sliders, and denouncing their misconduct and imprudence with the
tears streaming down his cheeks. And he would generally conclude by
opening his purse, and giving them the help which they needed "to make a
fresh start in the world."

Mr. Stephenson's life at Tapton during his latter years was occasionally
diversified with a visit to London. His engineering business having
become limited, he generally went there for the purpose of visiting
friends, or "to see what there was fresh going on." He found a new race
of engineers springing up on all hands--men who knew him not; and his
London journeys gradually ceased to yield him pleasure. A friend used to
take him to the opera, but by the end of the first act, he was generally
in a profound slumber. Yet on one occasion he enjoyed a visit to the
Haymarket with a party of friends on his birthday, to see T. P. Cooke, in
"Black-eyed Susan;"--if that can be called enjoyment which kept him in a
state of tears during half the performance. At other times he visited
Newcastle, which always gave him great pleasure. He would, on such
occasions, go out to Killingworth and seek up old friends, and if the
people whom he knew were too retiring, and shrunk into their cottages, he
went and sought them there. Striking the floor with his stick, and
holding his noble person upright, he would say, in his own kind way,
"Well, and how's all here to-day?" To the last he had always a warm
heart for Newcastle and its neighbourhood.

Sir Robert Peel, on more than one occasion, invited George Stephenson to
his mansion at Drayton, where he was accustomed to assemble round him men
of the highest distinction in art, science, and legislation, during the
intervals of his parliamentary life. The first invitation was
respectfully declined. Sir Robert invited him a second time, and a
second time he declined: "I have no great ambition," he said, "to mix in
fine company, and perhaps should feel out of my element amongst such high
folks." But Sir Robert a third time pressed him to come down to Tamworth
early in January, 1845, when he would meet Buckland, Follett, and others
well known to both. "Well, Sir Robert," said he, "I feel your kindness
very much, and can no longer refuse: I will come down and join your
party."

Mr. Stephenson's strong powers of observation, together with his native
humour and shrewdness, imparted to his conversation at all times much
vigour and originality, and made him, to