be fully entitled to the prize of 500 pounds, which was awarded to the
Messrs. Stephenson and Booth accordingly. And further, to show that the
engine had been working quite within its powers, Mr. Stephenson ordered
it to be brought upon the ground and detached from all incumbrances,
when, in making two trips, it was found to travel at the astonishing rate
of 35 miles an hour.

The "Rocket" had thus eclipsed the performances of all locomotive engines
that had yet been constructed, and outstripped even the sanguine
expectations of its constructors. It satisfactorily answered the report
of Messrs. Walker and Rastrick; and established the efficiency of the
locomotive for working the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and indeed
all future railways. The "Rocket" showed that a new power had been born
into the world, full of activity and strength, with boundless capability
of work. It was the simple but admirable contrivance of the steam-blast,
and its combination with the multitubular boiler, that at once gave the
locomotive a vigorous life, and secured the triumph of the railway
system. {219} It has been well observed, that this wonderful ability to
increase and multiply its powers of performance with the emergency that
demands them, has made this giant engine the noblest creation of human
wit, the very lion among machines. The success of the Rainhill
experiment, as judged by the public, may be inferred from the fact that
the shares of the Company immediately rose ten per cent., and nothing
more was heard of the proposed twenty-one fixed engines, engine-houses,
ropes, etc. All this cumbersome apparatus was thenceforward effectually
disposed of.

Very different now was the tone of those directors who had distinguished
themselves by the persistency of their opposition to Mr. Stephenson's
plans. Coolness gave way to eulogy, and hostility to unbounded offers of
friendship--after the manner of many men who run to the help of the
strong. Deeply though the engineer had felt aggrieved by the conduct
pursued towards him during this