The Gift of the Gab
There was one form of power that self-taught engineering genius George Stephenson never harnessed.
1844
King George III 1760-1820 to Queen Victoria 1837-1901
There was one form of power that self-taught engineering genius George Stephenson never harnessed.
1844
King George III 1760-1820 to Queen Victoria 1837-1901
Robert Peel, the Prime Minister, had to invite Stephenson to his private residence three times before the Tyneside engineer accepted, pleading that he was not suited to fancy company. His visit, when it finally took place, only confirmed something he had long suspected.
ONE evening, when staying with Sir Robert Peel* at his country house in Derbyshire, Stephenson* fell into animated conversation with William Buckland,* the eccentric geologist and palaeontologist, about the formation of coal. Buckland, a veteran debater, loftily dismissed Stephenson’s theories, but the tongue-tied engineer was certain he was right.
Next morning, Sir William Follett,* the famous Attorney-General, found Stephenson pacing the garden restlessly. Having wormed the story out of him, he led Stephenson to a seat to talk it all through. At last, rubbing his hands, Follett stood up and said, ‘Now I am ready for him!’
At dinner, Sir Robert obligingly led the conversation round to coal, and in the spirited debate that ensued Follett, briefed by Stephenson, thoroughly worsted Buckland. ‘What do you say, Mr Stephenson?’ Sir Robert asked, laughing.
‘Only this,’ he replied, ‘that of all the powers above and under the earth, there seems to me to be no power so great as the gift of the gab.’
* Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850) was a Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1834-35 and 1841-46. See posts tagged Sir Robert Peel.
* George Stephenson (1781-1848) and his son Robert (1803-1859) were two of the most significant figures in world industrial history. George came from humble beginnings in North East England, and his strong Northumberland accent left southerners baffled. See posts tagged George Stephenson.
* The Revd William Buckland (1784-1856) was Dean of Westminster and a keen geologist and palaeontologist. His description of Megalosaurus was the first detailed description of a fossil dinosaur. See posts tagged William Buckland.
* Sir William Webb Follett (1796-1845) was an MP for Exeter who served as Solicitor-General in 1834-35 and 1841 and as Attorney-General in 1844.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
What gave Buckland the advantage over Stephenson?
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Buckland and Stephenson argued about coal. Follett wanted the argument reopened. He asked Robert Peel to do it.