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UWIVBRSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


I.C.B.  LIBRARY 


JAMES    NASMYTH 


JAMES  NASMVTII. 


JAMES  NASMYTH 

ENGINEER 

AN   AUTOBIOGRAPHY   EDITED 
BY   SAMUEL   SMILES,    LL.D. 

AUTHOR  OF  'SELF-HELP,'  ETC.' 


WITH  PORTRAIT 
AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 


LONDON 
JOHN   MURRAY,   ALBEMARLE   STREET 


PEEFACE. 

I  HAVE  had  much  pleasure  in  editing  the  following  Memoir 
of  my  friend  Mr.  Nasmyth.  Some  twenty  years  since  (in 
April  18G3),  when  I  applied  to  him  for  information 
respecting  his  mechanical  inventions,  he  replied :  "  My 
life  presents  no  striking  or  remarkable  incidents,  and 
would,  I  fear,  prove  but  a  tame  narrative.  The  sphere  to 
which  my  endeavours  have  been  confined  has  been  of  a 
comparatively  quiet  order ;  but,  vanity  apart,  I  hope  I  have 
been  able  to  leave  a  few  marks  of  my  existence  behind  me 
in  the  shape  of  useful  contrivances,  which  are  in  many 
ways  helping  on  great  works  of  industry." 

Mr.  Nasmyth,  nevertheless,  kindly  furnished  me  with 
information  respecting  himself,  as  well  as  his  former  master 
and  instructor,  Henry  Maudslay,  of  London,  for  the  purpose 
of  being  inserted  in  Industrial  Biography,  or  Ironworkers  and 
Toolmakers,  which  was  published  at  the  end  of  1863.  He 
was  of  opinion  that  the  outline  of  his  life  there  presented 
was  sufficiently  descriptive  of  his  career  as  a  mechanic  and 
inventor. 

During  the  years  that  have  elapsed  since  then,  Mr. 
Nasmyth  has  been  prevailed  upon  by  some  of  his  friends — 
more  especially  by  Sir  John  Anderson,  late  of  Woolwich 
Arsenal — to  note  down  the  reminiscences  of  his  life,  with 
an  account  of  his  inventions,  and  to  publish  them  for  the 
benefit  of  others.  He  has  accordingly  spent  some  of  his  well- 


PREFACE. 


earned  leisure  during  the  last  two  years  in  writing  out  his 
recollections.  Having  consulted  me  on  the  subject,  I 
recommended  that  they  should  he  published  in  the  form  of 
an  Autobiography,  and  he  has  willingly  given  his  consent. 

Mr.  Nasmyth  has  furnished  me  with  abundant  notes  of 
his  busy  life,  and  he  has  requested  me,  in  preparing  them 
for  publication,  to  "make  use  of  the  pruning-knife."  I 
hope,  however,  that  in  editing  the  book  I  have  not  omitted 
anything  that  is  likely  to  be  interesting  or  instructive.  I 
must  add  that  everything  has  been  submitted  to  his  correc- 
tion and  received  his  final  approval. 

The  narrative  abundantly  illustrates  Mr.  Nasmyth's  own 
definition  of  engineering ;  namely,  common  sense  applied  to 
the  use  of  materials.  In  his  case,  common  sense  has  been 
more  especially  applied  to  facilitating  and  perfecting  work 
by  means  of  Machine  Tools.  Civilisation  began  with  tools ; 
and  every  step  in  advance  has  been  accomplished  through 
their  improvement  Handicraft  labour,  in  bone,  stone,  or 
wood,  was  the  first  stage  in  the  development  of  man's 
power ;  and  tools  or  machines,  in  iron  or  steel,  are  the  last 
and  most  efficient  method  of  economising  it,  and  enabling 
him  to  intelligently  direct  the  active  and  inert  forces  of 
nature. 

It  will  be  observed  that  Mr.  Nasmyth,  on  his  first  start 
in  life,  owed  much  to  the  influence  of  his  father,  who  was 
not  only  an  admirable  artist — "  the  founder,"  as  Sir  David 
\Yilkic-  termed  him,  "of  the  landscape  painting  school  of 
Scotland" — but  an  excellent  mechanic.  His  "bow-and- 
string"  roofs  and  bridges  show  his  original  merits  as  a 
designer;  and  are  sufficient  to  establish  his  ability  as  a 
Manual  rn-im-.-r.  Indeed,  one  of  Mr.  Nasmyth's 
principal  objects  in  j in-paring  the  notes  of  the  following 

rk,  has  been  to  introduce  a  Memorial  to  the  memory  of 


PREFACE.  vii 


his  father,  to  whom  he  owed  so  much,  and  to  whom  he 
was  so  greatly  attached  through  life.  Hence  the  numerous 
references  to  him,  and  the  illustrations  from  his  works  of 
art,  of  architecture,  as  well  as  of  mechanics,  given  in  the 
early  part  of  the  book. 

I  might  point  out  that  Mr.  Nasmyth's  narrative  has  a 
strong  bearing  upon  popular  education  ;  not  only  as  regards 
economical  use  of  time,  careful  observation,  close  attention 
to  details,  but  as  respects  the  uses  of  Drawing.  The 
observations  which  he  makes  as  to  the  accurate  knowledge 
of  this  art  are  very  important.  In  this  matter  he  concurs 
with  Mr.  Herbert  Spencer  in  his  work  on  Education.  "  It 
is  very  strange,"  Mr.  Nasmyth  said  some  years  ago,  "  that 
amidst  all  our  vaunted  improvements  in  education,  the 
faculty  of  comparison  by  sight,  or  what  may  be  commonly 
called  the  correctness  of  eye,  has  been  so  little  attended  to." 
lie  accordingly  urges  the  teaching  of  rudimentary  drawing 
in  all  public  schools.  "  Drawing  is,"  he  says,  "  the  Education 
of  the  Eye.  It  is  more  interesting  than  words.  It  is 
graphic  language." 

The  illustrations  given  in  the  course  of  the  following 
book  will  serve  to  show  his  own  mastery  of  drawing — 
whether  as  respects  Mechanical  details,  the  Moon's  surface, 
or  the  fairyland  of  Landscape.  It  is  perhaps  not  saying 
too  much  to  aver  that  had  he  not  devoted  his  business  life 
to  Mechanics,  he  would,  like  his  father,  his  brother  Patrick, 
and  his  sisters,  have  taken  a  high  position  as  an  artist.  In 
the  following  Memoir  we  have  only  been  able  to  introduce 
a  few  specimens  of  his  drawings  ;  but  "  The  Fairies,"  "  The 
Antiquary,"  and  others,  will  give  the  reader  a  good  idea  of 
Mr.  Nasmyth's  artistic  ability. 

Since  his  retirement  from  business  life,  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight,  Mr.  Nasmyth's  principal  pursuit  has  been 


viii  PREFACE. 


Astronomy.  His  Monograph  on  "The  Moon,"  published 
in  1874,  exhibits  his  ardent  and  philosophic  love  for 
science  in  one  of  its  sublimest  aspects.  His  splendid 
astronomical  instruments,  for  the  most  part  made  entirely 
by  his  own  hands,  have  enabled  him  to  detect  the  "  willow 
leaf-shaped  "  objects  which  form  the  structural  element  of 
the  Sun's  luminous  surface.  The  discovery  was  shortly 
after  verified  by  Sir  John  Herschel  and  other  astronomers, 
and  is  now  a  received  fact  in  astronomical  science. 

A  Chronological  List  of  some  of  Mr.  Nasmyth's  con- 
trivances and  inventions  is  given  at  the  end  of  the  volume, 
which  shows,  so  far,  what  he  has  been  enabled  to  accom- 
plish during  his  mechanical  career.  These  begin  at  a  very 
early  age,  and  were  continued  for  about  thirty  years  of  a 
busy  and  active  life.  Very  few  of  them  were  patented ; 
many  of  them,  though  widely  adopted,  are  unacknowledged 
as  his  invention.  They,  nevertheless,  did  much  to  advance 
the  mechanical  arts,  and  still  continue  to  do  excellent 
service  in  the  engineering  world. 

The  chapter  relating  to  the  origin  of  the  Cuneiform  Cha- 
racter, and  of  the  Pyramid  or  Sun-worship  in  its  relation 
to  Egyptian  Architecture,  is  placed  at  the  end,  so  as  not  to 
interrupt  the  personal  narrative.  That  chapter,  it  is 
believed,  will  be  found  very  interesting,  illustrated,  as  it  is, 
by  Mr.  Nasmyth's  drawings.  S.  S. 

LONDON,  October  1885. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    I. 

MY   ANCESTRY. 

Sentiment  of  Ancestry — Origin  of  the  name  of  Naesmyth — Naesmyth 
of  Posso— Naesmyths  of  Netherton— Battle  of  Bothwell  Brig- 
Estate  confiscated — Elspeth  Naesmyth — Michael  Naesmyth,  builder 
and  architect — Fort  at  Inversnaid — Naesmyth  family  tomb — Former 
masters  and  men — Michael  Naesmyth's  son — New  Edinburgh — 
Grandmother  Naesmyth — Uncle  Michael  .  •  Pages  1-17 

CHAPTER   II. 

ALEXANDER   NASMYTH. 

Born  1758— Grassmarket,  Edinburgh — Education — The  Bibler's  Seat 
— The  brothers  Erskine — Apprenticed  to  a  coachbuilder — The 
Trustees'  Academy — Huguenot  artisans — Alexander  Runciman — 
Copy  of  "The  Laocoon "—Assistant  to  Allan  Ramsay — Faculty  of 
resourcefulness  —  Begins  as  portrait  painter  —  Friendship  with 
Miller  of  Dalswinton — Miller  and  the  first  steamboat — Visit  to 
Italy — Marriage  to  Barbara  Foulis— Burns  the  poet — Edinburgh 
clubs— Landscape  beauty — Abandons  portrait  for  landscape  paint- 
ing—David Roberts,  R. A.— Dean  Bridge— St.  Bernard's  Well- 
Nelson's  Monument — Bow-and-string  bridges — Sunday  rivet 

Pages  18-48 

CHAPTER   IIL 

AN  ARTIST'S  FAMILY. 

Sir  James  Hall — Geology  of  Edinburgh — Friends  of  the  family — 
Henry  Raeburn — Evenings  at  home — Society  of  artists— "Caller 
Aou" — Management  of  the  household — The  family — Education 
of  six  sisters— The  Nasmyth  classes— Pencil  drawing — Excursions 


CONTENTS. 


round  Edinburgh — Graphic  memoranda — Patrick  Nasmyth,  sketch 
of  his  life — Removes  to  London — Visit  to  Hampshire — Original 
prices  of  his  works— His  friends— His  death  .  Pages  49-62 

CHAPTER    IV. 

MY  EARLY  YEARS. 

Born  1808— Mary  Petcrkin— The  brilliant  red  poppies— Left-handed 
— Patrick's  birthday — Vocal  performance — A  wonderful  escape — 
Events  of  the  war — The  French  prisoners — Entry  of  the  42d  into 
Edinburgh — Bleaching  "claes"  on  the  Calton — The  Grcenside 
workshops— The  chimes  of  St.  Giles' — The  Edinburgh  Market— 
The  caddies — The  fishwives — The  "floore" — Traditional  fondness 
for  cats— A  Nasmyth  prayer  -t  Pages  G3-77 

CHAPTER   V. 

MY   SCHOOL-DAYS. 

My  first  schoolmaster— " Preter  pluperfect  tense" — The  "penny  pig" 
— Country  picnics— Pupil  at  the  High  School— Dislike  of  Latin — 
Love  of  old  buildings— Their  masonry — Sir  Walter  Scott— "The 
Heart  of  Midlothian  "—John  Linnell — The  collecting  period — 
James  Watt — My  father's  workshop — Make  peeries,  cannon,  and 
"steels" — SchooHriendships — Patersou's  ironfoundry — His  foremen 
— JohnieSyme — Tom  Smith  and  chemical  experiments — Kid  gloves 
and  technical  knowledge  ....  Pages  78-95 

CHAPTER   VL 

M  l.i'HANICAL   BEGINNINGS. 

Study  arithmetic  and  geometry — Practise  art  of  drawing — Its  im- 
portant uses — Make  tools  and  blowpipe — Walks  round  Edinburgh 
— Volcanic  origin  of  the  neighbourhood — George   tho   Fourth's 
visit — Tho  Radical  Road — Destructive  fires — Journey  to  Stirling — 
The  Devon  Ironworks — Robert  Bald — Carron  Ironworks — Coats  of 
mail  found  at  Ba&BQCkboni — Models  of  condensing  steam-engine 
— Professor  Leslie — Edinburgh  School  of  Arts — Attend  Univn.  ilv 
classes — Brass-casting  in   the   bedroom — Gcorgo   Douglass — Make 
king  steam-engine— Sympathy  of  activity— The  Expansometcr 
ke  a  road  strain  i-aniigo— Desire  to  enter  Maudslay's  factory 

96-120 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

HENRY  MAUDSLAY,  LONDON. 

Voyage  to  London  with  specimens  of  workmanship  —  First  walk 
through  London— Visit  to  Henry  Maudslay— The  interview- 
Exhibit  my  specimens — Taken  on  as  assistant — The  private  work- 
shop—  Maudslay's  constructive  excellence  —  His  maxims — Uni- 
formity of  screws— Meeting  with  Henry  Brougham— David  Wilkie 
—Visit  to  the  Admiralty  Museum— The  Block  machinery— The 
Royal  Mint— Steam  yacht  trip  to  Richmond— Lodgings  taken— 
"  A  clean  crossing"  .  .  .  Pages  121-134 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
MATJDSLAY'S  PRIVATE  ASSISTANT. 

Enter  Maudslay's  service — Rudimentary  screw  generator — The  guide 
screw — Interview  with  Faraday — Rate  of  wages — Economical  living 
— My  cooking  stove — Make  model  of  marine  steam-engine — My 
collar-nut  cutting  machine — Maudslay's  elements  of  high-class 
workmanship — Flat  filing — Standard  planes — Maudslay's  "Lord 
Chancellor"  —  Maudslay's  Visitors  —  General  Bentham,  Barton, 
Donkin,  and  Chan  trey  —  The  Cundell  brothers  —  Walks  round 
London — Norman  architecture  .  ,  .  Pages  135-150 


CHAPTER   IX. 

HOLIDAY  IN  THE  MANUFACTURING  DISTRICTS. 

Coaching  trip  to  Liverpool  —  Coventry  —  English  scenery— "The 
Rocket " — The  two  Stephensons — Opening  of  the  railway — William 
Fawcett— Birkenhead— Walk  back  to  London — Patricroft — Man- 
chester— Edward  Tootal — Sharp,  Roberts,  and  Co. — Manchester 
industry— Coalbrookdale — The  Black  Country — Dudley  Castle- 
Wren's  Nest  Hill— Birmingham— Boulton  and  Watt— William 
Murdoch — John  Drain — Kenilworth — Warwick — Oxford — Windsor 
—London  .  Pages  151-166 


xii  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    X. 

BEGIN  BUSINESS  AT  MANCHESTER, 

Stamping  machine  improved — Astronomical  instruments — A  reflecting 
telescope  proposed — Death  of  Maudslay — Joshua  Field— "Talking 
books" — Leave  Maudslay  and  Field — Take  temporary  workshop 
in  Edinburgh— Archie  Torry— Construct  a  rotary  steam-engine — 
Prepare  a  stock  of  machine  tools — Visit  to  Liverpool— John  Cragg 
— Visit  to  Manchester — John  Kennedy — Grant  Brothers — Take  a 
workshop — Tools  removed  to  Manchester — A  prosperous  business 
begun — Story  of  the  brothers  Grant — Trip  to  Elgin  and  Castle 
Grant — The  brothers  Cowper — The  printing  machine — Edward 
Cowper Pages  167-191 


CHAPTER   XL 

BRIDQEWATER  FOUNDRY— PARTNERSHIP. 

Demand  for  skilled  labour — Machine  tools  in  request— My  flat  over- 
loaded— A  crash  among  the  decanters — The  land  at  Patricroft — 
Lease  from  Squire  TrafFord — Bridgewater  Foundry  begun — Trip  to 
Londonderry — The  Giant's  Causeway — Cottage  at  Barton— The 
Bridgewater  Canal — Lord  Francis  Egerton — Safety  foundry  ladle 
— Holbrook  Gaskell  taken  as  partner — His  eventual  retirement 

Pages  192-205 

CHAPTER   XII. 

FREE  TRADE  IN  ABILITY — THE  STRIKE— DEATH  OF  MY  FATHER. 

Origin  of  mechanical  instinct  in  Lancashire  and  Cheshire — Hugo  de 
Lupus — The  Peter  Stubbs's  files — Worsley  labourers — Promotion 
from  the  ranks — Free  trade  in  ability — Foremen  lieutenants,  Archie 
Terry,  James  Hutton,  John  Clerk,  Thomas  Crewdson — Trades' 
Union  interference — A  strike  ordered — Workmen  advertised  for — 
A  reinforcement  of  Scotch  mechanics — The  strike  scotched — Mill- 
wrights and  engineers — Indenture-bound  apprentices — Visits  of  my 
father-  Knthusiiisti.'  rn  ration — His  last  work — His  death — Testi- 
mony of  Sir  David  Wilkic  ....  Pages  20G-223 


CONTENTS.  xiii 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

MY   MAEKIAGE — THE  STEAM   HAMMER. 

Preparations  for  a  home — Influence  of  chance  occurrences — Yisit  to  Mr, 
Hartop's,  near  Barnsley — Important  interview — Eventual  marriage 
— Great  Western  Railway  locomotives — Mr.  Humphries  and  "  Great 
"Western  "  steamship — Forging  of  paddle-shaft — "Want  of  range  of 
existing  hammers — The  first  steam  hammer  sketched— Its  arrange- 
ment— The  paddle  shaft  abandoned — My  sketch  copied  and  adopted 
— My  visit  to  Creuzot — Find  the  steam  hammer  in  operation — A 
patent  taken  out — First  steam  hammer  made  in  England — Its 
general  adoption — Patent  secured  for  United  States  Pages  224-242 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

TRAVELS  IN  FRANCE  AND   ITALY. 

The  French  Minister  of  Marine  at  Paris — Rouen — Bayeux — Cherbourg 
— Brest— Rochefort — Indret — M.  Rosine — Architecture  of  Nismes — 
Marseilles — Toulon — Voyage  to  Naples — Genoa — Pisa — Bay  of 
Naples — The  National  Museum — Visit  to  Vesuvius — The  edge  of 
the  crater — Volcanic  commotion — Overflows  of  burning  lava — Wine- 
shop at  Rosina — Return  ride  to  Naples  .  .  Pages  243-257 

CHAPTER   XV. 

STEAM  HAMMER  PILE-DRIVER, 

The  Royal  Dockyards— Steam  hammer  for  Devonport — Scene  at  the 
first  stroke — My  Lords  of  the  Admiralty — Steam  hammer  pile- 
driver  required — The  new  docks  at.  Devonport — The  pile-driver  de- 
livered— Its  description — Trial  against  the  old  method — Its  general 
adoption — Happy  thoughts — Testing  of  chain  cables  and  anchors 
— Causes  of  failure — Punctiliousness  of  officials  at  royal  dockyards 
—Egyptian  workmen  employed — Affiffi  Lalli — Letter  from  Faraday 

Pages  258-274 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

NUREMBERG — ST.   PETERSBURG — DANNEMORA. 

Visit  to  Nuremberg — Albert  Diirer — Adam  Krafft — Visit  to  St.  Peters- 
burg— General  Wilson — General  Greg— Struve  the  astronomer- 
Palaces  and  shops — Ivy  ornamentation — The  Emperor  Nicholas, 
a  royal  salute — Francis  Baird — Work  of  Russian  serfs — The  Izak 


xiv  CONTENTS. 


