October 23rd, 1872. Fine.

At ten o'clock we went by carriage to the Newcastle exchange, which was not a particularly imposing building. A group of businessmen had gathered to receive us, and raised their hats to us in a gesture of courtesy. They first invited us into the offices, then conducted us onto the floor of the exchange, where we were encircled by the merchants. The president of the chamber of commerce made a speech. When the ambassador had replied, the crowd of merchants stamped their feet, raised their hats and gave a tremendous cheer.

We then proceeded to the bank of the river Tyne, where a riversteamer was moored, and the heads and members of several manufacturing and commercial firms had come to receive us with the intention of showing us round a number of works along the river-banks.

We cast off and steamed upriver about 240 yards to where a new bridge was being built. The massive stone piers were still under construction and a steam-powered lifting machine had been set up to move the equipment and materials required. The river-bed had been excavated and huge metal cylinders had been set vertically in place. Their size was about that of a Japanese well. They narrowed towards the bottom and were as much as thirty or forty feet deep. The depth of the cylinders was enough to make anyone looking down into them tremble with fear.