Letter from John Wesley Hackworth, Darlington to George Edward Young

Darlington Nov 29th 1882
My Dear Bro Young
Thanks for your favour of yesterday date enclosing cutting from ‘Leeds Mercury’ relative to Billy Hedley & the Loco’ (which I herewith return as desired).
It is a very brief affair compared to those circulated in the northern papers at the time of the consecration of the first Bishops of Newcastle last July 25th t Durham.
I commenced a ……ation, which I intended first to put - in a succession of articles – through some local newspaper, & then into a pamphlet. However not seeing any way to a suitable medium, it has laid over until now. Having fought the battle – almost single handed – under some very vexatious circumstances, I begin rather to flag! However if you are inclined kindly to give a lift, I will be very glad! When just at the turning point I know it is a mark of cowardice to give in but I have had so much of it: flagging is scarcely to be wondered at! I never was ……ied about the way Geo. Stephenson & Hedley were introduced into the articles in the ‘Practical Mechanics Journal’ – it was Johnson’s doing – It might be good policy for his journal but not for the cause. Neither of these men could put forth a valid claim for a single detail! However to furnish you with the best data at my command, I think I cannot do better than send you the rough draft unfinished & imperfect as it is, yet there are facts plenty to ………. you up on the business. Please return it when done with, as it is the only copy I have! I am informed that the substance of the lengthy articles which appeared at the time of the above consecration is to be embodied in the History of West Durham now being written by a Historian who has been very much lauded for his ‘Ability & Correctness’. His name is ‘Neasham’. This counterpart of the Geo. Stephenson fable has been got up by one ‘Archer’ a long time clerk in Hedley’s Coal Fitters Office Newcastle. A member of a Durham family Nr Gateshead.
I don’t think permanent justice to be done best either by a Correct History or a well written life of Timothy Hackworth.
I may just name that I attended Thos. Harker’s (at Bp Auckland local preacher) Lecture on T.H. in the New Shildon Wesleyan Chapel on the 20th inst. He made a tolerable job of it but of course such mode of establishing the great events of T.H.’s life are far too ephemeral & can never overtake the errors or rather positive untruths!
As to my ‘prospects improving’ I may say that three weeks last Saturday I was over at Newcastle inspecting the first pair of marine engines with my patent ‘ne plus ultra’ valves & gear. They are not everything I could wish but are a pretty tolerable job. They expected to have them ready for a ‘trial trip’ in five weeks. Hence in about a fortnight’ I expect it will come off when a banquet – as a large Hotel opposite the Central Station Newcastle – will be given at which I am to take the chair for a great lot of influential gents in connection with the shipping of the entire district are to be there, who are likely to use the single patent gear etc after witnessing the practical performance thereof & think there is every chance of its turning out a great success! I at least fully calculate on such being the case.
Frank R Marshall – the large card who figured so extensively at the Tynemouth exhibition – managing partner of Hawthorn & Co., who read one or two papers at the mechanical engineers meetings on his patent valves & gear, applied last July for an amendment of his specification & I opposed the modification & have shown by my declaration that there is not one little of the invention his!! I expected ere thus to have been called to London for a hearing of the case before the ‘Attorney General’. However after a long wait I fear Frank is going to sherk out & carry the matter no further. But I mean to knock the bottom out of His Patent! before I have done! He is an impudent upstart. He got very much laughed at the above exhibition, everybody was talking about his appropriating ‘Hackworth’s gear’ and treated him with the utmost disrespect.
As to my dear Sister Holmes I have nothing cheering to say. Minnie seems sometimes to be improving but through Annie’s moral conduct is thrown back again. I sometimes have my doubts as to her ultimate recovery.
I would not have such a life as my dear Sister has for all the World! It is nothing short of a living death! How she keeps up I cannot tell! I generally see her once a day, occasionally two or three times.
Now as my sheet is full I must conclude . With kind love and best wishes to Sister, self & all the dear young Youngs . Faithfully yours . John W Hackworth .Ps will be glad …………………(missing).