Church — Voyage  to  Stockholm — Visit  to  Upsala— The  iron  mines 
of  Dannemora — To  Gottenburg  by  steamer — Motala — Trollhatten 
Falls — Swedish  people — Copenhagen — Tycho  Brahe — Zealand  and 
Holstein— Holland,  and  return  .  .  .  Pages  275-294 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

MORE  ABOUT  BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY— WOOLWICH  ARSENAL. 

Increased  demand  for  self-acting  tools— Promotion  of  lads — The  Trades' 
Union  again— Strike  against  Platt  Brothers — Edward  Tootal's  ad- 
vice—Friendliness between  engineering  firms — Small  high-pressure 
engines — Uses  of  waste  steam — Improvements  in  calico-printing — 
Improvements  at  Woolwich  Arsenal — Enlargement  of  workshops — 
Improved  machine  tools — The  gun  foundry  and  laboratories — 
Orders  for  Spain  and  Russia — Rope  factory  machinery — Russian 
Officers— Grand  Duke  Con stantine— Lord  Ellesmere's  visitors — 
Admiral  Kornilcff  .....  Pages  295-309 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

ASTRONOMICAL  PURSUITS. 

Hobbies  at  home — Drawing — Washington  Irving — Pursuit  of  astro- 
nomy— Wonders  of  the  heavens — Construction  of  a  new  speculum 
— William  Lassell — Warren  de  la  Rue— Home-made  reflecting  tele- 
scope— A  ghost  at  Patricroft— Twenty-inch  diameter  speculum- 
Drawings  of  the  moon's  surface — Structure  of  the  moon — Lunar 
craters  —  Pico  —  Wrinkles  of  age  —  Extinct  craters  —  Land  sea  IIP, 
scenery  of  the  moon— Meeting  of  British  Association  at  Edinburgh 
— The  Bass  Rock  —  Professor  Owen  —  Robert  Chambers  —  The 
grooved  rocks — Hugh  Miller  and  boulder  clay — Lecture  on  the 
in, ,,,n—  Visit  the  Duke  of  Argyll— Basaltic  formation  at  Mull — The 
Ci. mt's  Causeway — The  great  exhibition — Steam  hammer  engine — 
Prize  medals — Interview  with  the  Queen  and  Prince  Consort — Lord 
Cockburn— Visit  to  Boually— D.  0.  Hill  .  .  Pages  310-336 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

MORE  ABOUT  ASTRONOMY. 

•'••••ling  telescope  constructed— Trunnion  turn-table— Sir   David 
I'.dward  Cowper's  lecture— Cause  of  the  sun's  light— 


CONTENTS.  xv 


Lord  Murray— Sir  T.  Mitchell— The  Milky  Way— Countless  suns 
— Infusoria  in  Bridgewater  Canal — Rotary  movements  of  heavenly 
bodies — Geological  Society  meeting — Dr.  Vaughan — Improvement 
of  Small  Arms  Factory,  Enfield  —  Generosity  of  United  States 
Government— The  Enfield  Rifle  .  .  .  Pages  337-350 


CHAPTER   XX. 

RETIREMENT  FROM   BUSINESS. 

Letter  from  David  Roberts,  R.A. — Puddling  iron  by  steam — The  pro- 
cess tried — Sir  Henry  Bessemer's  invention — Discussion  at  Chelten- 
ham— Bessemer's  account — Prepare  to  retire  from  business — The 
Countess  of  Ellesmere— The  "  Cottage  in  Kent  "—The  "  antibilious 
stock" — Hammerfield,  Penshurst — Planting  and  gardening — The 
Crystal  Palace — Music — Tools  and  telescopes — The  greenhouse 

Pages  351-364 

CHAPTER   XXL 

ACTIVE  LEISURE. 

Astronomy — Lecture  on  the  moon — Edinburgh — Old  friends — Visit  to 
the  Continent — Paris,  Chartres,  Nismes,  Chamounix — Art  of  photo- 
graphy— Sir  John  Herschel — Spots  on  the  sun's  surface — E.  J.  Stone 
— De  la  Rue — Visit  from  Sir  John  Herschel — Cracking  glass  globe 
— A  million  spots  and  letters — Geological  diagram — Father  Secchi 
at  Rome — Lord  Lyndhurst — Visit  to  Herschel — His  last  letter- 
Publication  of  The  Moon — Philip  H.  Calderon — Cardinal  Manning — 
Miss  Herschel — William  Lassell — Windmill  grinding  of  speculum 
—The  dial  of  life— End  of  recollections  .  .  Pages  365-386 

CHRONOLOGICAL  LIST  OF  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES 

Pages  387-431 

SUN-RAY  ORIGIN  OF  THE  PYRAMIDS,    AND  CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER 

Pages  432-443 
INDEX  ,,..,.     Pages  445-450 


ILLUSTEATIONS, 


PORTRAIT  OF  JAMES  NASMYTH.  Engraved  by  Charles  Roberts. 

Frontispiece. 

EDINBURGH  CASTLE,  FROM  THE  VENNEL        .        .     To  face  page     1 
ORIGIN  OF  THE  NAME  "  NAESMYTH  "      ....       page      3 

MICHAEL  NAESMYTH'S  HOUSE,  GRASSMARKET        .  ,,7 

INVERSNAID  FORT         .......          ,,9 

NAESMYTH  FAMILY  TOMB,  GREYFRIARS         .        .        .          ,,11 
PLAN  OF  GRASSMARKET         ,        ,        ,       t        .        .          ,,19 
THE  BIBLER'S  SEAT,  CASTLE  ROCK        .        .        .        .          ,,20 

ALEXANDER  NASMYTH,  AFTER  REINAGLE      .        .        .          ,,25 

THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT ,,30 

THE  FAMILY  TREE ,,37 

No.  47  YORK  PLACE,  EDINBURGH ,,      40 

ST.  BERNARD'S  WELL »      43 

NELSON'S  MONUMENT ,,44 

BOW-AND-STRING  BRIDGES ,,46 

MURAL  CROWN  OF  ST.  GILES ,,72 

DOORHEAD,  FROM  AN  OLD  MANSION  .  .  .  .  ,,82 
THE  OLD  TOLBOOTH,  EDINBURGH  .  .  .  .  To  face  page  83 
SECTIONAL  MODEL  OF  STEAM-ENGINE  ....  page  108 

EXPANSOMETER        ...  116 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ROAD  STEAM-CARRIAGE page  117 

COOKING  APPARATUS ,,    139 

COLLAR-NUT  CUTTING  MACHINE ,,     141 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  MACHINE ,,    142 

MAUDSLAY'S  "  LORD  CHANCELLOR  "        ....  ,,    145 

TEMPORARY  WORKSHOP  AT  EDINBURGH        ...  ,,    174 

FACTORY  FLAT  AT  MANCHESTER ,,     181 

EXTEMPORISED  SHOWER-BATH ,,    188 

BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY ,,    198 

OLD  FOUNDRY  LADLE ,,    202 

SAFETY  FOUNDRY  LADLE ,,     203 

BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY,  COMPLETED    .        .        .     To  fact  page  208 

ALEXANDER  NASMYTH,  AFTER  A  CAMEO  BY  JOSEPH       .  page  220 

MONUMENT  TO  ALEXANDER  NASMYTH   v  ,,     222 

FIRST  SKETCH  OF  STEAM  HAMMER        .        .        .        .  ,,    232 

MONK  ON  BOARD   .»»»....  ,,     251 

DISTANT  VIEW  OF  VESUVIUS ,,     252 

STEAM  HAMMER  AT  WORK To  face  page  260 

SPACE  TO  BE  ENCLOSED  AT  THE  HAMOA2E         .           .           .  page   262 

DIAGRAM  OF  STEAM  PILE-DRIVER          .        .        .        .  ,,    264 

THE  ORDER  FOR  DINNER ,,     286 

DANNEM<H:\  II;«N  MINK.        .....     To  face  page  288 

TROLLHXTTEN  FALLS     .       .                ....  page  291 

44  THE  FAIRIES" To  face  page  310 

"  Fi RESIDE,"  PATKICROFI      ......  ,,     315 

(. i  M.KAI.  Srnrrn-KK  OF  LUNAR  CRATERS     .        .        .  page  318 

PlCO,   Till     LlNAK    M<>!   MAIN ,,       319 

SHRUNKEN  APPLE  AND  HAND ,,321 

LUNAR  MOUNTAINS  AND  EXTINCT  VOLCAM.-  QBATEB     .  322 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ASTROLOGER'S  TOWER  „  To  face  page  330 

LARGE  TELESCOPE  ON  TRUNNION  TURN-TABLE       .        .  page  338 

HAMMERFIELD,  PENSHURST           .....  „     360 
SUN  SPOTS  AND  "  WILLOW  LEAF  ".  OBJECTS  .         .     To  face  page  370 

BRIGHT  RADIAL  LINES  ON  THE  MOON    ....  page  376 

GLASS  GLOBE  CRACKED ,,     377 

DIAL  OF  LIFE ,,     384 

STEAM  POWER  FOR  CANAL  TRACTION     ....  „     388 

INSTRUMENTS  FOR  CASTING  SPECULA     .        .        .        .  ,,     394 

MODE  OF  TRANSMITTING  ROTARY  MOTION     *        .  ,,     396 

MACHINE  FOR  CUTTING  KEY-GROOVES  IN  WHEELS         .  ,,     398 

INSTRUMENT  FOR  FINDING  CENTRES       .        .        .        .  „     399 

MODE  OF  PRODUCING  GRACEFUL  CUBYES        ,        .        .  „    402 

NASMYTH'S  STEAM  ARM         .......  403 

APPARATUS  FOR  EXECUTING  SEGMENTED  WORK     .        .  „     404 

REVERSING  ACTION  OF  SLIDE  LATHES    .        .        .        .  „     405 

WEDGE-SHAPED  SLUICE  VALVE     .        .        .        .        .  ,,409 

HYDRAULIC  MATTRESS  PRESS „     411 

TAPPING  SQUARE ,,413 

TURNING  SEGMENTAL  WORK          .                .        .        .  ,,414 

UNIVERSAL  FLEXIBLE  JOINT ,,     415 

DIAGRAM  OF  BLOWING  FAN  ......  ,,     416 

DIRECT  ACTION  SUCTION  FAN ,,    417 

METHOD  OF  WELDING  IRON  .        .        .        .        .        .  ,,419 

INTRODUCTION  OF  THE  V  ANVIL    .  „     420 

DIRECT-WEIGHTED  SAFETY  VALVE        .        .        .        .  ,,421 

MACHINE  FOR  CUTTING  SLOTS  AND  RECESSES         .        .  ,,     423 

STEAM  HAMMER  FORM  OF  STEAM-ENGINE      .        .        .  ,,     424 

AMBIDEXTER  SELF-ACTING  TURNING  LATHE          .        .  .,     426 


xx  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


"  THE  ANTIQUARIAN  " To  face  page  432 

RUBBING  FROM  A  HOUSEHOLD  PYRAMID         .        .        .  page  433 

SUN-RAY  ORIGIN  OF  THE  PYRAMID        .        .        .        .  , ,     434 

EMBLEM  OF  THE  FIR  CONE ,,     435 

ELEMENTARY  CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER  .        .        .        .  ,,436 

COMPOUND  CUNEIFORM  INSCRIPTION     *        .        .        .  ,,    437 

MODEL  OF  INCOMPLETE  IMPRESSION       ....  ,,     438 

THE  STYLUS,  AND  ITS  IMPRESSIONS        .        .        .        .  ,,     438 

MODE  OF  USING  STYLUS ,,     439 

BRICK  IMPRESSION ,,     440 

COMPLICATED  IMPRESSIONS  " ,,     440 

ANCIENT  GREEK  CAPITAL  LETTERS        .        .        .        .  ,,441 

MODIFIED  FORM  OF  CUNEIFORM  LETTERS       .        .        .  ,,441 

ASSYRIAN  ROLLER-SEAL ,,443 

AUTOGRAPH  AND  THUMB  MARK ,,444 


I:II|.M;I  KI.II   i   \--ii.i.    rmOM    mi.    VBMXBL,    ORAU8MARJUCT.      nv    A  i  .I:\ 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 


CHAPTER  I 

MY   ANCESTRY. 

OUR  history  begins  before  we  are  born.  We  represent  the 
hereditary  influences  of  our  race,  and  our  ancestors  virtu- 
ally live  in  us.  The  sentiment  of  ancestry  seems  to  be 
inherent  in  human  nature,  especially  in  the  more  civilised 
races.  At  all  events,  we  cannot  help  having  a  due  regard 
for  the  history  of  our  forefathers.  Our  curiosity  is  stimu- 
lated by  their  immediate  or  indirect  influence  upon  our- 
selves. It  may  be  a  generous  enthusiasm,  or,  as  some 
might  say,  a  harmless  vanity,  to  take  pride  in  the  honour 
of  their  name.  The  gifts  of  nature,  however,  are  more 
valuable  than  those  of  fortune ;  and  no  line  of  ancestry, 
however  honourable,  can  absolve  us  from  the  duty  of 
diligent  application  and  perseverance,  or  from  the  practice 
of  the  virtues  of  self-control  and  self-help. 

Sir  Bernard  Burke,  in  his  Peerage  and  Baronetage,  gives 
a  faithful  account  of  the  ancestors  from  whom  I  am  lineally 
descended.1  "The  family  of  Naesymth,"  he  says,  "is  one 
of  remote  antiquity  in  Tweeddale,  and  has  possessed  lands 
there  since  the  13th  century."  They  fought  in  the  wars 
of  Bruce  and  Baliol,  which  ended  in  the  independence  of 
Scotland.  The  following  is  the  family  legend  of  the  origin 
of  the 'name  of  Naesymth  : — 

In  the  troublous  times  which  prevailed  in  Scotland  be- 
fore the  union  of  the  Crowns,  the  feuds  between  the  King 

1  Sir  B.  Burke's  Peerage  and  Baronetage.     Ed.  1879.     Pp.  885-6, 


2  THE  ORIGINAL  NAESMYTfl.  CHAP. 

and  the  Barons  were  almost  constant.  In  the  reign  of 
James  III.  the  House  of  Douglas  was  the  most  prominent 
and  ambitious.  The  Earl  not  only  resisted  his  liege  lord, 
but  entered  into  a  combination  with  the  King  of  England, 
from  whom  he  received  a  pension.  He  was  declared  a 
rebel,  and  his  estates  were  confiscated.  He  determined  to 
resist  the  royal  power,  and  crossed  the  Border  with  his 
followers.  He  was  met  by  the  Earl  of  Angus,  the  Max- 
wells, the  Johnstons,  and  the  Scotts.  In  one  of  the  engage- 
ments which  ensued  the  Douglases  appeared  to  have  gained 
the  day,  when  an  ancestor  of  the  Naesmyths,  who  fought 
under  the  royal  standard,  took  refuge  in  the  smithy  of  a 
neighbouring  village.  The  smith  offered  him  protection, 
disguised  him  as  a  hammerman,  with  a  leather  apron  in 
front,  and  asked  him  to  lend  a  hand  at  his  work. 

While  thus  engaged  a  party  of  the  Douglas  partisans 
entered  the  smithy.  They  looked  with  suspicion  on  the 
disguised  hammerman,  who,  in  his  agitation,  struck  a  false 
blow  with  the  sledge  hammer,  which  broke  the  shaft  in  two. 
Upon  this,  one  of  the  pursuers  rushed  at  him,  calling  out, 
"Ye're  me  smyth/"  The  stalwart  hammerman  turned 
upon  his  assailant,  and,  wrenching  a  dagger  from  him, 
speedily  overpowered  him.  The  smith  himself,  armed 
with  a  big  hammer,  effectually  aided  in  overpowering  and 
driving  out  the  Douglas  men.  A  party  of  the  royal  forces 
made  their  appearance,  when  Naesmyth  rallied  them,  led 
them  against  the  rebels,  and  converted  what  had  been  a 
temporary  defeat  into  a  victory.  A  grant  of  lands  was 
bestowed  upon  him  for  his  service.  His  armorial  bearings 
consisted  of  a  hand  dexter  with  a  dagger,  between  two 
broken  hammer-shafts,  and  there  they  remain  to  this  day. 
The  motto  was,  Non  arte  sed  marte,  "  Not  by  art  but  by 
war."  In  my  time  I  have  reversed  the  motto  (Non  marte 
sed  arte) ;  and  instead  of  the  broken  hammer-shafts,  I  have 
adopted,  not  as  my  "  arms  "  but  as  a  device,  the  most  potent 
form  of  mechanical  art — the  Steam  Hammer. 

Sir  Michael  Naesmyth,  Chamberlain  of  the  Archbishop 
of  St.  Andrews,  obtained  the  lands  of  Posso  and  Glenarth 


ORIGIN   OF  THE  NAME. 


in  1544,  by  right  of  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  daughter  and 
heiress  of  John  Baird  of  Posso.  The  Bairds  have  ever 
been  a  loyal  and  gallant  family.  Sir  Gilbert,  father  of 
John  Baird,  fell  at  Flodden  in  1513,  in  defence  of  his  king. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  NAME.      BY  JAMES  NASMYTH. 

The  royal  eyrie  of  Posso  Crag  is  on  the  family  estate  ;  and 
the  Lure  worn  by  Queen  Mary,  and  presented  by  her  sou 
James  VI.  to  James  Naesmyth,  the  Royal  Falconer,  is  still 
preserved  as  a  family  heirloom. 

During  the  intestine  troubles  in  Scotland,  in  the  reign 
of  Mary,  Sir  Michael  Naesmyth  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
unfortunate  Queen.  He  fought  under  her  banner  at  Lang- 
side  in  1568.  He  was  banished,  and  his  estates  were  seized 
by  the  Eegent  Moray.  But  after  the  restoration  of  peace, 
the  Naesmyths  regained  their  property.  Sir  Michael  died 
at  an  advanced  age. 


4  THE  NAESMYTHS  OF  POSSO.  CHAP. 

He  had  many  sons.  The  eldest,  James,  married  Joana, 
daughter  of  William  Veitch  or  Le  Veitch  of  Dawick.  By 
this  marriage  the  lands  of  Dawick  came  into  the  family. 
He  predeceased  his  father,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
James,  the  Royal  Falconer  above  referred  to.  Sir  Michael's 
second  son,  John,  was  chief  chirurgeon  to  James  VI.  of 
Scotland,  afterwards  James  I.  of  England,  and  to  Henry, 
Prince  of  Wales.  He  died  in  London  in  1613,  and  in  his 
testament  he  leaves  "  his  hert  to  his  young  master,  the 
Prince's  grace."  Charles  I.,  in  his  instructions  to  the 
President  of  the  Court  of  Session,  enjoins  "  that  you  take 
special  notice  of  the  children  of  John  Naesmyth,  so  often 
recommended  by  our  late  dear  father  and  us."  Two  of  Sir 
Michael's  other  sons  were  killed  at  Edinburgh  in  1588,  in 
a  deadly  feud  between  the  Scotts  and  the  Naesmyths.  In 
those  days  a  sort  of  Corsican  vendetta  was  carried  on  between 
families  from  one  generation  to  another. 

Sir  Michael  Naesmyth,  son  of  the  Royal  Falconer, 
succeeded  to  the  property.  His  eldest  son  James  was 
appointed  to  serve  in  Claverhouse's  troop  of  horse  in  1684. 
Among  the  other  notable  members  of  the  family  was  James 
Naesmyth,  a  very  clever  lawyer.  He  was  supposed  to  be 
so  deep  that  he  was  generally  known  as  the  "Deil  o' 
Dawyk."  His  eldest  son  was  long  a  member  of  Parliament 
for  the  county  of  Peebles ;  he  was,  besides,  a  famous 
botanist,  having  studied  under  Linnaeus.  Among  the  inter- 
marriages of  the  family  were  those  with  the  Bruces  of  Lethen, 
the  Stewarts  of  Traquhair,  the  Murrays  of  Stanhope,  the 
Pringles  of  Clifton,  the  Murrays  of  Philiphaugh,  the  Keiths 
(of  the  Earl  Marischal's  family),  the  Andersons  of  St. 
Germains,  the  Marjoribanks  of  Lees,  and  others. 

