Letter from Robert Stephenson to Curteis and Kingsford, Solicitors

Liverpool Jan 20th 1830

Dear Sir
I have been some time from hone since yours of th 18th came to hand, or you should have had an earlier reply –
I was always of opinion that the Engineer and Chief Clerk should be distant from each other, but I was indeed to address them to be in one person. On the outset, in order to effect [illegible word] as far as practicable. If the Directors look forward with confidence to the traffic to as great a degree as was represented in the report which I examined, and which was drawn up by great care by Mr Richardson, there can be little doubt of a [illegible word] Engineer being much employed. Mr Greener of whom I spoken to you, is an excellent man for keeping a Railway with steam machinery in order, but he would not be able to meet the expectations of the Directors, by completing the Dock at Whitstable. He would be industrious I ma confident, but his experience has hitherto been confined to that description of situation for which I recommend him.
I have looked around among any further [illegible word] on the line, but I can’t recommend any that would fully meet your views, or any better than Greener. He has been a working man [illegible word] lately when he

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was made one of the overlookers on the Railway, he is a person straight forward, unlettered man.
He is [illegible word] no accountant nor can I [illegible word] at this moment for his writing, a good hand but I shall see my father in a day or two when I shall enquire of him in reference to this.
The new Locomotive Engine (Wildfire) had arrived at Liverpool. On Friday I intend making some experiments on its [illegible word] on a part of the Rail-way ascends 1 in 96. Of the performance much equals that of the Rocket, it will enable me to speak more decidedly than hitherto respecting the practicability of this class of power being employed with advantage at the Whitstable end of the your road. The ascent of 1 in 96 was deemed by Mr Walker to be “palpably beyond the power of Locomotive Engines’. The incorrectness of this has been already sufficiently proved with the Rocket; which Engine ascended the this plane with 9 tons of Goods at the [illegible word] of 12 ½ Miles [illegible word]. The gross weight attached to the engine was 14 ½ tons. Mr Walker’s report to the Liverpool and Manchester Directors was, that Locomotive Engines would just as [illegible word] [words underlined] with their own weight. As soon as the appointments
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I shall leave for Canterbury. The Directors I fear have already charged me with negligence; if I had not been perfectly well informed respecting every thing that was going on, through the [illegible word] aspects of my [illegible word] I [illegible word] have been shown [word underlined] [illegible words], outwithstanding the urgent engagements I have had in this neighbourhood. The success of the new Locomotive has let the people here as [illegible word] as they were in 1825.
Greener I been [illegible word] will be satisfied with £13-0 a year finding his own house and [illegible word] .Hoping to see you about next Tuesday in Canterbury. I have been
Yours very Respectfully
Rob Stephenson
Messrs Curteis & Kingsford
Canterbury