Letter from D.H. Watson, Canterbury to Thomas Greener

[Note on front stating he was chief clerk in Timothy Hackworth's office at Soho Works signed Thomas Greener] Thanks for published account of invention of blast pipe and letter stating that Stephenson used bellows on his engines after use of blast pipe on Royal George, criticises Samuel Smiles’s book. Tells a story that prior to the Rainhill Trials two men who worked for Stephenson secretly examined the chimney of Hackworth’s engine ‘they took the particulars of their examination to Stephenson who at once grasped the idea’ then a blast pipe was ‘hurriedly fitted on the Rocket the day before the trial’. Remembers the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, he was five at the time. Credit due to Hackworth, William Hedley and Jonathan Forster for use of smooth rails. Remembers Greener’s father and Robert young at the Brusselton engine, remembers first coaches on Stockton and Darlington line. Will send a list of the of the first 30 engines used Stockton and Darlington Railway, names of builders and drivers.