In  the  fourteenth  century  a  branch  of  the  Naesmyths  of 
Posso  settled  at  Netherton,  near  Hamilton.  They  bought 
an  estate  and  built  a  residence.  The  lands  adjoined  part  of 
the  Duke  of  Hamilton's  estate,  and  the  house  was  not  far 
from  the  palace.  There  the  Naesmyths  remained  until  the 
reign  of  Charles  II.  The  King,  or  his  advisers,  determined 
to  introduce  Episcopacy,  or,  as  some  thought,  Roman  Catho- 


THE  NAESMYTHS  OF  NKTHERTON. 


licism,  into  the  country,  and  to  enforce  it  at  the  point  of  the 
sword. 

The  Naesmyths  had  always  been  loyal  until  now.  But 
to  be  cleft  by  sword  and  pricked  by  spear  into  a  religion 
which  they  disbelieved,  was  utterly  hateful  to  the  Netherton 
Naesmyths.  Being  Presbyterians,  they  held  to  their  own 
faith.  They  were  prevented  from  using  their  churches, 
and  they  accordingly  met  on  the  moors,  or  in  unfrequented 
places  for  worship.1  The  dissenting  Presbyterians  assumed 
the  name  of  Covenanters.  Hamilton  was  almost  the  centre 
of  the  movement.  The  Covenanters  met,  and  the  King's 
forces  were  ordered  to  disperse  them.  Hence  the  inter- 
necine war  that  followed.  There  were  Naesmyths  on  both 
sides — Naesmyths  for  the  King,  and  Naesmyths  for  the 
Covenant. 

In  an  early  engagement  at  Drumclog,  the  Covenanters 
were  victorious.  They  beat  back  Claverhouse  and  his 
dragoons.  A  general  rising  took  place  in  the  West  Country. 
About  6000  men  assembled  at  Hamilton,  mostly  raw  and 
undisciplined  countrymen.  The  King's  forces  assembled 
to  meet  them, — 10,000  well-disciplined  troops,  with  a 
complete  train  of  field  artillery.  What  chance  had  the 
Covenanters  against  such  a  force  ?  Nevertheless,  they  met 
at  Bothwell  Bridge,  a  few  miles  west  of  Hamilton. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  describe  the  action.2  The  Cove- 
nanters, notwithstanding  their  inferior  force,  resisted  the 
cannonade  and  musketry  of  the  enemy  with  great  courage. 
They  defended  the  bridge  until  their  ammunition  failed. 
When  the  English  Guards  and  the  artillery  crossed  the 
bridge,  the  battle  was  lost.  The  Covenanters  gave  way, 
and  fled  in  all  directions ;  Claverhouse,  burning  with 

1  In  the  reign  of  James  II.  of  England  and  James  VII.  of  Scotland  a 
law  was  enacted,  "that  whoever  should  preach  in  a  conventicle  under 
a  roof,  or  should  attend,  either  as  a  preacher  or  as  a  hearer,  a  con- 
venticle in  the  open  air,  should  be  punished  with  death  and  confiscation 
of  property" 

2  See  the  account  of  a  Covenanting  Officer  in  the  Appendix  to  the 
Scots  Worthies.     See  also  Sir  \Valter  Scott's  Old  Mortality,  where  the 
battle  of  Bothwell  Brig  is  described. 


BATTLE  OF  BOTHWELL  BRIDGE.  CHAP. 


revenge  for  his  defeat  at  Drumclog,  made  a  terrible 
slaughter  of  the  unresisting  fugitives.  One  of  my  ances- 
tors brought  from  the  battlefield  the  remnant  of  the 
standard  ;  a  formidable  musquet — "  Gun  Bothwell "  we 
afterwards  called  it;  an  Andrea  Ferrara;  and  a  powder- 
horn.  I  still  preserve  these  remnants  of  the  civil  war. 

My  ancestor  was  condemned  to  death  in  his  absence, 
and  his  property  at  Netherton  was  confiscated.  What 
became  of  him  during  the  remainder  of  Charles  IL's  reign, 
and  the  reign  of  that  still  greater  tormentor,  James  II.,  I 
do  not  know.  He  was  probably,  like  many  others, 
wandering  about  from  place  to  place,  hiding  "in  wilder- 
nesses or  caves,  destitute,  afflicted,  and  tormented."  The 
arrival  of  William  III.  restored  religious  liberty  to  the 
country,  and  Scotland  was  again  left  in  comparative  peace. 

My  ancestor  took  refuge  in  Edinburgh,  but  he  never 
recovered  his  property  at  Netherton.  The  Duke  of 
Hamilton,  one  of  the  trimmers  of  the  time,  had  long 
coveted  the  possession  of  the  lands,  as  Ahab  had  coveted 
Naboth's  vineyard.  He  took  advantage  of  the  conscription 
of  the  men  engaged  in  the  Bothwell  Brig  conflict,  and  had 
the  lands  forfeited  in  his  favour.  I  remember  my  father 
telling  me  that,  on  one  occasion  when  he  visited  the  Duke 
of  Hamilton  in  reference  to  some  improvement  of  the 
grounds  adjoining  the  palace,  he  pointed  out  to  the  Duke  the 
ruined  remains  of  the  old  residence  of  the  Naesmyths.  As 
the  first  French  Revolution  was  then  in  full  progress,  when 
ideas  of  society  and  property  seemed  to  have  lost  their 
bearings,  the  Duke  good-humouredly  observed,  "  Well,  well, 
Naesmyth,  there's  no  saying  but  what,  some  of  these  daj-s, 
your  ancestors'  lands  may  come  into  your  possession  again!" 

Before  I  quit  the  persecutions  of  "  the  good  old  times," 
I  must  refer  to  the  burning  of  witches.  One  of  my  ancient 
kinswomen,  Elspeth  Naesmyth,  who  lived  at  Hamilton,  was 
denounced  as  a  witch.  The  chief  evidence  brought  against 
her  was  that  she  kept  four  black  cats,  and  read  her  Bible 
with  two  pairs  of  spectacles !  a  practice  which  shows  that 
she  possessed  the  spirit  of  an  experimental  philosopher. 


ELSPETH  NAESMYTH. 


In  doing  this  she  adopted  a  mode  of  supplementing  the 
power  of  spectacles  in  restoring  the  receding  power  of  the 
eyes.  She  was  in  all  respects  scientifically  correct.  She 
increased  the  magnifying  power  of  the  glasses  ;  a  practice 
which  is  preferable  to  using  single  glasses  of  the  same  power, 


MICHAEL  NAES^IYXH'S  HOUSE,  GKASSMARKET.I 

and  which  I  myself  often  follow.  Notwithstanding  this 
improved  method  of  reading  her  Bible,  and  her  four  black 
cats,  she  was  condemned  to  be  burned  alive !  She  was 
about  the  last  victim  in  Scotland  to  the  disgraceful  super- 
stition of  witchcraft. 

1  The  lower  building  at  the  right  hand  corner  of  the  engraving,  with 
the  three  projecting  gable  ends,  represents  Michael  Naesmyth's  house 
as  described  in  next  page. 


8  MICHAEL  NAESMYTH.  CHAP. 

The  Naesmyths  of  Netherton  having  lost  their  ancestral 
property,  had  to  begin  the  world  again.  They  had  to  begin 
at  the  beginning.  But  they  had  plenty  of  pluck  and  energy. 
I  go  back  to  my  great-great-grandfather,  Michael  Naesmyth, 
who  was  born  in  1652.  He  occupied  a  house  in  tho 
Grassmarket,  Edinburgh,  which  was  afterwards  rebuilt,  in 
1696.  His  business  was  that  of  a  builder  and  architect. 
His  chief  employment  was  in  designing  and  erecting 
new  mansions,  principally  for  the  landed  gentry  and 
nobility.  Their  old  castellated  houses  or  towers  were 
found  too  dark  and  dreary  for  modern  uses.  The  draw- 
bridges were  taken  down,  and  the  moats  were  filled  up. 
Sometimes  they  built  the  new  mansions  as  an  addition  to 
the  old.  But  oftener  they  left  the  old  castles  to  go  to  ruin  ; 
or,  what  was  worse,  they  made  use  of  the  stone  and  other 
materials  of  the  old  romantic  buildings  for  the  construction 
of  their  new  residences. 

Michael  Naesmyth  acquired  a  high  reputation  for  the 
substantiality  of  his  work.  His  masonry  was  excellent,  as 
well  as  his  woodwork.  The  greater  part  of  the  latter  was 
executed  in  his  own  workshops  at  the  back  of  his  house  in 
the  Grassmarket.  His  large  yard  was  situated  between 
the  back  of  the  house  and  the  high  wall  that  bounded  the 
Greyfriars  Churchyard,  to  the  east  of  the  flight  of  steps 
which  forms  the  main  approach  to  George  Heriot's  Hospital. 

The  last  work  that  Michael  Naesmyth  was  engaged  in 
cost  him  his  life.  He  had  contracted  with  the  Government 
to  build  a  fort  at  Inversnaid,  at  the  northern  end  of  Loch 
Lomond.  It  was  intended  to  guard  the  Lowlands,  and 
keep  Rob  Roy  and  his  caterans  within  the  Highland 
Border.  A  promise  was  given  by  the  Government  that 
during  the  progress  of  tho  work  a  suitable  force  of  soldiers 
should  be  quartered  close  at  hand  to  protect  the  builder 
and  his  workmen. 

Notwithstanding  many  whispered  warnings  as  to  the 
danger  of  undertaking  such  a  hazardous  work,  Michael 
Naesmyth  and  his  men  encamped  upon  the  spot,  though 
without  the  protection  of  the  Government  force.  Having 


INTERSNAID   FORT. 


erected  a  temporary  residence  for  their  accommodation,  he 
proceeded  with  the  building  of  the  fort.  The  work  was 
well  advanced  by  the  end  of  1703,  although  the  Government 
had  treated  all  Naesmyth's  appeals  for  protection  with 
evasion  or  contempt. 


" 


~L'  ~  i;<i  ^1>>' 

INVERSNAID   FORT.      AFTER  A   DRAWING   BY   ALEXANDER  NASMYTH. 

Winter  set  in  with  its  usual  force  in  those  northern 
regions.  One  dark  and  snowy  night,  when  Michael  and 
his  men  had  retired  to  rest,  a  loud  knocking  was  heard  at 
the  door.  "Who's  there?  "asked  Michael.  A  man  out- 
side replied,  "A  benighted  traveller  overtaken  by  the 
storm."  He  proceeded  to  implore  help,  and  begged  for 
God's  sake  that  he  might  have  shelter  for  the  night. 
Naesmyth,  in  the  full  belief  that  the  traveller's  tale 


10  DEATH  OF  MICHAEL  NAESMYTH.  CHAP. 

was  true,  unbolted  and  unbarred  the  door,  when  in 
rushed  Rob  Roy  and  his  desperate  gang.  The  men,  with 
the  dirks  of  the  Macgregors  at  their  throats,  begged  hard 
for  their  lives.  This  was  granted  on  condition  that  they 
should  instantly  depart,  and  take  an  oath  that  they  should 
never  venture  within  the  Highland  border  again. 

Michael  Naesmyth  and  his  men  had  no  alternative  but 
to  submit,  and  they  at  once  left  the  bothy  with  such  scanty 
clothing  as  the  Macgregors  would  allow  them  to  carry 
away.  They  were  marched  under  an  armed  escort  through 
the  snowstorm  to  the  Highland  border,  and  were  there 
left  with  the  murderous  threat  that,  if  they  ever  returned 
to  the  fort>  they  would  meet  with  certain  death.1 

Poor  Michael  never  recovered  from  the  cold  which  he 
caught  during  his  forced  retreat  from  Inversnaid.  The 
effects  of  this,  together  with  the  loss  and  distress  of  mind 
which  he  experienced  from  the  Government's  refusal  to 
pay  for  his  work — notwithstanding  their  promise  to  protect 
him  and  his  workmen  from  the  Highland  freebooters — so 
preyed  upon  his  mind  that  he  was  never  again  able  to 
devote  himself  to  business.  One  evening,  whilst  sitting  at 
his  fireside  with  his  grandchild  on  his  knee,  a  death-like 
faintness  came  over  him ;  he  set  the  child  down  carefully 
by  the  side  of  his  chair,  and  then  fell  forward  dead  on  his 
hearthstone. 

Thus  ended  the  life  of  Michael  Naesmyth  in  1705,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three.  He  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his 
ancestors  in  the  old  family  tomb  in  the  Greyfriars  Church- 
yard. 

This  old  tomb,  dated  1614,  though  much  defaced,  is 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  the  many  which  surround 
the  walls  of  that  ancient  and  memorable  burying -place. 

1  Another  attempt  was  made  to  build  the  fort  at  Inversnaid.  But 
Rob  Roy  again  surprised  the  small  party  of  soldiers  who  were  in  charge. 
They  were  disarmed  and  sent  about  their  business.  Finally,  the  fort 
was  rebuilt,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain  (afterwards 
General)  Wolfe.  When  peace  fell  upon  the  Highlands  and  Rob  Roy's 
country  became  the  scene  of  picnics,  the  fort  was  abandoned  and 
allowed  to  go  to  ruin. 


NAESMYTH'S  FAMILY  TOMB. 


11 


THE  NAESMYTH  TOMB   IN  GKEYFK1AR3   CHURCHYARD. 

Greyfriars  Churchyard  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
places  in  Edinburgh.  The  National  Covenant  was  signed 
there  by  the  Protestant  nobles  and  gentry  of  Scotland  in 
1638.  The  prisoners  taken  at  the  battle  of  Bothwell 
Brig  were  shut  up  there  in  1679,  and,  after  enduring 
great  privations,  a  portion  of  the  survivors  were  sent  off  to 
Barbadoes. 

When  I  first  saw  the  tombstone,  an  ash  tree  was  grow- 
ing out  of  the  top  of  the  main  body  of  it,  though  that  has 


12  FORMER  MASTERS  AND  MEN.  CHAP, 

since  been  removed.  In  growing,  the  roots  had  pushed 
out  the  centre  stone,  which  has  not  been  replaced.  The 
tablet  over  it  contains  the  arms  of  the  family,  the  broken 
hammer-shafts,  and  the  motto  " Non  arte  sed  marte."  There 
are  the  remains  of  a  very  impressive  figure,  apparently 
rising  from  her  cerements.  The  body  and  extremities 
remain,  but  the  head  has  been  broken  away.  There  is 
also  a  remarkable  motto  on  the  tablet  above  the  tombstone 
— "  Ars  mihi  vim  contra  Fortunes;"  which  I  take  to  be, 
"  Art  is  my  strength  in  contending  against  Fortune," — a 
motto  which  is  appropriate  to  my  ancestors  as  well  as  to 
myself. 

The  business  was  afterwards  carried  on  by  Michael's 
son,  my  great-grandfather.  He  was  twenty-seven  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  lived  to  the  age 
of  seventy-three.  He  was  a  man  of  much  ability  and  of 
large  experience.  One  of  his  great  advantages  in  carrying 
on  his  business  was  the  support  of  a  staff  of  able  and 
trustworthy  foremen  and  workmen.  The  times  were  very 
different  then  from  what  they  are  now.  Masters  and  men 
lived  together  in  mutual  harmony.  There  was  a  kind  of 
loyal  family  attachment  among  them,  which  extended 
through  many  generations.  Workmen  had  neither  the 
desire  nor  the  means  to  shift  about  from  place  to  place. 
On  the  contrary,  they  settled  down  with  their  wives  and 
families  in  houses  of  their  own,  close  to  the  workshops  of 
their  employers.  Work  was  found  for  them  in  the  dull 
seasons  when  trade  was  slack,  and  in  summer  they  some- 
times removed  to  jobs  at  a  distance  from  headquarters. 
Much  of  this  feeling  of  attachment  and  loyalty  between 
workmen  and  their  employers  has  now  expired.  Men 
rapidly  remove  from  place  to  place.  Character  is  of  little 
consequence.  The  mutual  feeling  of  goodwill  and  zealous 
attention  to  work  seems  to  have  passed  away. 

My  grandfather,  Michael  Naesmyth,  succeeded  to  the 
business  in  1751.  He  more  than  maintained  the  repu- 
tation of  his  predecessors.  The  collection  of  first-class 
works  on  architecture  which  he  possessed,  such  as  the  folio 


NEW  EDINBURGH.  13 


editions  of  Vitruvius  and  Palladio,  which  were  at  that 
time  both  rare  and  dear,  showed  the  regard  he  had  for 
impressing  into  his  designs  the  best  standards  of  taste. 
The  buildings  he  designed  and  erected  for  the  Scotch 
nobility  and  gentry  were  well  arranged,  carefully  executed, 
and  thoroughly  substantial.  He  was  also  a  large  builder 
in  Edinburgh.  Amongst  the  houses  he  erected  in  the  Old 
Town  were  the  principal  number  of  those  in  George 
Square.  In  one  of  these,  No.  25,  Sir  Walter  Scott  spent 
his  boyhood  and  youth.  They  still  exist,  and  exhibit  the 
care  which  he  took  in  the  elegance  and  substantiality  of 
his  works. 

I  remember  my  father  pointing  out  to  me  the  extreme 
care  and  attention  with  which  he  finished  his  buildings. 
He  inserted  small  fragments  of  basalt  into  the  mortar  of 
the  external  joints  of  the  stones,  at  close  and  regular 
distances,  in  order  to  protect  the  mortar  from  the  adverse 
action  of  the  weather.  And  to  this  day  they  give  proof  of 
their  efficiency.  The  basalt  protects  the  joints,  and  at  the 
same  time  gives  a  neat  and  pleasing  effect  to  what  would 
otherwise  have  been  merely  the  monotonous  line  of  mason- 
work. 

A  great  change  was  about  to  take  place  in  the  resid- 
ences of  the  principal  people  of  Edinburgh.  The  cry  was 
for  more  light  and  more  air.  The  extension  of  the  city  to 
the  south  and  west  was  not  sufficient.  There  was  a  great 
plateau  of  ground  on  the  north  side  of  the  city,  beyond 
the  North  Loch.  But  it  was  very  difficult  to  reach ;  being 
alike  steep  on  both  sides  of  the  Loch.  At  length,  in  1767, 
an  Act  was  obtained  to  extend  the  royalty  of  the  city 
over  the  northern  fields,  and  powers  were  obtained  to 
erect  a  bridge  to  connect  them  with  the  Old  Town. 

The  magistrates  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  inducing 
the  inhabitants  to  build  dwellings  on  the  northern  side  of 
the  city.  A  premium  was  offered  to  the  person  who 
should  build  the  first  house;  and  £20  was  awarded  to 
Mr.  John  Young  on  account  of  a  mansion  erected  by  him 
close  to  George  Street.  Exemption  from  burghal  taxes  was 


14  MICHAEL  NAESMYTH'S  WORK.  CHAP. 

also  granted  to  a  gentleman  who  built  the  first  house  in 
Princes  Street.  My  grandfather  built  the  first  house  in  the 
south-west  corner  of  St.  Andrew  Square,  for  the  occupa- 
tion of  David  Hume  the  historian,  as  well  as  the  two  most 
important  houses  in  the  centre  of  the  north  side  of  the 
same  square.  One  of  these  last  was  occupied  by  the 
venerable  Dr.  Hamilton,  a  very  conspicuous  character  in 
Edinburgh.  He  continued  to  wear  the  cocked  hat,  the 
powdered  pigtail,  tights,  and  large  shoe  buckles,  for  about 
sixty  years  after  this  costume  had  become  obsolete.  All 
these  houses  are  still  in  perfect  condition,  after  resisting 
the  ordinary  tear  and  wear  of  upwards  of  a  hundred  and 
ten  northern  winters.  The  opposition  to  building  houses 
across  the  North  Loch  soon  ceased ;  and  the  New  Town 
arose,  growing  from  day  to  day,  until  Edinburgh  became 
one  of  the  most  handsome  and  picturesque  cities  in  Europe. 

