pal object seemed to be, to bring the proceedings to a termination
as quickly as possible. An attempt at negotiation was indeed made in the
course of the proceedings in committee, but failed, and the bill was
thrown out.

As the result had been foreseen, measures were taken to neutralise the
effect of this decision as regarded future operations. Not less than
32,000 pounds had been expended in preliminary and parliamentary expenses
up to this stage; but the promoters determined not to look back, and
forthwith made arrangements for prosecuting the bill in the next session.
Strange to say, the bill then passed both Houses silently and almost
without opposition. The mystery was afterwards solved by the appearance
of a circular issued by the directors of the company, in which it was
stated, that they had opened "negotiations" with the most influential of
their opponents; that "these measures had been successful to a greater
extent than they had ventured to anticipate; and the most active and
formidable had been conciliated." An instructive commentary on the mode
by which these noble lords and influential landed proprietors had been
"conciliated," was the simple fact that the estimate for land was nearly
trebled, and that the owners were paid about 750,000 pounds for what had
been originally estimated at 250,000 pounds.

The landowners having thus been "conciliated," the promoters of the
measure were permitted to proceed with the formation of their great
highway. Robert Stephenson was, with the sanction of his father,
appointed sole engineer; and steps were at once taken by him to make the
working survey, to prepare the working drawings, and arrange for the
construction of the railway. Eighty miles of the road were shortly under
contract, having been let within the estimates; and the works were in
satisfactory progress by the beginning of 1834.

The difficulties encountered in their construction were very great; the
most formidable of them originating in the character of the works
themselves. Extensive tunnels had to be driven through unknown strata,
and miles of underground excavation had to be carried out in order to
form a level road from valley to valley, under the intervening ridges.
This kind of work was the newest of all to the contractors of that day.
Robert Stephenson's experience in the collieries of the North rendered
him well fitted to grapple with such difficulties; yet even he, with all
his practical k