Letter from Robert Stephenson to Samuel Smiles

Dear Smiles
I enclose Murray’s note and I confess I cannot help sympathis’g with another in the dilemma which is so well touched upon, especially by the poem - of sucking the Blood of a Living_stone_
I desired Stockman to see you this afternoon respecting the Victoria Bridge in Canada He is able to give you all particulars, & with Ross’s letters describing the force of the Ice movements, you

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will be able I am sure to make a graphic picture of it. I am rather desirous that you sh' do this as one of my fathers pupils Mr. Liddell wrote a most violent and insolent report upon my design & arrangements for that work _ This report bought one from myself and one from Brunel which again called forth a reply from Liddel which I heard was filled with vituperation. I therefore never read one word of it _ I think

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it probable these reports may be useful to you and Stockman will furnish them _ Some of the remarks I wrote in reference to tubular & trelli’s Boilers may be extracted with advantage as the subject I know is misapprehended by many who ought to Know better.
I shall send you a volume tomorrow which contains a sketch of tubular Boilers_ You may have seen it but never mind that

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reading it again will do no harm and it places the [illegible word(s)] controversy in its proper light as far as it goes but recollect I do not Know the author from Adam.

Yours sincerely
Robt Stephenson

34 Gloucester Sq
11 May 1858

S. Smiles Esq