There  is  one  other  thing  that  I  must  again  refer  to — 
the  highly -finished  character  of  my  grandfather's  work. 
Nothing  merely  moderate  would  do.  The  work  must  be 
of  the  very  best.  He  took  special  pride  in  the  sound 
quality  of  the  woodwork  and  its  careful  workmanship. 
He  chose  the  best  Dantzic  timber  because  of  its  being  of 
purer  grain  and  freer  from  knots  than  other  wood.  In 
those  days  the  lower  part  of  the  walls  of  the  apartments 
were  wainscoted — that  is,  covered  by  timber  framed  in 
large  panels.  They  were  from  three  to  four  feet  wide,  and 
from  six  to  eight  feet  high.  To  fit  those  in  properly 
required  the  most  careful  joiner- work. 

It  was  always  a  holiday  treat  to  my  father,  when  a  boy, 
to  be  permitted  to  go  down  to  Leith  to  see  the  ships  dis- 
charge their  cargoes  of  timber.  My  grandfather  had  a 
wood-yard  at  Leith,  where  the  timber  selected  by  him  was 
piled  up  to  be  seasoned  and  shrunk,  before  being  worked 
into  its  appropriate  uses.  He  was  particularly  careful  in 
his  selection  of  boards  or  stripes  for  floors,  which  must  be 
perfectly  level,  so  as  to  avoid  the  destruction  of  the  carpets 
placed  over  them.  The  hanging  of  his  doors  was  a  matter 
that  he  took  great  pride  in — so  as  to  prevent  any  uneasy 


I.  GRANDMOTHER'S    SAMPLER.  15 

action  in  opening  or  closing.  His  own  chamber  doors 
were  so  well  bung  that  they  were  capable  of  being  opened 
and  closed  by  the  slight  puff  of  a  hand-bellows. 

The  excellence  of  my  grandfather's  workmanship  was  a 
thing  that  my  own  father  always  impressed  upon  me  when 
a  boy.  It  stimulated  in  me  the  desire  to  aim  at  excellence 
in  everything  that  I  undertook ;  and  in  all  practical 
matters  to  arrive  at  the  highest  degree  of  good  workman- 
ship. I  believe  that  these  early  lessons  had  a  great  in- 
fluence upon  my  future  career. 

I  have  little  to  record  of  my  grandmother.  From  all 
accounts  she  was  everything  that  a  wife  and  mother  should 
be.  My  father  often  referred  to  her  as  an  example  of  the 
affection  and  love  of  a  wife  to  her  husband,  and  of  a 
mother  to  her  children.  The  only  relic  I  possess  of  her 
handiwork  is  a  sampler,  dated  1743,  the  needlework  of 
which  is  so  delicate  and  neat,  that  to  me  it  seems  to  excel 
everything  of  the  kind  that  I  have  seen. 

I  am  fain  to  think  that  her  delicate  manipulation  in 
some  respects  descended  to  her  grandchildren,  as  all  of 
them  have  been  more  or  less  distinguished  for  the  delicate 
use  of  their  fingers — which  has  so  much  to  do  with  the 
effective  transmission  of  the  artistic  faculty  into  visible 
forms.  The  power  of  transmitting  to  paper  or  canvas  the 
artistic  conceptions  of  the  brain  through  the  fingers,  and 
out  at  the  end  of  the  needle,  the  pencil,  the  pen,  the  brush, 
or  even  the  modelling  tool  or  chisel,  is  that  which,  in 
practical  fact,  constitutes  the  true  artist. 

This  may  appear  a  digression ;  though  I  cannot  look  at 
my  grandmother's  sampler  without  thinking  that  she  had 
much  to  do  with  originating  the  Naesmyth  love  of  the 
Fine  Arts,  and  their  hereditary  adroitness  in  the  practice 
of  landscape  and  portrait  painting,  and  other  branches  of 
the  profession. 

My  grandfather  died  in  1803,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four, 
and  was  buried  by  his  father's  side  in  the  Naesmyth  an- 
cestral tomb  in  Greyfriars  Churchyard.  His  wife,  Mary 
Anderson,  who  died  before  him,  was  buried  in  the  same  place. 


16  MICHAEL  THE  PURSER.  CHAP 

Michael  Naesmytli  left  two  sons — Michael  and  Alex- 
ander. The  eldest  was  born  in  1754.  It  was  intended 
that  he  should  have  succeeded  to  the  business ;  and,  in- 
deed, as  soon  as  he  reached  manhood  he  was  his  father's 
right-hand  man.  He  was  a  skilful  workman,  especially  in 
the  finer  parts  of  joiner-work.  He  was  also  an  excellent 
accountant  and  bookkeeper.  But  having  acquired  a  taste 
for  reading  books  about  voyages  and  travels,  of  which  his 
father's  library  was  well  supplied,  his  mind  became  dis- 
turbed, and  he  determined  to  see  something  of  the  world. 
He  was  encouraged  by  one  of  his  old  companions,  who 
had  been  to  sea,  and  realised  some  substantial  results  by 
his  voyages  to  foreign  parts.  Accordingly  Michael,  not- 
withstanding the  earnest  remonstrances  of  his  father,  ac- 
companied his  friend  on  the  next  occasion  when  he  went 
to  sea. 

After  several  voyages  to  the  West  Indies  and  other 
parts  of  the  world,  which  both  gratified  and  stimulated  his 
natural  taste  for  adventures,  and  also  proved  financially 
successful,  his  trading  ventures  at  last  met  with  a  sad 
reverse,  and  he  resolved  to  abandon  commerce,  and  enter 
the  service  of  the  Eoyal  Navy.  He  was  made  purser,  and 
in  this  position  he  entered  upon  a  new  series  of  adventures. 
He  was  present  at  many  naval  engagements.  But  he  lost 
neither  life  nor  limb.  At  last  he  was  pensioned,  and 
became  a  resident  at  Greenwich  Hospital.  He  furnished 
his  apartments  with  all  manner  of  curiosities,  such  as  his 
roving  naval  life  had  enabled  him  to  collect.  His  original 
skill  as  a  worker  in  wood  came  to  life  again.  The  taste 
of  the  workman  and  the  handiness  of  the  seaman  enabled 
him  to  furnish  his  rooms  at  the  Hospital  in  a  most  quaint 
and  amusing  manner. 

My  father  had  a  most  affectionate  regard  for  Michael, 
and  usually  spent  some  days  with  him  when  he  had  oc- 
casion to  visit  London.  One  bright  summer  day  they 
went  to  have  a  stroll  together  on  Blackheath ;  and  while 
my  uncle  was  enjoying  a  nap  on  a  grassy  knoll,  my  father 
made  a  sketch  of  him,  which  I  still  preserve.  Being  of  a 


f.  DEATH  OF  THE  PUP.SER.  17 

most  cheerful  disposition,  and  having  a  great  knack  of 
detailing  the  incidents  of  his  adventurous  life,  he  became  a 
great  favourite  with  the  resident  officers  of  the  Hospital ; 
and  was  always  regarded  by  them  as  real  good  company. 
He  ended  his  days  there  in  peace  and  comfort,  in  1819,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four. 


CHAPTER  II. 

ALEXANDER   NASMYTII. 

MY  father,  Alexander  Nasmyth,  was  the  second  son  of 
Michael  Nasmyth.  He  was  born  in  his  father's  house  in 
the  Grassmarket  on  the  9th  of  September  1758.  The 
Grassmarket  was  then  a  lively  place.  On  certain  days  of 
the  week  it  was  busy  with  sheep  and  cattle  fairs.  It  was 
the  centre  of  Edinburgh  traffic.  Most  of  the  inns  were 
situated  there,  or  in  the  street  leading  up  to  the  Greyfriars 
Church  gate. 

The  view  from  my  grandfather's  house  was  very  grand. 
Standing  up,  right  opposite,  was  the  steep  Castle  rock, 
with  its  crown  buildings  and  circular  battery  towering 
high  overhead.  They  seemed  almost  to  hang  over  the 
verge  of  the  rock.  The  houses  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Grassmarket  were  crowded  under  the  esplanade  of  the 
Castle  Hill. 

There  was  an  inn  opposite  the  house  where  my  father 
was  born,  from  which  the  first  coach  started  from  Edin- 
burgh to  Newcastle.  The  public  notice  stated  that  "  The 
Coach  would  set  out  from  the  Grass  Market  ilka  Tuesday 
at  Twa  o'clock  in  the  day,  GOD  WULLIN',  but  whether  or  no 
on  Wednesday."  The  "whether  or  no"  was  meant,  I 
presume,  as  a  precaution  to  passengers,  in  case  all  the 
places  on  the  coach  might  be  taken,  or  not,  on  Wednesday. 

The  Grassmarket  was  also  the  place  for  public  execu- 
tions. The  gibbet  stone  was  at  the  east  end  of  the  Market. 
It  consisted  of  a  mass  of  solid  sandstone,  with  a  quadran- 
gular hole  in  the  middle,  which  served  as  a  socket  for  the 


CHAP.   IF. 


THE  GRASSMARKET. 


10 


gallows.  Most  of  the  Covenanters  who  were  executed  for 
conscience'  sake  in  the  reigns  of  Charles  II.  and  James  II. 
breathed  their  last  at  this  spot.  The  Porteous  mob,  in 
1736,  had  its  culmination  here.  When  Captain  Porteous 
was  dragged  out  of  the  Tolbooth  in  the  High  Street  and 
hurried  down  the  West  Bow,  the  gallows  was  not  in  its 
place ;  but  the  leaders  of  the  mob  hanged  him  from  a 


PLAN   OF  THE   CKASSMARKET. 


dyer's  pole,  nearly  opposite  the  gallows  stone,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  street,  not  far  from  my  grandfather's  door.1 

I  have  not  much  to  say  about  my  father's  education. 
For  the  most  part,  he  was  his  own  schoolmaster.  I  have 
heard  him  say  that  his  mother  taught  him  his  ABC;  and 
that  he  afterwards  learned  to  read  at  Mammy  Smith's. 
This  old  lady  kept  a  school  for  boys  and  girls  at  the  top 
of  a  house  in  the  Grassmarket.  There  my  father  was 
taught  to  read  his  Bible,  and  to  repeat  his  Carritch.2 

As  it  was  only  the  bigger  boys  who  could  read  the 
Bible,  the  strongest  of  them  consummated  the  feat  by 
climbing  up  the  Castle  rock,  and  reaching  what  they  called 
"The  Bibler's  Seat."  It  must  have  been  a  break-neck 


1  See  Heart  of  Midlothian. 


The  Shorter  Catechism. 


20 


THE  BIBLER'S  SEAT. 


CHAP. 


adventure  to  get  up  to  the  place.  The  seat  was  almost 
immediately  under  the  window  of  the  room  in  which 
James  VI.  was  born.  My  father  often  pointed  it  out  to 


ng 

Not 


-  me  as  one  of  the  most 
dangerous  bits  of 
climbing  in  which  he 
had  been  engaged  in  his 
^  younger  years.  The  an- 
nexed illustration  is  from 
his  own  slight  sepia  draw- 
the Bibler's  Seat  is  marked  f. 
so  daring,  but  much  more 
mischievous,  was  a  trick  which  he 
played  with  some  of  his  companions  on 
the  tops  of  the  houses  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Grassmarket.  The  boys  took  a 
barrel  to  the  Castlehill,  filled  it  with  small 
stones,  and  then  shot  it  down  towards  the  roofs  of  the 
houses  in  the  Grassmarket.  The  barrel  leapt  from  rock  to 
rock,  burst,  and  scattered  a  shower  of  stones  far  and  wide. 
The  fun  was  to  see  the  "  boddies  "  look  out  of  their  ganvt 
window!  with  their  lighted  lamps  or  candles,  peer  into  the 
dark,  and  try  to  see  what  was  the  cause  of  the  mischief. 


ir.  THE    "BODDY  ERSKINE"!  21 

Sir  David  Baird,  the  hero  of  Seringapatam,  played  a  trick 
of  the  same  kind  before  he  went  to  India. 

Among  my  father's  favourite  companions  were  the  two 
sons  of  Dr.  John  Erskine,  minister  of  Old  Greyfriars,  in 
conjunction  with  the  equally  celebrated  Dr.  Eobertson. 
Dr.  Erskine  was  a  man  of  great  influence  in  his  day,  well 
known  for  his  literary  and  theological  works,  as  well  as 
for  his  piety  and  practical  benevolence.1  On  one  occasion, 
when  my  father  was  at  play  with  his  sons,  one  of  them 
threw  a  stone,  which  smashed  a  neighbour's  window.  A 
servant  of  the  house  ran  out,  and  seeing  the  culprit,  called 
out,  "Very  weel,  Maister  Erskine,  I'll  tell  yeer  faither 
wha  broke  the  windae !"  On  which  the  boy,  to  throw  her 
off  the  scent,  said  to  his  brother  loudly,  "Eh,  keist !  she 
thinks  we're  the  boddy  Erskine's  sons." 

The  boddy  Erskine !  Who  ever  heard  of  such  an 
irreverent  nickname  applied  to  that  good  and  great  man  ? 
"The  laddies  couldna  be  his  sons,"  thought  the  woman. 
She  made  no  further  inquiry,  and  the  boys  escaped  scot 
free.  The  culprit  afterwards  entered  the  service  of  the 
East  India  Company.  "  The  boy  was  father  to  the  man." 
He  acquired  great  reputation  at  the  siege  of  Seringapatam, 
where  he  led  the  forlorn  hope.  Erskine  was  promoted, 
until  in  course  of  time  he  returned  to  his  native  city  a 
full-blown  general. 

To  return  to  my  father's  education.  After  he  left 
"  Mammy  Smith's,"  he  went  for  a  short  time  to  the  original 
High  School.  It  was  an  old  establishment,  founded  by 
James  VI.  before  he  succeeded  to  the  English  throne.  It 
was  afterwards  demolished  to  make  room  for  the  University 
buildings  ;  and  the  new  High  School  was  erected  a  little 
below  the  old  Royal  Infirmary.  After  leaving  the  High 
School,  Alexander  Nasmyth  was  taught  by  his  father,  first 
arithmetic  and  mensuration,  next  geometry  and  mathematics, 
so  far  as  the  first  three  books  of  Euclid  were  concerned. 

1  Dr.  Erskine  is  well  described  by  Scott  in  Guy  Mannering,  on  the 
occasion  when  Flcydell  and  Mannering  went  to  hear  him  preach  a 
famous  sermon. 


22  TRUSTEES'   ACADEMY  OF  FINE  ART.          CHAP. 

After  that,  his  own  innate  skill,  ability,  and  industry 
enabled  him  to  complete  the  rest  of  his  education. 

At  a  very  early  period  my  father  exhibited  a  decided 
natural  taste  for  art.  He  used  his  pencil  freely  in  sketch- 
ing from  nature ;  and  in  course  of  time  he  showed  equal 
skill  in  the  use  of  oil  colour.  At  his  own  earnest  request 
he  was  bound  apprentice  to  Mr.  Crighton,  then  the  chief 
coachbuilder  in  Edinburgh.  He  was  employed  in  that 
special  department  where  artistic  taste  was  necessary — that 
is,  in  decorating  the  panels  of  the  highest  class  of  carriages, 
and  painting  upon  them  coats  of  arms,  with  their  crests  and 
supporters.  He  took  great  pleasure  in  this  kind  of  work. 
It  introduced  him  to  the  practical  details  of  heraldry,  and 
gave  him  command  over  his  materials. 

Still  further  to  improve  himself  in  the  art  of  drawing, 
my  father  devoted  his  evenings  to  attending  the  Edinburgh 
Drawing  Academy.  This  institution,  termed  "  The  Trustees' 
Academy  of  Fine  Art,"  had  been  formed  and  supported  by 
the  funds  arising  from  the  estates  confiscated  after  the 
rebellions  of  1715  and  1745.  Part  of  these  funds  was 
set  apart  by  Government  for  the  encouragement  of  drawing, 
and  also  for  the  establishment  of  the  arts  of  linen  weaving, 
carpet  manufacture,  and  other  industrial  occupations. 

These  arts  were  introduced  into  Scotland  by  the  French 
Protestants,  who  had  been  persecuted  for  conscience'  sake 
out  of  their  own  country,  and  settled  in  England,  Ireland, 
and  Scotland,  where  they  prosecuted  their  industrial 
callings.  The  Corporation  was  anxious  to  afford  an  asylum 
for  these  skilled  and  able  workmen.  The  emigrants  settled 
down  with  their  families,  and  pursued  their  occupations 
of  damask,  linen,  and  carpet  weaving.  They  were  also 
required  to  take  Scotch  apprentices,  and  teach  them  the 
various  branches  of  their  trade.  The  Magistrates  caused 
cottages  and  workshops  to  be  erected  on  a  piece  of  unoccupied 
land  near  Edinburgh,  where  the  street  appropriately  called 
Picardy  Place  now  stands, — the  greater  number  of  the 
weavers  having  come  from  Picardy  in  France. 

In  connection  with  the  establishment  of  these  industrial 


n.  ALEXANDER  RUNCIMAN,   MASTER.  23 

artisans,  it  was  necessary  to  teach  the  young  Scotch  appren- 
tices drawing,  for  the  purpose  of  designing  new  patterns 
suitable  for  the  market.  Hence  the  establishment  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  Forfeited  Estate  Funds  of  "  The  Academy 
of  Fine  Art."  From  the  designing  of  patterns,  the  institu- 
tion advanced  to  the  improvement  of  the  fine  arts  generally. 
Young  men  who  had  given  proofs  of  their  natural  taste 
for  drawing  were  invited  to  enter  the  school  and  partici- 
pate in  its  benefits. 

At  the  time  that  my  father  was  apprenticed  to  the 
coach  painter,  the  Trustees'  Academy  was  managed  by 
Alexander  Runciman.  He  had  originally  been  a  house 
painter,  from  which  business  he  proceeded  to  landscape 
painting.  "Other  artists,"  said  one  who  knew  him,  "talked 
meat  and  drink;  but  Runciman  talked  landscape."  He 
went  to  Rome  and  studied  art  there.  He  returned  to 
Edinburgh,  and  devoted  himself  to  historical  painting. 
He  was  also  promoted  to  the  office  of  master  of  the  Trustees' 
Academy.  When  my  father  called  upon  him  with  his  draw- 
ings from  nature,  Runciman  found  them  so  satisfactory 
that  he  was  at  once  admitted  as  a  student.  After  his 
admission  he  began  to  study  with  intense  eagerness.  The 
young  men  who  had  been  occupied  at  their  business  during 
the  day  could  only  attend  in  the  evening.  And  thus  the 
evenings  were  fixed  for  studying  drawing  and  design. 
The  Trustees'  Academy  made  its  mark  upon  the  art  of 
Scotland :  it  turned  out  many  artists  of  great  note — such 
as  Raeburn,  Wilkie,  my  father,  and  many  more. 

