e blast
was scarcely needed. It was only when high speeds were adopted that
artificial methods of urging the fire became necessary, and that the full
importance of the invention was recognised. Like many other inventions,
stimulated if not originated by necessity, the steam-blast was certainly
reinvented, if not invented, by George Stephenson.

{71} 'Mining Journal,' 9th September, 1858.

{73} Other machines, with legs, were patented in the following year by
Lewis Gompertz and by Thomas Tindall. In Tindall's specification it is
provided that the power of the engine is to be assisted by a _horizontal
windmill_; and the four pushers, or legs, are to be caused to come
successively in contact with the ground, and impel the carriage!

{82} Speech at the opening of the Newcastle and Darlington Railway, June
18, 1844.

{95} The Editor of the 'Athenaeum' having (Nov. 8th, 1862) characterized
the author's account of this affair as "perfectly untrue" and a
"fiction," it becomes necessary to say a few words in explanation of it.
The Editor of the 'Athenaeum' quotes in support of his statement a
passage from Mr. Nicholas Wood, who, however does not say that the
anecdote is "perfectly untrue," but merely that "the danger was _not
quite so great_ as is represented:" he adds that "at most an explosion
might have burnt the hands of the operator, but would not extend a few
feet from the blower." However that may be, we were not without good
authority for making the original statement. The facts were verbally
communicated to the author in the first place by Robert Stephenson, to
whom the chapter was afterwards read in MS., in the presence of Mr.
Sopwith, F.R.S. at Mr. Stephenson's house in Gloucester Square, and
received his entire approval. But at the time at which Mr. Stephenson
communicated the verbal information, he also handed a little book with
his name written in it, still in the author's possession, saying, "Read
that, you will find it all there." We have again referred to the little
book which contains, among other things, a pamphlet, entitled _Report on
the Claims of Mr. George Stephenson relative to the Invention of his
Safety Lamp_. _By the Committee appointed at a Meeting holden in
Newcastle_, _on this 1st of November_, _1817_. _With an Appendix
containing the Evidence_. Among the witnesses examined were George
Stephenson, Nicholas Wood, and John Moodie, and their evidence is given
in the pamphlet. We quote