that of Stephenson and Moodie, which was not
contradicted, but in all material points confirmed by Wood, and was
published, we believe, with his sanction. George Stephenson said, that he
tried the first lamp "in a part of the mine where the air was highly
explosive. Nicholas Wood and John Moodie were his companions when the
trial was made. They became frightened when they came within hearing of
the blower, and would not go any further. Mr. Stephenson went alone with
the lamp to the mouth of the blower," etc. This evidence was confirmed
by John Moodie, who said the air of the place where the experiment was
about to be tried was such, that, if a lighted candle had been
introduced, an explosion would have taken place that would have been
"extremely dangerous." "Told Stephenson it was foul, and hinted at the
danger; nevertheless, Stephenson _would_ try the lamp, confiding in its
safety. Stephenson took the lamp and went with it into the place in which
Moodie had been, and Moodie and Wood, apprehensive of the danger, retired
to a greater distance," etc. The other details of the statement made in
the text, are fully borne out by the published evidence, the accuracy of
which, so far as the author is aware, has never before been called in
question.

{105} The tankard bore the following inscription--"This piece of plate,
purchased with a part of the sum of 1000 pounds, a subscription raised
for the remuneration of Mr. GEORGE STEPHENSON for having discovered the
fact that inflamed fire-damp will not pass through tubes and apertures of
small dimensions, and having been _the first_ to apply that principle in
the construction of a safety-lamp calculated for the preservation of
human life in situations formerly of the greatest danger, was presented
to him at a general meeting of the subscribers, Charles John Brandling,
Esq., in the Chair. January 12th, 1818."

{107} The accident above referred to was described in the 'Barnsley
Times,' a copy of which, containing the account, Robert Stephenson
forwarded to the author, with the observation that "it is evidently
written by a practical miner, and is, I think, worthy of record in my
father's Life."

{125} Mr. Pease died at Darlington, on the 31st of July, 1858, aged
ninety two.

{129} The story has been told that George was a former suitor of Miss
Hindmarsh, while occupying the position of a humble workman at Black
Callerton, but that having been rejected by her, he made love