At  the  time  when  my  father  entered  as  a  student,  the  stock 
of  casts  from  the  antique,  and  the  number  of  drawings  from 
the  old  masters,  were  very  small ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that 
Runciman  was  under  the  necessity  of  setting  the  students  to 
copy  them  again  and  again.  This  became  rather  irksome 
to  the  more  ardent  pupils.  My  father  had  completed  his 
sixth  copy  of  a  fine  chalk  drawing  of  "  The  Laocoon."  It 
was  then  set  for  him  to  copy  again.  He  begged  Mr.  Run- 
ciman for  another  subject.  The  quick-tempered  man  at 
once  said,  "  I'll  give  you  another  subject."  And  turning 


24  ASSISTANT  TO  ALLAN  RAMSAY.  CHAP. 

the  group  of  the  Laocoon  upside  down,  he  added,  "Now, 
then,  copy  that  /"  The  patient  youth  set  to  work,  and  in 
a  few  evenings  completed  a  perfect  copy.  It  was  a  most 
severe  test ;  but  Eunciman  was  so  proud  of  the  skill  of  his 
pupil  that  he  had  the  drawing  mounted  and  framed,  with 
a  note  of  the  circumstances  under  which  it  had  been  pro- 
duced. It  continued  to  hang  there  for  many  years,  and 
the  story  of  its  achievement  became  traditional  in  the 
school. 

During  all  this  time  my  father  remained  in  the  employ- 
ment of  Crighton  the  carriage  builder.  He  improved  in 
his  painting  day  by  day.  But  at  length  an  important 
change  took  place  in  his  career.  Allan  Eamsay,  son  of 
the  author  of  The  Gentle  Shepherd,  and  then  court  painter  to 
George  III,  called  upon  his  old  friend  Crighton  one  day, 
to  look  over  his  works.  There  he  found  young  Nasmyth 
painting  a  coat  of  arms  on  the  panel  of  a  carriage.  He 
was  so  much  surprised  with  the  lad's  artistic  workmanship 
— for  he  was  then  only  sixteen — that  he  formed  a  strong 
desire  to  take  him  into  his  service.  After  much  persuasion, 
backed  by  the  offer  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  the 
coachbuilder  was  at  length  induced  to  transfer  my  father's 
indentures  to  Allan  Eamsay. 

It  was,  of  course,  a  great  delight  to  my  father  to  be  re- 
moved to  London  under  such  favourable  auspices.  Kara  say 
had  a  large  connection  as  a  portrait  painter.  His  object 
in  employing  my  father  was  that  he  should  assist  him  in 
the  execution  of  the  subordinate  parts,  or  dress  portions, 
of  portraits  of  courtiers,  or  of  diplomatic  personages.  No 
more  favourable  opportunity  for  advancement  could  have 
presented  itself.  But  all  this  was  entirely  due  to  my 
father's  perseverance  and  advancing  skill  as  an  artist — the 
results  of  his  steady  application  and  labour. 

Ramsay  possessed  a  very  fine  collection  of  drawings 
by  the  old  masters,  all  of  which  were  free  for  my  father 
to  study.  Ramsay  was  exceedingly  kind  to  his  young 
pupil.  He  was  present  at  all  the  discussions  in  the  studio, 
even  when  the  sitters  were  present.  Fellow-artists  visited 


IT. 


FACULTY  OF  RESOURCEFULNESS. 


25 


Ramsay  from  time  to  time.  Among  them  was  his  intimate 
friend  Philip  Reinagle — an  agreeable  companion,  and  an 
excellent  artist.  Reinagle  was  one  day  so  much  struck 
with  my  father's  earnestness  in  filling  up  some  work,  that 


ALEXANDER  NASMYTH.      AFTER  REINAGLE  S   PORTRAIT. 

he  then  and  there  got  up  a  canvas  and  made  a  capital 
sketch-portrait  of  him  in  oil.  It  only  came  into  my  father's 
possession  some  years  after  Ramsay's  death,  and  is  now  in 
my  possession. 

Among  the  many  amusing  recollections  of  my  father's 
life  in  London,  there  is  one  that  I  cannot  resist  narrating, 
because  it  shows  his  faculty  of  resourcefulness — a  faculty 
which  served  him  very  usefully  during  his  course  through 


26  PORTRAIT  PAINTER  IN  EDINBURGH.          CHAP. 

life.  He  had  made  an  engagement  with  a  sweetheart  to 
take  her  to  Ranelagh,  one  of  the  most  fashionable  places 
of  public  amusement  in  London.  Everybody  went  in  full 
dress,  and  the  bucks  and  swells  wore  long  striped  silk 
stockings.  My  father,  on  searching,  found  that  he  had 
only  one  pair  of  silk  stockings  left.  He  washed  them 
himself  in  his  lodging-room,  and  hung  them  up  before  the 
fire  to  dry.  When  he  went  to  look  at  them,  they  were  so 
singed  and  burnt  that  he  could  not  put  them  on.  They 
were  totally  useless.  In  this  sad  dilemma  his  resourceful- 
ness came  to  his  aid.  The  happy  idea  occurred  to  him  of 
painting  his  legs  so  as  to  resemble  stockings.  He  went  to 
his  water-colour  box,  and  dexterously  painted  them  with 
black  and  white  stripes.  When  the  paint  dried,  which  it 
soon  did,  he  completed  his  toilet,  met  his  sweetheart,  and 
went  to  Ranelagh.  No  one  observed  the  difference,  except, 
indeed,  that  he  was  complimented  on  the  perfection  of  the 
fit,  and  was  asked  "where  he  bought  his  stockings?"  Of 
course  he  evaded  the  question,  and  left  the  gardens  without 
any  one  discovering  his  artistic  trick. 

My  father  remained  in  Allan  Ramsay's  service  until  the 
end  of  1778,  when  he  returned  to  Edinburgh  to  practise 
on  his  own  behalf  the  profession  of  portrait  painter.  He 
took  with  him  the  kindest  good-wishes  of  his  master, 
whose  friendship  he  retained  to  the  end  of  Ramsay's  life. 
The  artistic  style  of  my  father's  portraits,  and  the  excellent 
likenesses  of  his  sitters,  soon  obtained  for  him  ample 
employment  His  portraits  were  for  the  most  part  full- 
lengths,  but  of  a  small  or  cabinet  size.  They  generally 
consisted  of  family  groups,  with  the  figures  about  twelve 
to  fourteen  inches  high.  The  groups  were  generally  treated 
and  arranged  as  if  the  personages  were  engaged  in  conver- 
sation with  their  children;  and  sometimes  a  favourite 
servant  was  introduced,  so  as  to  remove  any  formal  aspect 
in  the  composition  of  the  picture.  In  order  to  enliven  the 
background,  some  favourite  view  from  the  garden  or 
grounds,  or  a  landscape,  was  given ;  which  was  painted 
with  as  much  care  as  if  it  w;is  the  main  feature  of  the 


n.  MILLER  OF  DALSWIIiTON-.  27 

picture.  Many  of  these  paintings  are  still  to  be  found  in 
the  houses  of  the  gentry  in  Scotland.  Good  examples  of 
his  art  are  to  be  seen  at  Minto  House,  the  seat  of  the  Earl 
of  Minto,  and  at  Dalmeny  Park,  the  seat  of  the  Earl  of 
Rosebery. 

Among  my  father's  early  employers  was  Patrick  Miller, 
Esq.,  of  Dalswinton,  in  Dumfriesshire.  He  painted  Mr. 
Miller's  portrait  as  well  as  those  of  several  members  of  his 
family.  This  intercourse  eventually  led  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  very  warm  personal  friendship  between  them. 
Miller  had  made  a  large  fortune  in  Edinburgh  as  a  banker ; 
and  after  he  had  partially  retired  from  business,  he  devoted 
much  of  his  spare  time  to  useful  purposes.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  energy  of  character,  and  was  never  idle.  At  first 
he  applied  himself  to  the  improvement  of  agriculture,  which 
he  did  with  great  success  on  his  estate  of  Dalswinton. 
Being  one  of  the  largest  shareholders  in  the  Carron  Iron- 
works near  Stirling,  he  also  devoted  much  of  his  time  to 
the  improvement  of  guns  for  the  Royal  Navy.  He  was 
the  inventor  of  that  famous  gun  the  Carronade.  The 
handiness  of  these  short  and  effective  guns,  which  were 
capable  of  being  loaded  and  fired  nearly  twice  as  quickly 
as  the  long  small-bore  guns,  gave  England  the  victory  in 
many  a  naval  battle,  where  the  firing  was  close  and  quick, 
yardarm  to  yardarm. 

But  Mr.  Miller's  greatest  claim  to  fame  arises  from  his 
endeavours  to  introduce  steam-power  as  an  agent  in  the 
propulsion  of  ships  at  sea.  Mr.  Clerk  of  Eldin  had  already 
invented  the  system  of  "  breaking  the  line "  in  naval 
engagements — a  system  that  was  first  practised  with  com- 
plete success  by  Lord  Rodney  in  his  engagement  off 
Martinico  in  1780.  The  subject  interested  Mr.  Miller  so 
much  that  he  set  himself  to  work  to  contrive  some 
mechanical  method  by  means  of  which  ships  of  war  might 
be  set  in  motion,  independently  of  wind,  tide,  or  calms,  so 
that  Clerk's  system  of  breaking  the  line  might  be  carried 
into  effect  under  all  circumstances. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  my  father  was  often  with 


28  MILLER'S  EXPERIMENTS  WITH  SHIPS.         CHAP. 

Miller ;  and  the  mechanical  devices  by  means  of  which  the 
method  of  breaking  the  line  could  be  best  accomplished 
was  the  subject  of  many  of  their  conversations.  Miller 
found  that  my  father's  taste  for  mechanical  contrivances, 
and  his  ready  skill  as  a  draughtsman,  were  likely  to  be  of 
much  use  to  him,  and  he  constantly  visited  the  studio. 
My  father  reduced  Miller's  ideas  to  a  definite  form,  and 
prepared  a  series  of  drawings,  which  were  afterwards 
engraved  and  published.  Miller's  favourite  design  was,  to 
divide  the  vessel  into  twin  or  triple  hulls,  with  paddles 
between  them,  to  be  worked  by  the  crew.  The  principal 
experiment  was  made  in  the  Firth  of  Forth  on  the  2d  of 
June  1787.  The  vessel  was  double-hulled,  and  was  worked 
by  a  capstan  of  five  bars.  The  experiment  was  on  the 
whole  successful.  But  the  chief  difficulty  was  in  the 
propulsive  power.  After  a  spurt  of  an  hour  or  so,  the 
men  became  tired  with  their  laborious  work.  Mr.  Taylor, 
student  of  divinity,  and  tutor  of  Mr.  Miller's  sons,  was  on 
board,  and  seeing  the  exhausted  state  of  the  men  at  the 
capstan,  suggested  the  employment  of  steam-power.  Mr. 
Miller  was  pleased  with  the  idea,  and  resolved  to  make 
inquiry  upon  the  subject. 

At  that  time  William  Symington,  a  young  engineer 
from  Wanlockhead,  was  exhibiting  a  road  locomotive  in 
Edinburgh.  He  was  a  friend  of  Taylor's,  and  Mr.  Miller 
went  to  see  the  Symington  model.  In  the  course"  of  his 
conversation  with  the  inventor,  he  informed  the  latter  of 
his  own  project,  and  described  the  difficulty  he  had  experi- 
enced in  getting  his  paddle-wheels  turned  round.  On 
which  Symington  immediately  asked,  "  Why  don't  you  use 
the  steam-engine?"  The  model  which  Symington  ex- 
hibited, produced  rotary  motion  by  the  employment  of 
ratchet-wheels.  The  rectilinear  motion  of  the  piston-rod 
was  thus  converted  into  rotary  motion.  Mr.  Miller  was 
pleased  with  the  action  of  the  ratchet-wheel  contrivance, 
and  gave  Symington  an  order  to  make  a  pair  of  engines  of 
that  construction.  They  were  to  be  used  on  a  small 
pleasure-boat  on  Dalswinton  Lake. 


ii.  THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT.  29 

The  boat  was  constructed  on  the  double-hull  or  twin 
plan,  so  that  the  paddle  should  be  used  in  the  space 
between  the  hulls.1  After  much  vexatious  delay,  arising 
from  the  entire  novelty  of  the  experiment,  the  boat  and 
engines  were  at  length  completed,  and  removed  to  Dal- 
swinton  Lake.  This,  the  first  steamer  that  ever  "trod  the 
waters  like  a  thing  of  life,"  the  herald  of  a  new  and  mighty 
power,  was  tried  on  the  14th  of  October  1788.  The 
vessel  steamed  delightfully,  at  the  rate  of  from  four  to  five 
miles  an  hour,  though  this  was  not  her  extreme  rate  of 
speed.  I  give,  on  the  next  page,  a  copy  of  a  sketch  made 
by  my  father  of  this  the  first  actual  steamboat,  with  her 
remarkable  crew. 

The  persons  on  board  consisted  of  Patrick  Miller, 
William  Symington,  Sir  William  Monteith,  Kobert  Burns 
(the  poet,  then  a  tenant  of  Mr  Miller's),  William  Taylor, 
and  Alexander  Nasmyth.  There  were  also  three  of  Mr. 
Miller's  servants,  who  acted  as  assistants.  On  the  edge  of 
the  lake  was  a  young  gentleman,  then  on  a  visit  to  Dal- 
swinton.  He  was  no  less  a  person  than  Henry  Brougham, 
afterwards  Lord  Chancellor  of  England.  The  assemblage 
of  so  many  remarkable  men  was  well  worthy  of  the  occa- 
sion. 

Taking  into  account  the  extraordinary  results  which 
have  issued  from  this  first  trial  of  an  actual  steamboat,  it 
may  well  be  considered  that  this  was  one  of  the  most 
important  circumstances  which  ever  occurred  in  the  history 
of  navigation.  It  ought,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  remem- 
bered that  all  that  was  afterwards  done  by  Symington, 
Fulton,  and  Bell,  followed  long  after  the  performance  of 
this  ever-memorable  achievement. 

I  may  also  mention,  as  worthy  of  special  record,  that 
the  hull  of  this  first  steamboat  was  of  iron.  It  was  con- 
structed of  tinned  iron  plate.  It  was  therefore  the  first 

1  This  steam  twin  boat  was  in  fact  the  progenitor  of  the  Castalia, 
constructed  about  a  hundred  years  later  for  the  conveyance  of  passengers 
between  Calais  and  Dover. 


THE  FIRST   IRON   STEAMBOAT. 


THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT.      BY  ALEXANDER  XASXYTH.l 

iron  steamboat,  if  not  the  first  iron  ship,  that  had  ever 

1  The  original  drawing  of  the  steamer  was  done  by  my  father,  and 
lent  by  me  to  Mr.  Woodcroft,  who  inserted  it  in  his  Origin  and  Pro- 
gress of  Stt  '  ion-.  He  omitted  my  father's  name,  and  inserted 
only  that  of  the  lithographer,  although  it  is  a  document  of  almost 
national  importance  in  the  history  of  Steam  Navigation. 

[P.  S. — Since  the  above  paragraph  was  written  for  the  first  edition, 
I  have  been  enabled  to  find  the  drawing,  with  another  remarkable  ] 
sketch  of  my  father's,  in  the  Gallery  of  the  Museum  of  Naval  Archi- 
tecture at  South  Kensington.     It  will  henceforward  belong  to  that 
interesting  collection. 

The  remarkable  pencil  sketch  to  which  I  have  referred,  is  that  of  a 
screw  propeller,  drawn  by  jny  father,  dated  1819.  It  was  the  result  of 
many  discussions  as  to  the* proper  mode  of  propelling  a  vessel.  First, 
he  had  drawn  Watt's  idea  of  a  "spiral  oar"  ;  then,  underneath,  ho 
has  drawn  his  own  idea,  of  a  disk  of  six  blades,  like  a  screw-jack, 
immediately  behind  the  rudder.  There  is  a  crank  shown  on  the  screw 
shaft,  by  which  the  propeller  was  driven  direct,  showing  that  he  was 
the  first  to  indicate  that  method  of  propulsion  of  steamboats. 


ii.  ALEXANDER  NASMYTH  IN  ITALY.  31 

been  made.  I  may  also  add  that  the  engines,  constructed 
by  Symington,  which  propelled  this  first  iron  steamboat 
are  now  carefully  preserved  at  the  Patent  Museum  at 
South  Kensington,  where  they  may  be  seen  by  everybody.1 

To  return  to  my  father's  profession  as  a  portrait  painter. 
He  had  given  so  much  assistance  to  Mr.  Miller,  while 
acting  as  his  chief  draughtsman  in  connection  with  the 
triple  and  twin  ships,  and  also  while  attending  him  at 
Leith  and  elsewhere,  that  it  had  considerably  interfered 
with  his  practice ;  though  everything  was  done  by  him 
con  amore,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term.  In  return  for 
this,  however,  Mr.  Miller  made  my  father  the  generous 
offer  of  a  loan  to  enable  him  to  visit  Italy,  and  pursue  his 
studies  there.  It  was  the  most  graceful  mode  in  which 
Mr.  Miller  could  express  his  obligations.  It  was  an  offer 
pure  and  simple,  without  security,  and  as  such  was  thank- 
fully accepted  by  my  father. 

In  those  days  an  artist  was  scarcely  considered  to  have 
completed  his  education  until  he  had  studied  the  works  of 
the  great  masters  at  Florence  and  Rome.  My  father  left 
England  for  Italy  on  the  30th  of  December  1782.  He 
reached  Rome  in  safety,  and  earnestly  devoted  himself  to 
the  study  of  art.  He  remained  in  Italy  for  the  greater 
part  of  two  years.  He  visited  Florence,  Bologna,  Padua, 
and  other  cities  where  the  finest  artistic  works  were  to  be 
found.  He  made  studies  and  drawings  of  the  best  of  them, 
besides  making  sketches  from  nature  of  the  most  remark- 
able places  he  had  visited.  He  returned  to  Edinburgh  at 
the  end  of  1784,  and  immediately  resumed  his  profession 
of  a  portrait  painter.  He  was  so  successful  that  in  a  short 
time  he  was  enabled  to  repay  his  excellent  friend  Miller 
the  £500  which  he  had  so  generously  lent  him  a  few  years 
before. 

1  The  original  engines  of  the  boat,  with  the  ratchet-wheel  contriv- 
ance of  Symington,  are  there  :  the  very  engine  that  propelled  the  first 
steamer  on  Dalswinton  Lake.  It  may  be  added  that  Mr.  Miller  ex- 
pended about  £30,000  on  naval  improvements,  and,  as  is  often  the 
•ase,  he  was  wholly  neglected  by  the  Government. 


32  ALEXANDER  NASMYTH'S  MARRIAGE.          CHAP. 

The  satisfactory  results  of  his  zealous  practice,  and  of 
his  skill  and  industry  in  his  profession,  together  with  the 
prospect  of  increasing  artistic  work,  enabled  him  to  bring 
to  a  happy  conclusion  an  engagement  he  had  entered  into 
before  leaving  Edinburgh  for  Italy.  I  mean  his  marriage 
to  my  mother — one  of  the  greatest  events  of  his  life — 
which  took  place  on  the  3rd  of  January  1786.  Barbara 
Foulis  was  a  distant  relation  of  his  own.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  William  Foulis,  Esq.,  of  Woodhall  and  Colin- 
ton,  near  Edinburgh.  Her  brother,  the  late  Sir  James 
Foulis,  my  uncle,  succeeded  to  the  ancient  baronetcy  of  the 
family.1 

My  mother  did  not  bring  with  her  any  fortune,  so  to 
speak,  in  the  way  of  gold  or  acres ;  but  she  brought  some- 
thing far  better  into  my  father's  home, — a  sweetness  of 
disposition,  and  a  large  measure  of  common  sense,  which 
made  her,  in  all  respects,  the  devoted  helpmate  of  her 
husband.  Her  happy  cheerful  temperament,  and  her 
constant  industry  and  attention,  shed  an  influence  upon 
all  around  her.  By  her  example  she  inbred  in  her  children 
the  love  of  truth,  excellence,  and  goodness.  That  was 
indeed  the  best  fortune  she  could  bring  into  a  good  man's 
home. 

