the surface, and came up as cool as cucumbers, instead of being drenched with perspiration.  In my description in last letter I forgot to mention that between the stages on the moving rods which I have there described there are intermediate stages on the moving rods (for which there is ample room, inasmuch as the interval between the stages on each rod used by one person is 24 feet), and these intermediate stages are used by persons descending:  so that there are persons ascending and persons descending at the same time, who never interfere with each other and never step on the same stages, but merely see each other passing on the other rods—­It is a most valuable invention.  We then changed our clothes and washed, and drove to Barncoose, arriving in good time for the dinner.  I found myself much restored by some superb Sauterne with water.  When we were proposing to go on to Camborne, Mr and Mrs Williams pressed us so affectionately to stop that we at length decided on stopping for the night, only bargaining for an early breakfast this morning.  This morning after breakfast, we started for Redruth and Camborne.  The population between them has increased immensely since I was here before. &c. &c.

* * * * *

Here is a letter written to his wife while he was engaged on the business of the Railway Gauge Commission.  It contains reminiscences of some people who made a great figure in the railway world at that time, and was preceded by a letter which was playfully addressed “From the Palace of King Hudson, York.”

GEORGE INN, YORK,
1845, Dec. 30.

I wrote yesterday from Mr Hudson’s in time for the late post, and hope that my letter might be posted by the servant to whom it was given.  Our affairs yesterday were simple:  we reached Euston Station properly, found Watson there, found a carriage reserved for us, eat pork-pie at Wolverton (not so good as formerly), dined at Derby, and arrived in York at 5.20.  On the way Watson informed me that the Government have awarded us L500 each.  Sir F. Smith had talked over the matter with us, and I laid it down as a principle that we considered the business as an important one and one of very great responsibility, and that we wished either that the Government should treat us handsomely or should consider us as servants of the State acting gratuitously, to which they assented.  I think the Government have done very well.  Mr Hudson, as I have said, met us on the platform and pressed us to dine with him (though I had dined twice).  Then we found the rival parties quarrelling, and had to arrange between them.  This prevented me from writing for the early post. (I forgot to mention that Saunders, the Great Western Secretary, rode with us all the way).  At Hudson’s we had really a very pleasant dinner:  I sat between Vernon Harcourt and Mrs Malcolm (his sister Georgiana) and near to Mr Hudson.  This morning we were prepared at 9 at the Station for some