Letter from George Stephenson (Liverpool) to Timothy Hackworth (New Shildon), 25 July 1828. Transcript as follows: "Liverpool 25th July 1828 Dear Timothy, Brandreth has given a report here that you are going to lay off the locomotive engines, is it so? It was a great pity that these accidents took place with the tubes. It appears Brandreth has got my plan introduced for the horse to ride which I suppose he will set off as his own invention. It is more than two years since I explained this to Brandreth - Canterbury was the place where I meant to have put it to use, but as that Company have now determined to work the line by steam power it will not be wanted. We have tried the new Locomotive Engine at Bolton, which works beautifully[.] There is not the least noise about it[.] We have also tried the blast to it for burning coke, and I believe it will answer. There are two bellows worked by eccentrics, underneath the tender. The line will be opened on the 1st Augt. It is too far for you to come, or I should be glad to see you. Write me about the Engines by return of post if you can. Yours truly, Geo. Stephenson P.S. John Dixon and every Director at Canterbury can speak to my plan of carrying the Horses, which I mentioned to them two years ago, but I never considered it ought to be tried at Darlington as there I considered the Locomotive Engines a better thing. G. S.