George Stephenson on Railways and Coal Traffic.--Leases the Claycross Estate.--His Residence at Tapton.--His Appearance at Mechanics' Institutes.--His Views on Railway Speed.--Undulating Lines favored.--Stephenson on Railway Speculation.--Atmospheric Railways projected.--Opposed by Stephenson.--The Railway Mania.--Action of Parliament.--Rage for direct Lines.--Stephenson's Letter to Peel.--George Hudson, the "Railway King."--His Fall.--Stephenson again visits Belgium.--Interview with King Leopold.--Journey into Spain. 392 CHAPTER XVII. ROBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER--EAST COAST ROUTE TO SCOTLAND--HIGH-LEVEL BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE. Robert Stephenson's Career.--His extensive Employment as Parliamentary Engineer.--His rival, Brunel.--The Great Western Railway.--Width of Gauge.--Robert Stephenson's caution as to Investments.--The Newcastle and Berwick Railway.--Contest in Parliament.--George Stephenson's Interview with Lord Howick.--The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick.--Progress of Iron Bridge-building.--Robert Stephenson constructs the High-Level Bridge, Newcastle.--Pile-driving by Steam.--Merits of the Structure.--The through Railway to Scotland completed. 421 CHAPTER XVIII. CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY--MENAI AND CONWAY BRIDGES. George Stephenson Surveys a line from Chester to Holyhead.--Robert Stephenson afterward appointed Engineer.--The Railway Works under Penmaen Mawr.--The Crossing of the Menai Strait.--Various Plans proposed.--A Tubular Beam determined on.--Strength of wrought-iron Tubes.--Mr. William Fairbairn consulted.--His Experiments.--Professor Hodgkinson.--Chains proposed, and eventually discarded.--The Bridge Works.--The Conway Bridge.--Britannia Bridge described.--Floating of the Tubes.--Robert Stephenson's great Anxiety.--Raising of the Tubes.--The Hydraulic Press bursts.--The Works completed.--Merits of the Britannia Bridge. 438 CHAPTER XIX. CLOSING YEARS OF GEORGE STEPHENSON'S LIFE--ILLNESS AND DEATH. George Stephenson's Life at Tapton.--Experiments in Horticulture.--His Farming Operations.--Affection for Animals.--Bee-keeping.--Reading and Conversation.--Rencounter with Lord Denman.--Hospitality at Tapton.--His Microscope.--A "Crowdie Night."--Visits to London.--Visits Sir Robert Peel at Drayton Manor.--His Conversation.--Encounter with Dr. Buckland.--Coal formed by the Sun's Light.--Opening of the Trent Valley Line and its Celebration.--Meeting with Emerson.--Illness, Death, and Funeral.--Statues of George Stephenson.--Personal Characteristics. 460 CHAPTER XX. ROBERT STEPHENSON'S VICTORIA BRIDGE, LOWER CANADA--ILLNESS AND DEATH--THE STEPHENSON CHARACTERISTICS.