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CHAPTER VII.

ROBERT STEPHENSON IN LONDON SOCIETY.

(ETAT. 47-55.)

The Year of the Great Exhibition-In the Park-An Impostor imposed upon-No. 34 Gloucester Square -'The Sunday Lunches '-Works of Art-Philosophical Apparatus-Demeanour in Society-The Chief' in Great George Street-Robert Stephenson and the Profession'-Stories of Robert Stephenson's Generosity-The Westminster Review' on Robert Stephenson— Cab-drivers and their Payment-Zenith of Robert Stephenson's Prosperity-His part in the Great Exhibition of 1851-Crackbrained Projectors-Aquatic Amusements-The House without a Knocker-Alexandria and Cairo Railway-Victoria (St. Lawrence) Viaduct Mr. Samuel Bidder's Reminiscences-Grand Banquet at Montreal to Robert Stephenson-His Speech on the OccasionConnection with Mr. Alexander Ross-The St. Lawrence Viaduct completed, and inspected by Robert Stephenson's Deputies.

THE year 1851 was the period when Robert Stephen

son may be regarded as at the fullness of prosperity. There were few names more honoured, no man more generally popular. On questions either immediately or remotely connected with engineering, to state Robert Stephenson's opinion was in general society to terminate discussion. In the House of Commons and the clubs he was always welcome-his sociable disposition rousing sympathy by means of a fine presence, a countenance singularly frank, an unaffected bonhomie, and that pleasant richness of voice that impresses the

hearer with an idea of intellectual and moral excellence. He was to be seen frequently in the parks, where as he took his riding exercise he was pointed out to visitors from the country as one of the most notable of existing ' lions.'

Following the fashion of the day, Robert Stephenson, between 1851 and his death, used at times to wear beard and moustaches; at other times his lips and chin were shaved.

Of his martial appearance, at the times when his beard and moustache were at their fullest, a good story is told. Ten or twelve years since, in one of the streets of Soho, there was a pretender who undertook to tell persons' characters by an infallible method. He employed a mechanical contrivance composed of a crystal globe and a framework, placed in the centre of the chief table in his reception-room; the crystal globe being suspended from the frame in such a manner that it oscillated like the pendulum of a clock. Of course any disturbance to the frame or the table affected the vibrations of the glass ball. The wise man's' visitors were separately made to take up a position against the table, leaning or lounging upon it, and by observations of the movement of the globe and of the images upon it, while the table was subjected to such pressure, the seer professed to be able to tell the mental and moral characteristics of those who consulted him. The imposture made a sensation. The knave was honoured with visits from great ladies; and the gossip of the ladies induced men of scientific reputation and high political influence to call on the quack. Amongst many others, Robert Stephenson went to look at the charlatan. In an ante-room leading into the chamber

devoted to the wizard and his globe, he was requested to write his name and address in a book. Instead of complying with the request, he entered in the register the name and address of a friend, of whom there was small chance that the character-reader would have any knowledge; that done, he passed on to the inner room, reclined against the table, and exchanged a few sentences with his entertainer. He took his leave, with the understanding that his 'character,' duly written out, would be sent in the course of the next day to his residence. According to promise, the character' arrived at the given address: 'Frankness and decision are your leading characteristics. Of timidity and caution you are altogether ignorant. Bold, fearless, dashing, reckless, you would make an admirable cavalry officer, but it is clear that you are utterly devoid of mechanical talent.' Such was the purport of the character.' Robert Stephenson's imposing height and moustache had completely imposed on the impostor.

6

At 34 Gloucester Square, Robert Stephenson entertained his friends with liberal hospitality. Few private entertainments in London were more pleasant than his Sunday lunches,' at which many chiefs of literature and science were in the habit of meeting. Baden Powell, Sir R. Murchison, Sharpe (the Egyptian scholar), M. Bonomi, Captain Pim, Sir James and Lady Prior, Mr. Lough (the sculptor), Dr. Mayo, Dr. John Percy, Brunel, and other not less eminent persons came to Gloucester Square for these receptions.

Robert Stephenson left Cambridge Square for Gloucester Square somewhere about the November of 1847. The purchase of the lease of his last residence (together

with sums expended on alterations and repairs) involved an outlay of nearly £10,000.

Amongst the more important works of art contained in the house at the time of his death, were

1. A full length, life-size portrait of George Stephenson, painted by Lucas.

2. The Evening Gun,' by Danby. This picture was exhibited at the Manchester Exhibition. After Robert Stephenson's death, Mr. George Robert Stephenson presented it to Mr. Bidder.

3. 'The Twins,' by Landseer. On this picture Robert Stephenson set great value. An opulent gentleman, breakfasting with him one morning, offered him £5,000 for it. But,' said the owner, repeating the circumstance of the offer to his friends, he stood a worse chance of getting it by setting so high a value on it, as I knew him to be an excellent judge.' 4. Killingworth Colliery,' by Lucas.

5. The Stepping Stones,' by Lucas. This picture, painted at Robert Stephenson's order, represents a girl carrying a child over a stream in Wales. The Britannia Bridge is seen in the distance.

6. Portraits of engineers and others, grouped in consultation with Robert Stephenson about the Britannia Bridge, by Lucas.

7. Railway arch at Newcastle-on-Tyne, by Richardson.

In sculpture Robert Stephenson manifested his taste by purchasing Power's 'Fisher Boy,' the companion of the 'Greek Slave,' in the Exhibition of 1851.

The drawing-rooms of 34 Gloucester Square were so liberally stocked with works of curious contrivance, and philosophical toys, that they had almost the appearance of a museum. Singularly constructed clocks, electric instruments, and improved microscopes, by Smith and Beck, and Pillischer were arranged on all sides.

Robert Stephenson's cabinet of microscopic specimens

1851.] LIBERALITY TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL BRETHREN. 161 was most elaborate and extensive; and any contribution to it was an attention he always cordially acknowledged. He had long desired to have some specimens of North American coal, and also of coal brought by him from South America, prepared for the microscope; but no one had been able to reduce the mineral substances to the necessary degree of thinness. After months of ineffectual labour, however, Mr. Stockman had the good fortune to get some specimens sufficiently thin for the purpose. On receiving them Robert Stephenson was greatly delighted, and gave expression to his satisfaction by presenting Mr. Stockman with a costly microscope.

In society Stephenson was a charming companion. A ready talker, he was also a courteous listener. Never presuming on his reputation and position, he encouraged perfect freedom of discussion, and even on questions of engineering, he would hear patiently, and answer with respect, the views of his opponents. He was never guilty of dogmatism towards the young, or superciliousness to the timid. It would be difficult to imagine a man more considerate of the feelings of others. No description of his demeanour in the society of men would be complete which did not contain the word 'jolly.' He was the embodiment of joviality, without the faintest touch of boisterous awkwardness. 'I never in all my life knew a mere clubable man than Robert Stephenson: it is impossible for a more clubable man than Robert Stephenson to exist,' is the emphatic testimony of Dr. John Percy. But merely one-half of the man's social capabilities were known to those who saw him only in the society of men. His courteous bearing to ladies possessed the style of ancient chivalry.