During  the  first  year  of  my  father's  married  life,  when 
he  lived  in  St.  James's  Square,  he  painted  the  well-known 
portrait  of  Robert  Burns  the  poet.  Burns  had  been  intro- 
duced to  him  by  Mr.  Miller  at  Dalswinton.  An  intimate 
friendship  sprang  up  between  the  artist  and  the  poet.  The 
love  of  nature  and  of  natural  objects  was  common  to  both. 
They  also  warmly  sympathised  in  their  political  views. 
When  Burns  visited  Edinburgh  my  father  often  met  him. 
Burns  had  a  strange  aversion  to  sit  for  his  portrait,  though 


1  In  Burke's  Peerage  and  Baronetage  an  account  is  given  of  the 
Foulis  family.  They  are  of  Norman  origin.  A  branch  settled  in 
Scotland  in  the  reign  of  Malcolm  Canmoro.  By  various  intermarriages, 
tho  Foulises  are  connected  with  the  Hopetoun,  Bute,  and  Rosebery 
families.  The  present  holder  of  the  title  represents  the  houses  of 
Coliuton,  Woodhall,  and  Ravelstone. 


ii.  A  NIGHT  WI'   BURNS.  83 

often  urgently  requested  to  do  so.  But  when  at  my  father's 
studio,  Burns  at  last  consented,  and  his  portrait  was  rapidly 
painted.  It  was  done  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  and  my 
father  made  a  present  of  it  to  Mrs.  Burns.1  A  mezzotint 
engraving  of  it  was  afterwards  published  by  William 
Walker,  son-in-law  of  the  famous  Samuel  Eeynolds. 
When  the  first  proof  impression  was  submitted  to  my 
father,  he  said  to  Mr.  Walker :  "I  cannot  better  express 
to  you  my  opinion  of  your  admirable  engraving,  than  by 
telling  you  that  it  conveys  to  me  a  more  true  and  lively 
remembrance  of  Burns  than  my  own  picture  of  him  does ; 
it  so  perfectly  renders  the  spirit  of  his  expression,  as  well 
as  the  details  of  his  every  feature." 

While  Burns  was  in  Edinburgh,  my  father  had  many 
interesting  walks  with  him  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
city.  The  Calton  Hill,  Arthur's  Seat,  Salisbury  Crags, 
Habbie's  How,  and  the  nooks  in  the  Pentlands,  were 
always  full  of  interest ;  and  Burns,  with  his  brilliant  and 
humorous  conversation,  made  the  miles  very  short  as  they 
strode  along.  Lockhart  says,  in  his  Life  of  Burns,  that 
"  the  magnificent  scenery  of  the  Scottish  capital  filled  the 
poet  with  extraordinary  delight.  In  the  spring  mornings 
he  walked  very  often  to  the  top  of  Arthur's  Seat,  and, 
lying  prostrate  on  the  turf,  surveyed  the  rising  of  the  sun 
out  of  the  sea  in  silent  admiration ;  his  chosen  companion 
on  such  occasions  being  that  learned  artist  and  ardent 
lover  of  nature,  Alexander  Nasmyth." 

A  visit  which  the  two  paid  to  Eoslin  Castle  is  worthy 
of  commemoration.  On  one  occasion  my  father  and  a  few 
choice  spirits  had  been  spending  a  "nicht  wi'  Burns."  The 
place  of  resort  was  a  tavern  in  the  High  Street,  Edinburgh. 
As  Burns  was  a  brilliant  talker,  full  of  spirit  and  humour, 
time  fled  until  the  "  wee  sma'  hours  ayont  the  twal' " 
arrived.  The  party  broke  up  about  three  o'clock.  At 
that  time  of  the  year  (the  1 3th  of  June)  the  night  is  very 
short,  and  morning  comes  early.  Burns,  on  reaching  the 

1  The  portrait  is  now  in  the  Royal  Scottish  Academy  at  Edinburgh. 

D 


34  BURNS  AND   NASMYTH  AT  ROSLIN.  CHAP. 

street,  looked  up  to  the  sky.  It  was  perfectly  clear,  and 
the  rising  sun  was  beginning  to  brighten  the  mural  crown 
of  St.  Giles's  Cathedral 

Burns  was  so  much  struck  with  the  beauty  of  the 
morning  that  he  put  his  hand  on  my  father's  arm  and 
said,  "  It'll  never  do  to  go  to  bed  in  such  a  lovely  morning 
as  this!  Let's  awa'  to  Roslin  Castle."  No  sooner  said 
than  done.  The  poet  and  the  painter  set  out.  Nature  lay 
bright  and  lovely  before  them  in  that  delicious  summer 
morning.  After  an  eight -miles  walk  they  reached  the 
castle  at  Roslin.  Burns  went  down  under  the  great 
Norman  arch,  where  he  stood  rapt  in  speechless  admiration 
of  the  scene.  The  thought  of  the  eternal  renewal  of  youth 
and  freshness  of  nature,  contrasted  with  the  crumbling 
decay  of  man's  efforts  to  perpetuate  his  work,  even  when 
founded  upon  a  rock,  as  Roslin  Castle  is,  seemed  greatly 
to  affect  him. 

My  father  was  so  much  impressed  with  the  scene  that, 
while  Burns  was  standing  under  the  arch,  he  took  out  his 
pencil  and  a  scrap  of  paper  and  made  a  hasty  sketch  of  the 
subject.  This  sketch  was  highly  treasured  by  my  father, 
in  remembrance  of  what  must  have  been  one  of  the  most 
memorable  days  of  his  life. 

Talking  of  clubs  reminds  me  that  there  was  a  good  deal 
of  club  life  in  Edinburgh  in  those  days.  The  most  notable 
were  those  in  which  the  members  were  drawn  together  by 
occupations,  habits,  or  tastes.  They  met  in  the  evenings, 
and  conversed  upon  congenial  subjects.  The  clubs  were 
generally  held  in  one  or  other  of  the  taverns  situated  in 
or  near  the  High  Street.  Every  one  will  remember  the 
Lawyers'  Club,  held  in  an  Edinburgh  close,  presided  over  by 
Pleydell,  so  well  described  by  Scott  in  Guy  Mannering. 

In  my  father's  early  days  he  was  a  member  of  a  very 
jovial  club,  called  the  Poker  Club.  It  was  so-called  because 
the  first  chairman,  immediately  on  his  election,  in  a  spirit 
of  drollery,  laid  hold  of  the  poker  at  the  fireplace,  and 
adopted  it  as  his  insignia  of  office.  He  made  a  humorous 
address  from  the  chair,  or  "  the  throne,"  as  he  called  it, 


ii.  EDINBURGH  CLUB  LIFE.  35 

with  sceptre  or  poker  in  hand ;  and  the  club  was  thereupon 
styled  by  acclamation  "  The  Poker  Club."  I  have  seen  my 
father's  diploma  of  membership ;  it  was  tastefully  drawn 
on  parchment,  with  the  poker  duly  emblazoned  on  it  as 
the  regalia  of  the  club. 

In  my  own  time,  the  club  that  he  was  most  connected 
with  was  the  Dilettanti  Club.  Its  meetings  were  held 
every  fortnight,  on  Thursday  evenings,  in  a  commodious 
tavern  in  the  High  Street.  The  members  were  chiefly 
artists,  or  men  known  for  their  love  of  art.  Among  them 
were  Henry  Raeburn,  Hugh  Williams  (the  Grecian),  Andrew 
Geddes,  William  Thomson,  John  Shetkay,  William  Nicholson, 
William  Allan,  Alexander  Nasmy th,  the  Rev.  John  Thomson 
of  Duddingston,  George  Thomson,  Sir  Walter  Scott,  John 
Lockhart,  Dr.  Brewster,  David  Wilkie,  Henry  Cockburn, 
Francis  Jeffrey,  John  A.  Murray,  Professor  Wilson,  John 
Ballantyne,  James  Ballantyne,  James  Hogg  (the  Ettrick 
Shepherd),  and  David  Bridges,  the  secretary.1  The 
drinks  were  restricted  to  Edinburgh  ale  and  whisky 
toddy. 

An  admirable  picture  of  the  club  in  full  meeting  was 
painted  by  William  Allan,  in  which  characteristic  portraits 


1  Davie  Bridges  was  a  character.  In  my  early  days  he  was  a  cloth 
merchant  in  the  High  Street.  His  shop  was  very  near  that  gigantic 
lounge,  the  old  Parliament  House,  and  was  often  resorted  to  by  non- 
business  visitors.  Bridges  had  a  good  taste  for  pictures.  He  had  a 
small  but  choice  collection  by  the  Old  Masters,  which  he  kept 
arranged  in  the  warehouse  under  his  shop.  He  took  great  pride  in 
exhibiting  them  to  his  visitors,  and  expatiating  upon  their  excellence. 
I  remember  being  present  in  his  warehouse  with  my  father  when  a 
very  beautiful  small  picture  by  Richard  Wilson  was  under  review. 
Davie  burst  out  emphatically  with,  "Eh,  man,  did  ye  ever  see  such 
glorious  buttery  touches  as  on  these  clouds!"  His  joking  friends 
dubbed  him  "Director-General  of  the  Fine  Arts  for  Scotland,"  a  title 
which  he  complacently  accepted.  Besides  showing  off  his  pictures, 
Davie  was  an  art  critic,  and  wrote  articles  for  the  newspapers  and 
magazines.  Unfortunately,  however,  his  attention  to  pictures  pre- 
vented him  from  attending  to  his  shop,  and  his  customers  (who  were 
not  artists)  forsook  him,  and  bought  their  clothes  elsewhere.  He 
accordingly  shut  up  his  shop,  and  devoted  himself  to  art  criticism,  in 
which,  for  a  time,  he  possessed  a  monopoly. 


36  LANDSCAPE  BEAUTY.  CHAP. 

of  all  the  leading  members  were  introduced  in  full  social 
converse.  Among  the  more  prominent  portraits  is  one  of 
my  father,  who  is  represented  as  illustrating  some  subject 
he  is  describing,  by  drawing  it  on  the  part  of  the  table 
before  him,  with  his  finger  dipped  in  toddy.  Other  marked 
and  well-known  characteristics  of  the  members  are  skilfully 
introduced  in  the  picture.  The  artist  afterwards  sold  it  to 
Mr.  Horrocks  of  Preston,  in  Lancashire. 

Besides  portrait  painting,  my  father  was  much  employed 
in  assisting  the  noblemen  and  landed  gentry  of  Scotland  in 
improving  the  landscape  appearance  of  their  estates,  espe- 
cially when  seen  from  their  mansion  windows.  His  fine 
taste,  and  his  love  of  natural  scenery,  gave  him  great 
advantages  in  this  respect.  He  selected  the  finest  sites 
for  the  new  mansions,  when  they  were  erected  in  lieu  of 
the  old  towers  and  crenellated  castles.  Or,  he  designed 
alterations  of  the  old  buildings  so  as  to  preserve  their 
romantic  features,  and  at  the  same  time  to  fit  them  for 
the  requirements  of  modern  domestic  life. 

In  those  early  days  of  art-knowledge,  there  scarcely 
existed  any  artistic  feeling  for  the  landscape  beauty  of 
nature.  There  was  an  utter  want  of  appreciation  of  the 
dignified  beauty  of  the  old  castles  and  mansions,  the  rem- 
nants of  which  were  in  too  many  instances  carted  away  as 
material  for  new  buildings.  There  was  also  at  that  time 
an  utter  ignorance  of  the  beauty  and  majesty  of  old  trees. 
A  forest  of  venerable  oaks  or  beeches  was  a  thing  to  be 
done  away  with.  They  were  merely  cut  down  as  useless 
timber ;  even  when  they  so  finely  embellished  the  landscape. 
My  father  exerted  himself  successfully  to  preserve  these 
grand  old  forest  trees.  His  fine  sketches  served  to  open 
the  eyes  of  their  possessors  to  the  priceless  treasures  they 
were  about  to  destroy ;  and  he  thus  preserved  the  existence 
of  many  a  picturesque  old  tree.  He  even  took  the  pains 
in  many  cases  to  model  the  part  of  the  estate  he  was  deal- 
ing with ;  and  he  also  modelled  the  old  trees  he  wished  to 
preserve.  Thus,  by  a  judicious  clearing  out  of  the  inter- 
cepting young  timber,  ho  opened  out  distant  views  of  the 


II. 


THE  FAMILY  TREE. 


37 


landscape,  and  at  the  same  time  preserved  many  a  monarch 
of  the  forest.1 


THE   FAMILY   TREE. 


My  father  modelled  old  castles,  old  trees,  and  suchlike 
objects  as  he  wished  to  introduce  into  his  landscapes.  The 
above  illustration,  may  perhaps  give  a  slight  idea  of  his 

1  It  is  even  now  to  be  deeply  deplored  that  those  who  inherit  or  come 
into  possession  of  landed  estates  do  not  feel  sufficiently  impressed  with 
the  possession  of  such  grand  memorials  of  the  past.  Alas  !  how  often 
have  we  to  lament  the  want  of  taste  that  leads  to  the  sacrifice  of  these 


38  PLANTING  BY  ARTILLERY.  CHAP, 

artistic  skill  as  a  modeller.  I  specially  refer  to  this,  which 
he  called  "  The  Family  Tree,"  as  he  required  each  member 
of  his  family  to  assist  in  its  production.  We  each  made  a 
twig  or  small  branch,  which  he  cleverly  fixed  into  its  place 
as  a  part  of  the  whole.  The  model  tree  in  question  was 
constructed  of  wire  slightly  twisted  together,  so  as  to  form 
the  main  body  of  a  branch.  It  was  then  subdivided  into 
branchlets,  and  finally  into  individual  twigs.  All  these, 
combined  together  by  his  dexterous  hand,  resulted  in  the 
model  of  an  old  leafless  tree,  so  true  and  correct,  that  any 
one  would  have  thought  that  it  had  been  modelled  direct 
from  nature. 

The  Duke  of  Athol  consulted  my  father  as  to  the  im- 
provements which  he  desired  to  make  in  his  woodland 
scenery  near  Dunkeld.  The  Duke  was  desirous  that  a  rocky 
crag,  called  Craigybarus,  should  be  planted  with  trees,  to 
relieve  the  grim  barrenness  of  its  appearance.  But  it  was 
impossible  for  any  man  to  climb  the  crag  in  order  to  set 
seeds  or  plants  in  the  clefts  of  the  rocks.  A  happy  idea 
struck  my  father.  Having  observed  in  front  of  the  castle 
a  pair  of  small  cannon  used  for  firing  salutes,  it  occurred 
to  him  to  turn  them  to  account  His  object  was  to  deposit 
the  seeds  of  the  various  trees  amongst  the  soil  in  the  clefts 
of  the  crag.  A  tinsmith  in  the  village  was  ordered  to  make 
a  number  of  canisters  with  covers.  The  canisters  were 
filled  with  all  sorts  of  suitable  tree  seeds.  A  cannon  was 
loaded,  and  the  canisters  were  fired  up  against  the  high 
face  of  the  rock.  They  burst  and  scattered  the  seed  in  all 

venerable  treasures.  Would  that  the  young  men  at  our  universities — 
especially  those  likely  to  inherit  estates — were  impressed  with  tho 
importance  of  preserving  them.  They  would  thus  confer  an  inestim- 
able benefit  to  thousands.  About  forty  years  ago  Lord  Cockburn 
Riblished  a  pamphlet  on  How  to  Destroy  the  Beauty  of  Edinburgh  I 
e  enforced  the  charm  of  green  foliage  in  combination  with  street 
architecture.  The  burgesses  were  then  cutting  down  trees.  His 
lordship  went  so  far  as  to  say  "  that  ho  would  as  soon  cut  down  a 
burgess  as  a  tree!"  Siuce  then  the  growth  of  trees  in  Edinburgh, 
especially  in  what  was  once  the  North  Loch,  has  been  greatly  improved ; 
and  might  be  still  further  improved  if  that  famous  tree,  "The  London 
plane,"  were  employed. 


Zi.  ABANDONS  PORTRAIT  PAINTING.  39 

directions.  Some  years  after,  when  my  father  revisited 
the  place,  he  was  delighted  to  find  that  his  scheme  of 
planting  by  artillery  had  proved  completely  successful; 
for  the  trees  were  flourishing  luxuriantly  in  all  the  recesses 
of  the  cliff.  This  was  another  instance  of  my  father's  happy 
faculty  of  resourcefulness. 

Certain  circumstances  about  this  time  compelled  my 
father  almost  entirely  to  give  up  portrait  painting  and 
betake  himself  to  another  branch  of  the  fine  arts.  The 
earnest  and  lively  interest  which  he  took  in  the  state  of 
public  affairs,  and  the  necessity  which  then  existed  for 
reforming  the  glaring  abuses  of  the  State,  led  him  to  speak 
out  his  mind  freely  on  the  subject.  Edinburgh  was  then 
under  the  reign  of  the  Dundases ;  and  scarcely  anybody 
dared  to  mutter  his  objections  to  anything  perpetrated  by 
the  "  powers  that  be."  The  city  was  then  a  much  smaller 
place  than  it  is  now.  There  was  more  gossip,  and  perhaps 
more  espionage,  among  the  better  classes,  who  were  few  in 
number. 

At  all  events,  my  father's  frank  opinions  on  political 
subjects  began  to  be  known.  He  attended  Fox  dinners. 
He  was  intimate  with  men  of  known  reforming  views.  All 
this  was  made  the  subject  of  general  talk.  Accordingly, 
my  father  received  many  hints  from  aristocratic  and 
wealthy  personages,  that  "  if  this  went  on  any  longer  they 
would  withdraw  from  him  their  employment.0  My  father 
did  not  alter  his  course ;  it  was  right  and  honest.  But  he 
suffered  nevertheless.  His  income  from  portrait  painting 
fell  off  rapidly. 

At  length  he  devoted  himself  to  landscape  painting.  It 
was  a  freer  and  more  enjoyable  life.  Instead  of  painting 
the  faces  of  those  who  were  perhaps  without  character  or 
attractiveness,  he  painted  the  fresh  and  ever-beautiful  face 
of  nature.  The  field  of  his  employment  in  this  respect  was 
almost  inexhaustible.  His  artistic  talent  in  this  delightful 
branch  of  art  was  in  the  highest  sense  congenial  to  his 
mind  and  feelings  ;  and  in  course  of  time  the  results  of  his 
new  field  of  occupation  proved  thoroughly  satisfactory.  In 


40 


FOLLOWS   LANDSCAPE  PAINTING.  CHAP. 


NO.  47  YUKK  TI.ACE,  EDINBURGH. 


fact,  men  of  the  highest  rank  with  justice  entitled  him  the 
"Father  of  landscape  painting  in  Scotland." 

At  the  same  time,  when  changing  his  branch  of  art, 
he  opened  a  class  in  his  own  house  for  giving  practical 
instruction  in  the  art  of  landscape  painting.  He  removed 


ii.  HOUSE  IN  YORK  PLACE.  41 

his  house  and  studio  from  St.  James's  Square  to  No.  47 
York  Place.  There  was  at  the  upper  part  of  this  house  a 
noble  and  commodious  room.  There  he  held  his  class. 
The  house  was  his  own,  and  was  built  after  his  own  designs. 
A  splendid  prospect  was  seen  from  the  upper  windows ; 
and  especially  from  the  Belvidere,  which  he  had  constructed 
on  the  summit  of  the  roof.  The  view  extended  from 
Stirling  in  the  west  to  the  Bass  Eock  in  the  east.  In  fine 
summer  evenings  the  sun  was  often  seen  setting  behind 
Ben  Lomond  and  the  more  conspicuous  of  the  Perthshire 
mountains. 

