Again I
had the pleasure of giving evidence and of being crossed-examined by Mr.
Pembroke Stephens; but the Bill was passed and became an Act. Further
sign of vitality it never showed as the line was never made. It is one
thing, by the grace of Parliament to obtain an Act, but quite another by
the favour of the public to obtain capital. Parliament is often more
easily persuaded than the shrewd investor, as many a too sanguine
promoter knows.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TOM ROBERTSON, MORE ABOUT LIGHT RAILWAYS, AND THE INLAND TRANSIT OF
CATTLE
By his friends and intimates he was called _Tom_, and mere acquaintances
even usually spoke of him as _Tom Robertson_. Rarely was he designated
_Thomas_. A man who is known so familiarly is generally a good fellow,
and Tom Robertson was no exception, though he possessed some pretty
strong qualities, and was particularly fond of getting his own way.
In his early days at the Great Northern, sundry skirmishes at the
Clearing House had taken place between him and me, which for a time
produced a certain amount of estrangement, but we afterwards became
excellent friends and saw a good deal of each other.
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