Letter from Robert Stephenson to his parents

Mr George Stephenson
Civil Engineer
Newcastle upon Tyne
Mariquita June 11th 1826

My Dear Father & Mother

Not having received a line from England for at least 8 Months I conclude that your letters have been detained in some quarter as I feel convinced you would lose no opportunity in writting to me. That letters from friends should be obliged to pass through channels that forward them irregularly and sometimes not at all is extremely painful but that such has actually taken place I am convinced for I am sure that had Mr Langridge & Mr Joseph Pease received the long letters which have several times been forwarded, they would have answered them. Several months ago I sent Mr Pease a long extract from my journal, but so irregular is the post in almost every part of this country that nothing of consequence can be trusted without you have friends or acquaintance on the coast who receives and forwards packets with care. It is now some time since I gave up sending letters through the Col: M. association, but I have little hopes of having adopted a better mode of communication as all seem alike precarious. The last letter which I received from Jos. Pease contained the melancholy news of the misfortunes of their family, since which I have written twice to him -

The time is now drawing near when the period of my departure from this country must be finally fixed; hitherto I have been kept in anxious suspense. The Board after all was turned over to them by Messrs. H.G. & P. having refused to liberate me before the expiration of three years. Lately however through the recommendation of Mr Illingworth the agent for the Board, it appears they have consented to my return earlier; the next post from England will determine it finally, indeed from some recent letters of Mr Powles, it would seem that they would only require of me to remain and see the next party of miners settled at the different Establishments. This said party is now near Honda and will probably arrive in a month. I am therefore now engaged in preparing for their reception. The difficulty of conveying parties of men as well as luggage up the River Magdelena remains as great as ever. The Boats which were sent from England by the Board, constructed with paddles on each side and to be worked by men have completely failed. I have just this moment learnt this by a letter from one of the agents on the River. The Steam Boat which was built in the United States for the Magdelena has also completely failed. The first one they built was too large and drew to much water, an in constructing the second which has been tried, they have not avoided the same impediments; In consequence of the failure and the little progress made by the person who has the contract from Government it is likely the privilege will be taken from him altogether. The difficulties to be encountered in perfecting the navigation of such a river is beyond description and can ably be appreciated by one who has witnessed the effects of the currents during the Rainy season. They are such as sometimes to alter the bed of the River; washing away sand banks from one place and depositing them in another blocking up

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making shallow, parts that were a few days before deep and safe channels. The great trees which are carried down at floods descend with such velocity as to render a navigation totally impracticable in the night time. The consumption of wood by the Engines is immense and though it abounds the whole way up the River, the scarcity of population: makes the expense very high - I have considered a great deal about the navigation of the River as well as the construction of Roads in this country and I am satisfied that though in some situations it is possible to make good roads, many many years must pass away before they can be an eligible speculation for capitalists. Money is scarce, the population is scanty and indolent, all the high flown descriptions which you have heard in England about the riches of Colombia have been written by superficial observers. The Mines in this country I believe will turn out very advantageous, if carefully & skilfully conducted. Many of the Silver Mines are exceedingly rich, but they are much inferior to some Gold mines which are now in the possession of the association: they have been examined carefully and the produce of them is enormous, and should they be followed up with attention & skill; they will produce to the satisfaction of the most avaricious -

The news of the present state of England have just reached the capital of Colombia. It has produced quite a sensation as you may suppose. The failure of Goldschmidt's house and the decline of the Colombian Credit has been severely felt by the Government. An Extraordinary Congress has been called to consider the best mode of proceeding. During the last sitting of Congress a law was passed that no more monopolies were to be granted: this puts a stop to all further enquiry respecting the introduction of Steam Machinery by any particular individual.

You are aware I dare say that Messrs HG & P gave up the idea of constructing the Railroad from La Guayra to Caracas on account of an opposite party having taken it up also. The latter have obtained a contract with Government and I haer that they have commenced with the cutting of the Road. I don't believe they will ever lay down a Railroad as they propose first opening a plain carriage road and by the time they finish it they will find the expence much beyond what they anticipate. As I shall most probably leave the country in three months, it is useless writing after you receive this letter as I shall never see the letters that arrive after my departure. The best way home for me, will be by the United States where I will have an opportunity of examining their machinery particularly their Steam Boats which are said to far exceed the English ones. I will keep a full journal of particulars which I hope will not be uninteresting to you when we can talk all things over by ourselves. I have many strange things to tell which cannot be told on paper. I would willingly [send p]art ......
of journal from Caracas to Bogota but as I have already [don]e so and have reason to believe that it was lost on the road to [Bogota?] I do not like to trust more of it. The next post will go from here in 10 days when I will write to Mr Jos. Pease. I wd. like much to write a long letter but my time is nearly all occupied in getting up Plans of the Mines of Mariquita to send home to the Board - I often think of you all: Charles & I sometimes talk whole hours about our English acquaintances, and wonder what they are doing. You may suppose I am sometimes in bad spirits when I think that my friends have not written to me for 8 months especially when all around me except Empson are receiving letters regularly. However these things will pass over and I shall not be long in once more joining my acquaintance round an English fireside - None of the English luxuries are known here, not even the common conveniences of life: it

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is true we live better than we did when we first arrived but it is expensive - The situation in which we are placed is nearly as bad as transportation, there is no society in Mariquita the people do not even speak the Spanish language in its purity. From this you may concieve the difficulty of getting a correct pronunciation. It is comparable to a person living among Pitmen to learn the English language - There are only two or three in the whole place that speak moderately correct. Instead of speaking to the natives I have learnt to read spanish Books, of which we have but few. I must close my letter.

In future I will write regularly to you putting my letter into the post letting it take its chance. Surely some of them will reach you and let you know I have not forgot all. Give Me kind respects to Mr & Mrs Langridge & all the Bedlington people to Mr Pease's family and to all that I know & Believe me My Dear Father & Mother Your Affectionate & dutiful Son

Rob. Stephenson