My  father  did  not  confine  himself  to  landscape  painting, 
or  to  the  instruction  of  his  classes.  He  was  an  all-round 
man.  He  had  something  of  the  Universal  about  him.  He 
was  a  painter,  an  architect,  and  a  mechanic.  Above  all, 
he  possessed  a  powerful  store  of  common  sense.  Of  course, 
I  am  naturally  a  partial  judge  of  my  father's  character ; 
but  this  I  may  say,  that  during  my  experience  of  over 
seventy  years  I  have  never  known  a  more  incessantly 
industrious  man.  His  hand  and  mind  were  always  at  work 
from  morn  till  night.  During  the  time  that  he  was  losing 
his  business  in  portrait  painting,  he  set  to  work  and  painted 
scenery  for  the  theatres.  The  late  David  Eoberts — him- 
self a  scene  painter  of  the  highest  character — said  that  his 
style  was  founded  upon  that  of  Nasmyth.1  Stanfield  was 

1  David  Roberts,  R.A.,  in  liis  Autobiography,  gives  the  following 
recollections  of  Alexander  Nasmyth  : — "In  1819  I  commenced  my 
career  as  principal  scene  painter  in  the  Theatre  Royal,  Glasgow.  This 
theatre  was  immense  in  its  size  and  appointments — in  magnitude 
exceeding  Drury  Lane  and  Covent  Garden.  The  stock  scenery  had 
been  painted  by  Alexander  Nasmyth,  and  consisted  of  a  series  of 
pictures  far  surpassing  anything  of  the  kind  I  had  ever  seen.  These 
included  chambers,  palaces,  streets,  landscapes,  and  forest  scenery. 
One,  I  remember  particularly,  was  the  outside  of  a  Norman  castle,  and 
another  of  a  cottage  charmingly  painted,  and  of  which  I  have  a  sketch. 
But  the  act  scene,  which  was  a  view  on  the  Clyde  looking  towards  the 
Highland  mountains,  with  Dumbarton  Castle  in  the  middle  distance, 
was  such  a  combination  of  magnificent  scenery,  so  wonderfully  painted, 
that  it  excited  universal  admiration.  These  productions  I  studied 
incessantly  ;  and  on  them  my  style,  if  I  have  any,  was  originally 
founded." 


42  LAYING  OUT  THE  NEW  TOWN.  CHAP. 

another  of  his  friends.  On  one  occasion  Stanfield  showed 
him  his  sketch-book,  observing  that  he  wished  to  form  a 
style  of  his  own.  "  Young  man,"  said  Nasmyth,  "  there's 
but  one  style  an  artist  should  endeavour  to  attain,  and 
that  is  the  style  of  nature  ;  the  nearer  you  can  get  to  that 
the  better." 

My  father  was  greatly  interested  in  the  architectural 
beauty  of  his  native  city,  and  he  was  professionally  con- 
sulted by  the  authorities  about  the  laying  out  of  the  streets 
of  the  New  Town.  The  subject  occupied  much  of  his  time 
and  thought,  especially  when  resting  from  the  mental 
fatigue  arising  from  a  long  sitting  at  the  easel.  It  was  his 
regular  practice  to  stroll  about  where  the  building  work 
was  in  progress,  or  where  new  roads  were  being  laid  out, 
and  carefully  watch  the  proceedings.  This  was  probably 
due  to  the  taste  which  he  had  inherited  from  his  forebears 
— more  especially  from  his  father,  who  had  begun  the 
buildings  of  the  New  Town.  My  father  took  pleasure  in 
modelling  any  improvement  that  occurred  to  him ;  and  in 
discussing  the  subject  with  the  architects  and  builders  who 
were  professionally  engaged  in  the  works.  His  admirable 
knack  of  modelling  the  contour  of  the  natural  surface  of 
the  ground,  and  applying  it  to  the  proposed  new  roads  or 
new  buildings,  was  striking  and  characteristic.  His  efforts 
in  this  direction  were  so  thoroughly  disinterested  that  those 
in  office  were  all  the  more  anxious  to  carry  out  his  views. 
He  sought  for  no  reward ;  but  his  excellent  advice  was  not 
unrecognised.  In  testimony  of  the  regard  which  the 
Magistrates  of  Edinburgh  had  for  his  counsel  and  services, 
they  presented  him  in  1815  with  a  sum  of  £200,  together 
with  a  most  complimentary  letter  acknowledging  the  value 
of  his  disinterested  advice.  It  was  addressed  to  him  under 
cover,  directed  to  "  Alexandelr  Nasmyth,  Architect." 

He  was,  indeed,  not  unworthy  of  the  name.  He  was 
the  architect  of  the  Dean  Bridge,  which  spans  the  deep 
valley  of  the  Water  of  Leith,  north-west  of  the  New  Town. 
Sir  John  Nesbit,  the  owner  of  the  property  north  of  the 
stream,  employed  my  father  to  make  a  design  for  the  ex- 


II. 


ST.   BERNARD'S  WELL. 


43 


tension  of  the  city  to  his  estate.  The  result  was  the 
construction  of  the  Dean  Bridge,  and  the  roads  approach- 
ing it  from  both  sides.  The  Dean  Estate  was  thus 
rendered  as  easy  and  convenient  to  reach  as  any  of  the 
level  streets  of  Edinburgh.  The  construction  of  the  bridge 
was  superintended  by  the  late  James  Jardine,  C.E.1 


ST.    BERNAHDS    WELL. 

From  the  Dean  Bridge  another  of  my  father's  architec- 
tural buildings  may  be  seen,  at  St.  Bernard's  Well.  It 
was  constructed  at  the  instance  of  his  friend  Lord  Garden- 
stone.  The  design  consists  of  a  graceful  circular  temple, 
built  over  a  spring  of  mineral  water,  which  issues  from 
the  rock  below.  It  was  dedicated  to  Hygeia,  the  Goddess 

1  Mr.  Telford  was  afterwards  called  upon  to  widen  the  bridge.  He 
threw  out  parapets  on  each  side,  but  they  did  not  improve  the  original 
design. 


NELSON'S  MONUMENT. 


CHAP. 


HAVE   LJIiLN. 


of  Health.  The 
whole  of  the  de- 
tails are  beauti- 
fully finished,  and 
the  basement  of 
the  design  will  be 
admired  by  every 
true  artist.  It  is 
regarded  as  a 
great  ornament, 
and  is  thoroughly 
in  keeping  with 
the  beauty  of 
the  surrounding 
scenery. 

Shortly  after 
the  death  of  Lord 
Nelson  it  was  pro- 
posed to  erect  a 
monument  to  his 
memory  on  the 
Calton  Hill.  My 
father  supplied  a 
design,  which  was 
laid  before  the 
Monument  Com- 
mittee. It  was  so 
much  approved 
that  the  required 
sum  was  rapidly 
subscribed.  But 
as  the  estimated 
cost  of  this  erec- 
tion was  found 
slightly  to  exceed 
the  amount  sub- 
scribed, a  nomin- 
ally cheaper  design 


ii.  BOW-AND-STRING  BRIDGES.  45 

was  privately  adopted.  It  was  literally  a  job.  The 
vulgar,  churn -like  monument  was  thus  thrust  on  the 
public  and  actually  erected;  and  there  it  stands  to  this 
day,  a  piteous  sight  to  beholders.  It  was  eventually  found 
greatly  to  exceed  in  cost  the  amount  of  the  estimate  for 
my  father's  design.  I  give  a  sketch  of  my  father's  me- 
morial ;  and  I  am  led  to  do  this  because  it  is  erroneously 
alleged  that  he  was  the  architect  of  the  present  inverted 
spy  glass,  called  "  Nelson's  Monument." 

Then,  with  respect  to  my  father's  powers  as  a  mechanic. 
This  was  an  inherited  faculty,  and  I  leave  my  readers  to 
infer  from  the  following  pages  whether  I  have  not  had  my 
fair  share  of  this  inheritance.  Besides  his  painting  room, 
my  father  had  a  workroom  fitted  up  with  all  sorts  of 
mechanical  tools.  It  was  one  of  his  greatest  pleasures  to 
occupy  himself  there  as  a  relief  from  sitting  at  the  easel, 
or  while  within  doors  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather, 
The  walls  and  shelves  of  his  workroom  were  crowded  with 
a  multitude  of  artistic  and  ingenious  mechanical  objects, 
nearly  all  of  which  were  the  production  of  his  own  hands. 
Many  of  them  were  associated  with  the  most  eventful 
incidents  in  his  life.  He  only  admitted  his  most  intimate 
friends,  or  such  as  could  understand  and  appreciate  the 
variety  of  objects  connected  with  art  and  mechanism,  to 
his  workroom.  His  natural  taste  for  neatness  and  arrange- 
ment gave  it  a  very  orderly  aspect,  however  crowded  its 
walls  and  shelves  might  be.  Everything  was  in  its  place, 
and  there  was  a  place  for  everything.  It  was  in  this 
workroom  that  I  first  began  to  handle  mechanical  tools. 
It  was  my  primary  technical  school — the  very  foreground 
of  my  life. 

I  may  mention  one  or  two  of  my  father's  mechanical 
efforts,  or  rather  his  inventions  in  applied  science.  One 
of  the  most  important  was  the  "  bo w-and- string  bridge,"  as 
he  first  called  it,  to  which  he  early  directed  his  attention. 
He  invented  this  important  method  of  construction  about 
the  year  1794.  The  first  bow -and -string  bridge  was 
erected  in  the  island  of  St.  Helena  over  a  deep  ravine. 


46 


ROOFS  AND  BRIDGES. 


CHAP. 


BOW-AND-STRINO   ROOFS  AND   BRIDGES. 


Many  considered,  from  its  apparent  slightness,  that  it  was 
not  fitted  to  sustain  any  considerable  load.  A  remarkable 
and  convincing  proof  was,  however,  given  of  its  stability 


ii.  THE  SUNDAY  RIVET.  47 

by  the  passage  over  it  of  a  herd  of  wild  oxen,  that  rushed 
across  without  the  slightest  damage  to  its  structure.  After 
so  severe  a  test  it  was  for  many  succeeding  years  employed 
as  a  most  valuable  addition  to  the  accessibility  of  an 
important  portion  of  the  island.  The  bow -and -string 
bridge  has  since  been  largely  employed  in  spanning  wide 
spaces  over  which  suburban  and  other  railways  pass,  and 
in  roofing  over  such  stations  as  those  at  Birmingham, 
Charing  Cross,  and  other  Great  Metropolitan  centres,  as 
well  as  in  bow -and -string  bridges  over  rivers.  I  give 
the  fac-simile  of  his  original  drawings  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  our  great  railway  engineers  the  originator  of  the 
graceful  and  economical  method  of  spanning  wide  spaces, 
now  practised  in  every  part  of  the  civilised  world.1 

Another  of  his  inventions  was  the  method  of  riveting 
by  compression  instead  of  by  blows  of  the  hammer.  It 
originated  in  a  slight  circumstance.  One  wet,  wintry 
Sunday  morning  he  went  into  his  workroom.  There  were 
some  slight  mechanical  repairs  to  be  performed  upon  a 
beautiful  little  stove  of  his  own  construction.  To  repair 
it,  iron  rivets  were  necessary  to  make  it  serviceable.  But 
as  the  hammering  of  the  hot  rivets  would  annoy  his  neigh- 
bours by  the  unwelcome  sound  of  the  hammer,  he  solved 
the  difficulty  by  using  the  jaws  of  his  bench  vice  to  squeeze 
in  the  hot  rivets  when  put  into  their  places.  The 
stove  was  thus  quickly  repaired  in  the  most  perfect 
silence. 

This  was,  perhaps,  the  first  occasion  on  which  a  squeeze 
or  compressive  action  was  substituted  for  the  percussive 
action  of  the  hammer,  in  closing  red-hot  rivets,  for  com- 
bining together  pieces  of  stout  sheet  or  plate  iron.  This 
system  of  riveting  was  long  afterwards  patented  by  Smith 
of  Deanston  in  combination  with  William  Fairbairn  of 
Manchester;  and  it  was  employed  in  riveting  the  plates 

1  The  original  drawings  of  these  bo w-and- string  bridges,  of  various 
spans,  are  now  deposited  at  the  Gallery  of  the  Museum  of  Naval  Archi- 
tecture at  South  Kensington,  and  are  signed  "Alexander  Nasmyth 
1796." 


48  THE  SUNDAY  RIVET.  CHAP. 

used  in  the  construction  of  the  bridges  over  the  River 
Conway  and  the  Menai  Straits. 

It  is  also  universally  used  in  boiler  and  girder  making, 
and  in  all  other  wrought-iron  structures  in  which  thorough 
sound  riveting  is  absolutely  essential ;  and  by  the  employ- 
ment of  hydraulic  power  in  a  portable  form  a  considerable 
portion  of  iron  shipbuilding  is  effected  by  the  silent  squeeze 
system  in  place  of  hammers,  much  to  the  advantage  of 
tlie  soundness  of  the  work.  My  father  frequently,  in 
aftertimes,  practised  this  mode  of  riveting  by  compression 
in  place  of  using  the  blow  of  a  hammer ;  and  in  remem- 
brance of  the  special  circumstances  under  which  he  con- 
trived this  silent  and  most  effective  method  of  riveting, 
he  named  it  "The  Sunday  Rivet." 


CHAPTER  III. 
AN  ARTIST'S  FAMILY. 

ALTHOUGH  Alexander  Nasmyth  had  to  a  considerable 
extent  lost  his  aristocratic  connection  as  a  portrait  painter, 
yet  many  kind  and  generous  friends  gathered  round  him. 
During  his  sojourn  in  Italy,  in  1783,  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  Sir  James  Hall  of 
Dunglass,  Haddingtonshire.  The  acquaintance  afterwards 
ripened  into  a  deeply-rooted  friendship. 

During  the  winter  season  Sir  James  resided  with  his 
family  in  his  town  house  in  George  Street.  He  was 
passionately  attached  to  the  pursuit  of  art  and  science. 
He  practised  the  art  of  painting  in  my  father's  room,  and 
was  greatly  helped  by  him  in  the  requisite  manipulative 
skill.  Sir  James  was  at  that  time  engaged  in  writing  his 
well-known  essay  "  On  the  Origin  of  Gothic  Architecture," 
and  in  this  my  father  was  of  important  use  to  him.  He 
executed  the  greater  number  of  the  illustrations  for  this 
beautiful  work.  The  book  when  published  had  a  consider- 
able influence  in  restoring  the  taste  of  architects  to  a  style 
which  they  had  heretofore  either  neglected  or  degraded. 

Besides  his  enthusiasm  in  art  and  architecture,  Sir  James 
devoted  a  great  deal  of  time  to  the  study  of  geology. 
The  science  was  then  in  its  infancy.  Being  an  acute 
observer,  Hall's  attention  was  first  attracted  to  the  subject 
by  the  singular  geological  features  of  the  sea-coast  near 
his  mansion  at  Dunglass.  The  neighbourhood  of  Edin- 
burgh also  excited  his  interest.  The  upheaval  of  the  rocks 
by  volcanic  heat — as  seen  in  the  Castle  Hill,  the  Calton 


50  STUDY  OF  GEOLOGY.  CIIAP. 

Hill,  and  Arthur's  Seat — formed  in  a  great  measure  the 
foundation  of  the  picturesque  beauty  of  the  city.  Those 
were  the  days  of  the  Wernerian  and  Huttonian  controversy 
as  to  the  origin  of  the  changes  on  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
Sir  James  Hall  was  President  of  the  Edinburgh  Royal 
Society,  and  necessarily  took  an  anxious  interest  in  the 
discussions.  He  observed  and  experimented,  and  estab- 
lished the  true  volcanic  nature  of  the  composition  and 
formation  of  the  rocks  and  mountains  which  surround 
Edinburgh. 

I  have  been  led  to  speak  of  this  subject,  because  when 
a  boy  I  was  often  present  at  the  discussions  of  these  great 
principles.  My  father,  Sir  James  Hall,  Professors  Playfair 
and  Leslie,  took  their  accustomed  walks  round  Edinburgh, 
and  I  clung  eagerly  to  their  words.  Though  unable  to 
understand  everything  that  was  said,  these  walks  had  a 
great  influence  upon  my  education.  Indeed,  what  educa- 
tion can  compare  with  that  of  listening  attentively  to  the 
conversation  and  interchange  of  thought  of  men  of  the 
highest  intelligence  ?  It  is  on  such  occasions  that  ideas,  not 
mere  words,  take  hold  of  the  memory,  and  abide  there 
until  the  close  of  life. 

Besides  mixing  in  the  society  of  scientific  men,  my 
father  enjoyed  a  friendly  intercourse  with  the  artists  of  his 
day.  He  was  often  able  to  give  substantial  help  and 
assistance  to  young  students ;  and  he  was  most  liberal  in 
giving  them  valuable  practical  instruction,  and  in  assisting 
them  over  the  manipulative  difficulties  which  lay  in  their 
way.  He  was  especially  assiduous  when  he  saw  them 
inspired  by  the  true  spirit  of  art,  and  full  of  application 
and  industry, — without  which  nothing  can  be  accomplished. 
Amongst  these  young  men  were  David  Wilkie,  Francis 
Grant,  David  Roberts,  Clarkson  Stanfield,  William  Allan, 
Andrew  Geddes,  "  Grecian  "  Williams,  Lizars  the  engraver, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Thomson  of  Duddingston. 

Henry  Raeburn  was  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends 
and  companions.  He  considered  Raeburn's  broad  and 
masterly  style  of  portrait  painting  as  an  era  in  Scottish 


III.  ARTISTIC  FRIENDS.  .51 

art.  Eaebura,  with  innate  tact,  discerned  the  character  of 
his  sitters,  and  he  imparted  so  much  of  their  individuality 
into  his  portraits  as  to  make  them  admirable  likenesses  in 
the  highest  sense.  In  connection  with  Raeburn,  I  may 
mention  that  when  he  was  knighted  by  George  IV.  in 
1822,  my  father,  who  was  then  at  the  head  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Scotland,  was  appointed  chairman  at  the  dinner 
held  to  do  honour  to  the  great  Scottish  portrait  painter. 

Eaeburn  often  joined  my  father  in  his  afternoon  walks 
round  Edinburgh — a  relaxation  so  very  desirable  after 
hours  of  close  attention  to  artistic  work.  They  took 
delight  in  the  wonderful  variety  of  picturesque  scenery  by 
which  the  city  is  surrounded.  The  walks  about  Arthur's 
Seat  were  the  most  enjoyable  of  all.  When  a  boy  I  had 
often  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  them,  and  of  listening 
to  their  conversation.  I  thus  picked  up  many  an  idea 
that  served  me  well  in  after  life.  Indeed,  I  may  say,  after 
a  long  experience,  that  there  is  no  class  of  men  whose 
company  I  more  delight  in  than  that  of  artists.  Their 
innate  and  highly-cultivated  power  of  observation,  not  only 
as  regards  the  ever-varying  aspects  of  nature,  but  also  as 
regards  the  quaint,  droll,  and  humorous  varieties  of  char- 
acter, concur  in  rendering  their  conversation  most  delight- 
ful. I  look  back  on  these  walks  as  among  the  brightest 
points  in  my  existence.  I  have  been  led  to  digress  on  this 
subject.  Although  more  correctly  belonging  to  my  father's 
life,  yet  it  is  so  amalgamated  with  my  own  that  it  almost 
forms  part  of  it,  and  it  is  difficult  for  me  to  separate  the 
one  from  the  other. 

And  then  there  were  the  pleasant  evenings  at  home. 
When  the  day's  work  was  over,  friends  looked  in  to  have 
a  fireside  crack — sometimes  scientific  men,  sometimes  artists, 
often  both.  They  were  all  made  welcome.  There  was  no 
formality  about  their  visits.  Had  they  been  formal,  there 
would  have  been  comparatively  little  pleasure.  The  visitor 
came  in  with  his  "  Good  e'en,"  and  seated  himself.  The 
family  went  on  with  their  work  as  before.  The  girls  were 
usually  busy  with  their  needles,  and  others  with  pen  and 


52  THE  SOCIAL  GATHERINGS.  CHAP. 

pencil.  My  father  would  go  on  with  the  artistic  work  he 
had  in  hand,  for  his  industry  was  incessant.  He  would 
model  a  castle  or  a  tree,  or  proceed  with  some  proposed 
improvement  of  the  streets  or  approaches  of  the  rapidly- 
expanding  city.  Among  the  most  agreeable  visitors  were 
Professor  Leslie,  James  Jardine,  C.E.,  and  Dr.  Brewster. 
Their  conversation  was  specially  interesting.  They  brought 
up  the  last  new  thing  in  science,  in  discovery,  in  history, 
or  in  campaigning,  for  the  war  was  then  raging  throughout 
Europe. 

The  artists  were  a  most  welcome  addition  to  the  family 
group.  Many  a  time  did  they  set  the  table  in  a  roar  with 
their  quaint  and  droll  delineations  of  character.  These 
unostentatious  gatherings  of  friends  about  our  fireside  were 
a  delightful  social  institution.  The  remembrance  of  them 
lights  up  my  recollection  of  the  happiest  period  of  a  gener- 
ally happy  life.  Could  I  have  been  able  to  set  forth  the 
brightness  and  cheerfulness  of  these  happy  evenings  at  my 
father's  house,  I  am  fain  to  think  that  my  description  might 
have  been  well  worth  reading.  But  all  the  record  of  them 
that  remains  is  a  most  cherished  recollection  of  their 
genial  tonej  and  harmony,  which  makes  me  think  that, 
although  in  these  days  of  rapid  transit  over  earth  and 
ocean,  and  surrounded  as  we  are  with  the  results  of  applied 
scientific  knowledge,  we  are  not  a  bit  more  happy  than 
when  all  the  vaunted  triumphs  of  science  and  so-called 
education  were  in  embryo. 

The  supper  usually  followed,  for  my  father  would  not 
allow  his  visitors  to  go  away  supperless.  The  meal  did 
not  amount  to  much.  Rizard  or  Finnan  haddies,  or  a  dish 
of  oysters,  with  a  glass  of  Edinburgh  ale,  and  a  rummer  of 
toddy,  concluded  these  friendly  evenings.  The  cry  of 
u  Caller  Aou  "  was  constantly  heard  in  the  streets  below  of 
an  evening.  When  the  letter  r  was  in  the  name  of  the 
month,  the  supply  of  oysters  was  abundant.  The  freshest 
oysters,  of  the  most  glorious  quality,  were  to  be  had  at 
2s.  Gd.  the  hundred !  And  what  could  be  more  refreshing 
1  for  my  father's  guests?  These  unostentatious  and 


TIT.  THE  ARTIST'S  FAMILY.  53 

inexpensive  gatherings  of  friends  were  a  most  delightful 
social  institution  among  the  best  middle-class  people  of 
Edinburgh  some  sixty  or  seventy  years  ago.  What  they 
are  now  I  cannot  tell.  But  I  fear  they  have  disappeared 
in  the  more  showy  and  costly  tastes  that  have  sprung  up 
in  the  progress  of  what  is  called  "modern  society." 

No  part  of  my  father's  character  was  more  admirable 
than  his  utter  unselfishness.  He  denied  himself  many 
things,  that  he  might  give  the  greater  pleasure  to  his  wife 
and  children.  He  would  scarcely  take  part  in  any  enjoy- 
ment, unless  they  could  have  their  fair  share  of  it.  In  all 
this  he  was  faithfully  followed  by  my  mother.  The 
admirable  example  of  well-sustained  industry^  that  was 
always  before  her,  sustained  her  in  her  efforts  for  the  good 
of  her  family.  She  was  intelligently  interested  in  all  that 
related  to  her  husband's  business  and  interests,  as  well  as 
in  his  recreative  enjoyments.  The  household  affairs  were 
under  her  skilful  guidance.  She  conducted  them  with 
economy,  and  yet  with  generous  liberality,  free  from  the 
least  taint  of  ostentation  or  extravagance.  The  home  fire- 
side was  a  scene  of  cheerfulness.  And  most  of  our  family 
have  been  blest  with  this  sunny  gift.  Indeed,  a  merrier 
family  circle  I  have  never  seen.  There  were  twelve  persons 
round  the  table  to  be  provided  for,  besides  two  servants. 
This  required,  on  my  mother's  part,  a  great  deal  of  man- 
agement, as  every  housekeeper  will  know.  Yet  everything 
was  provided  and  paid  for  within  the  year's  income. 

The  family  result  of  my  father  and  mother's  happy 
marriage  was  four  sons  and  seven  daughters.  Patrick,  the 
eldest,  was  born  in  1787.  He  was  called  after  my  father's 
dear  and  constant  friend,  Patrick  Miller  of  Dalswinton.  I 
will  speak  by  and  by  of  his  artistic  reputation.  Then  followed 
a  long  succession  of  daughters — Jane,  the  eldest,  was  born 
in  1788;  Barbara  in  1790;  Margaret  in  1791;  Elizabeth  in 
1793;  Anneinl798;  Charlotte  in  1804.  Then  came  a  suc- 
cession of  three  sons — Alexander,  George,  an d  James.  There 
followed  another  daughter,  Mary  ;  but  as  she  only  lived  for 
about  eighteen  months,  I  remained  the  youngest  of  the  family. 


64  MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  HOUSEHOLD.          CJIAF. 

My  sisters  all  possessed,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  an 
innate  love  of  art,  and  by  their  diligent  application  they 
acquired  the  practice  of  painting  landscape  in  oils.  My 
father's  admirable  system  and  method  of  teaching  rendered 
them  expert  in  making  accurate  sketches  from  nature, 
which,  as  will  afterwards  be  seen,  they  turned  to  good 
account  My  eldest  sister,  Jane,  was  in  all  respects  a  most 
estimable  character,  and  a  great  help  to  my  mother  in  the 
upbringing  of  the  children.  Jane  was  full  of  sound  common 
sense;  her  judgment  seemed  to  be  beyond  her  years. 
Because  of  this  the  younger  members  of  the  family  jokingly 
nicknamed  her  "  Old  Solid" /  Even  my  father  consulted 
her  in  every  case  of  importance  in  reference  to  domestic  and 
financial  affairs.  I  had  the  great  good  fortune,  when  a  child, 
to  be  placed  under  her  special  protection,  and  I  have 
reason  to  be  thankful  for  the  affectionate  care  which  she 
took  of  me  during  the  first  six  years  of  my  life. 

Besides  their  early  education  in  art,  my  mother  was 
equally  earnest  in  her  desire  to  give  her  daughters  a 
thorough  practical  knowledge  in  every  department  and 
detail  of  household  management.  When  they  had  attained 
a  suitable  age  they  were  in  succession  put  in  charge  of  all 
the  household  duties  for  two  weeks  at  a  time.  The  keys 
were  given  over  to  them,  together  with  the  household 
books,  and  at  the  end  of  their  time  their  books  were 
balanced  to  a  farthing.  They  were  then  passed  on  to  the 
next  in  succession.  One  of  the  most  important  branches 
of  female  education — the  management  of  the  domestic 
affairs  of  a  family,  the  superintendence  of  the  cooking  so 
as  to  avoid  waste  of  food,  the  regularity  of  the  meals,  and 
the  general  cleaning  up  of  the  rooms — was  thus  thoroughly 
attained  in  its  best  and  most  practical  forms.  And  under 
the  admirable  superintendence  of  my  mother  everything  in 
our  family  went  on  like  clockwork. 

My  father's  object  was  to  render  each  and  all  of  his 
children— whether  boys  or  girls — independent  on  their 
arrival  at  mature  years.  Accordingly,  he  sedulously  kept 
up  the  attention  of  his  daughters  to  fine  art.  By  this 


rn.  THE  DRAWING  CLASSES.  55 

means  he  enabled  them  to  assist  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
family  while  at  home,  and  afterwards  to  maintain  themselves 
by  the  exercise  of  their  own  abilities  and  industry  after  they 
had  left.  To  accomplish  this  object,  as  already  described, 
he  set  on  foot  drawing  classes,  which  were  managed  by  his 
six  daughters,  superintended  by  himself. 

Edinburgh  was  at  that  time  the  resort  of  many  county 
families.  The  war  which  raged  abroad  prevented  their 
going  to  the  Continent.  They  therefore  remained  at  home, 
and  the  Scotch  families  for  the  most  part  took  up  their 
residence  in  Edinburgh.  There  were  many  young  ladies 
desiring  to  complete  their  accomplishments,  and  hence  the 
establishment  of  my  sisters'  art  class.  It  was  held  in  the 
large  painting-room  in  the  upper  part  of  the  house.  It  soon 
became  one  of  the  most  successful  institutions  in  Edinburgh. 
When  not  engaged  in  drawing  and  oil  painting,  the  young 
ladies  were  occupied  in  sketching  from  nature,  under  the 
superintendence  of  my  sisters,  in  the  outskirts  of  Edinburgh. 
This  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  exercises  in  which  they 
could  be  engaged  j  and  it  also  formed  the  foundation  for 
many  friendships  which  only  terminated  with  life. 

My  father  increased  the  interest  of  the  classes  by  giving 
little  art  lectures.  They  were  familiar  but  practical.  He 
never  gave  lectures  as  such,  but  rather  demonstrations.  It 
was  only  when  a  pupil  encountered  some  technical  difficulty, 
or  was  adopting  some  wrong  method  of  proceeding,  that  he 
undertook  to  guide  them  by  his  words  and  practical  illus- 
trations. His  object  was  to  embue  the  minds  of  the  pupils 
with  high  principles  of  art.  He  would  take  up  their  brushes 
and  show  by  his  dexterous  and  effective  touches  how  to 
bring  out,  with  marvellous  ease,  the  right  effects  of  the 
landscape.  The  other  pupils  would  come  and  stand  behind 
him,  to  see  and  hear  his  clear  instructions  carried  into 
actual  practice  on  the  work  before  him.  He  often  illus- 
trated his  little  special  lessons  by  his  stores  of  instructive 
and  interesting  anecdotes,  which  no  doubt  helped  to  rivet 
his  practice  all  the  deeper  into  their  minds.  Thus  the 
Nasmyth  classes  soon  became  the  fashion.  In  many  cases 


56  USES  OF  PENCIL  DRAWING.  CIIAP. 

both  mothers  and  daughters  might  be  seen  at  work  together 
in  that  delightful  painting-room.  I  have  occasionally  met 
with  some  of  them  in  after  years,  who  referred  to  those 
pleasant  hours  as  among  the  most  delightful  they  had  ever 
spent. 

These  classes  were  continued  for  many  years.  In  the 
meantime  my  sisters'  diligence  and  constant  practice  enabled 
them  in  course  of  time  to  exhibit  their  works  in  the  fine 
art  exhibitions  of  Edinburgh.  Each  had  her  own  indivi- 
duality of  style  and  manner,  by  which  their  several  works 
were  easily  distinguished  from  each  other.  Indeed,  who- 
ever works  after  Nature  will  have  a  style  of  their  own. 
They  all  continued  the  practice  of  oil  painting  until  an 
advanced  age.  The  average  duration  of  their  lives  was 
about  seventy-eight. 

There  was  one  point  which  my  father  diligently  im- 
pressed upon  his  pupils,  and  that  was  the  felicity  and  the 
happiness  attendant  upon  pencil  drawing.  He  was  a 
master  of  the  pencil,  and  in  his  off-hand  sketches  com- 
municated his  ideas  to  others  in  a  way  that  mere  words 
could  never  have  done.  It  was  his  Graphic  Language.  A 
few  strokes  of  the  pencil  can  convey  ideas  which  quires  of 
writing  would  fail  to  impart.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  gifts  which  a  man  who  has  to  do  with  practical 
subjects  can  possess.  "  The  language  of  the  pencil  "  is  a 
truly  universal  one,  especially  in  communicating  ideas  which 
have  reference  to  material  forms.  And  yet  it  is  in  a  great 
measure  neglected  in  our  modern  system  of  education. 

The  language  of  the  tongue  is  often  used  to  disguise 
our  thoughts,  whereas  the  language  of  the  pencil  is  clear 
and  explicit  Who  that  possesses  this  language  can  fail  to 
look  back  with  pleasure  on  the  course  of  a  journey  illus- 
trated by  pencil  drawings  ?  They  bring  back  to  you  the 
landscapes  you  have  seen,  the  old  streets,  the  pointed  gables, 
the  entrances  to  the  old  churches,  even  the  bits  of  tracery, 
Avith  a  vividness  of  association  such  as  mere  words  could 
never  convey.  Thus,  looking  at  an  old  sketch-book  brings 

iv  to  you  the  recollection  of  a  tour,  however  varied,  and 


GRAPHIC  MEMORANDA.  57 


you  virtually  make  the  journey  over  again  with  its  pictur- 
esque and  beautiful  associations. 

On  many  a  fine  summer's  day  did  my  sisters  make  a 
picnic  excursion  into  the  neighbourhood  of  Edinburgh. 
They  were  accompanied  by  their  pupils,  sketch-book  and 
pencil  in  hand.  As  I  have  already  said,  there  is  no  such 
scenery  near  any  city  that  I  know  of.  Arthur's  Seat  and 
Salisbury  Crags,  Duddingston  Loch,  the  Braid  Hills,  Craig- 
millar  Castle,  Hawthomden,  Roslin,  Habbie's  How,  and 
the  many  valleys  and  rifts  in  the  Pentlands,  with  Edin- 
burgh and  its  Castle  in  the  distance  ;  or  the  scenery  by  the 
sea-shore,  all  round  the  coast  from  Newhaven  to  Gullane 
and  North  Berwick  Law. 

The  excursionists  came  home  laden  with  sketches.  I 
have  still  by  me  a  multitude  of  these  graphic  records  made 
by  my  sisters.  Each  sketch,  however  slight,  strikes  the 
keynote,  as  it  were,  to  many  happy  recollections  of  the 
circumstances,  and  the  persons  who  were  present  at  the 
time  it  was  made.  I  know  not  of  any  such  effective  stimu- 
lant to  the  recollection  of  past  events  as  these  graphic 
memoranda.  Written  words  may  be  forgotten,  but  these 
slight  pencil  recollections  imprint  themselves  on  the  mind 
with  a  force  that  can  never  be  effaced.  Everything  that 
occurred  at  the  time  rises  up  as  fresh  in  the  memory  as  if 
hours  and  not  years  had  passed  since  then.  They  bring 
to  the  mind's  eye  many  dear  ones  who  have  passed  away, 
and  remind  us  that  we  too  must  follow  them. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  this  valuable  art  of 
graphic  memoranda  is  not  more  generally  practised.  It  is 
not  merely  a  most  valuable  help  to  the  memory,  but  it 
educates  the  eye  and  the  hand,  and  enables  us  to  cultivate 
the  faculty  of  definite  observation.  This  is  one  of  tho 
most  valuable  accomplishments  that  I  know  of,  being  the 
means  of  storing  up  ideas,  and  not  mere  words,  in  the 
mental  recollection  of  both  men  and  women. 

Before  I  proceed  to  record  the  recollections  of  my  own 
life,  I  wish  to  say  something  about  my  eldest  brother 
Patrick,  the  well-known  landscape  painter.  He  was 


53  PATRICK  NASMYTH.  CHAP. 

twenty-one  years  older  than  myself.  My  father  was  his 
best  and  almost  his  only  instructor.  At  a  very  early  age 
he  manifested  a  decided  taste  for  drawing  and  painting. 
His  bent  was  landscape.  This  gave  my  father  great 
pleasure,  as  it  was  his  own  favourite  branch  of  art.  The 
boy  acquired  great  skill  in  sketching  trees,  clouds,  plants, 
and  foregrounds.  He  studied  with  wonderful  assiduity 
and  success.  I  possess  many  of  his  graphic  memoranda, 
which  show  the  care  and  industry  with  which  he  educated 
his  eye  and  hand  in  rendering  with  truth  and  fidelity  the 
intimate  details  of  his  art.  The  wild  plants  which  he 
introduced  into  the  foregrounds  of  his  pictures  were  his 
favourite  objects  of  study.  But  of  all  portions  of  landscape 
nature,  the  Sky  was  the  one  that  most  delighted  him.  He 
studied  the  form  and  character  of  clouds — the  resting 
cloud,  the  driving  cloud,  and  the  rain  cloud — and  the  sky 
portions  of  his  paintings  were  thus  rendered  so  beautifully 
attractive. 

He  was  so  earnest  in  his  devotion  to  the  study  of  land- 
scape that  in  some  respects  he  neglected  the  ordinary 
routine  of  school  education.  He  successfully  accomplished 
the  three  R's,  but  after  that  his  school  was  the  fields,  in 
the  face  of  Nature.  He  was  by  no  means  a  Romantic 
painter.  His  taste  was  essentially  for  Home  subjects.  In 
his  landscapes  he  introduced  picturesque  farm-houses  and 
cottages,  with  their  rural  surroundings ;  and  his  advance- 
ment and  success  were  commensurate  with  his  devotion  to 
this  fine  branch  of  art.  The  perfect  truth  with  which  he 
represented  English  scenery,  associated  as  it  is  with  so  many 
home-loving  feelings,  forms  the  special  attractiveness  of  his 
works.  This  has  caused  them  to  be  eagerly  sought  after, 
and  purchased  at  high  prices. 

Patrick  had  a  keen  sense  of  humour,  though  in  other 
respects  he  was  simple  and  unpretending.  He  was  a  great 
reader  of  old-fashioned  novels,  which  indeed  in  those  days 
were  the  only  works  of  the  kind  to  be  met  with.  The 
Arabian  Nights,  Robinson  Crusoe,  The  Mysteries  of  Udolpho, 
and  suchlike,  were  his  favourites,  and  gave  a  healthy  filip 


in.  PATRICK  NASMYTH'S  WORKS.  59 

to  his  imagination.  He  had  also  a  keen  relish  for  music, 
and  used  to  whistle  melodies  and  overtures  as  he  went 
along  with  his  work.  He  acquired  a  fair  skill  in  violin 
playing.  While  tired  with  sitting  or  standing  he  would 
take  up  his  violin,  play  a  few  passages,  and  then  go  to 
work  again. 

Patrick  removed  to  London  in  1808,  and  exhibited  at 
the  Eoyal  Academy  in  the  following  year.  He  made 
excursions  to  various  parts  of  England,  where  he  found 
subjects  congenial  to  his  ideas  of  rural  beauty.  The 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  London,  however,  abounded 
with  the  most  charming  and  appropriate  subjects  for  his 
pencil.  These  consisted  of  rural  "bits"  of  the  most 
picturesque  but  homely  description — decayed  pollard  trees 
and  old  moss-grown  orchards,  combined  with  cottages  and 
farm-houses  in  the  most  paintable  state  of  decay,  with 
tangled  hedges  and  neglected  fences,  overrun  with  vegeta- 
tion clinging  to  them  with  all  "the  careless  grace  of  Nature." 
However  neglected  these  might  be  by  the  farmer,  they 
were  always  tit-bits  for  Patrick.  When  sketching  such 
subjects  he  was  in  his  glory,  and  he  returned  to  his  easel 
loaded  with  sketch-book  treasures,  which  when  painted 
form  the  gems  of  many  a  collection. 

In  some  of  these  charming  subjects  glimpses  of  the 
distant  capital  may  be  observed,  with  the  dome  of  St.  Paul's 
in  the  distance ;  but  they  are  introduced  with  such  skill 
and  correctness  as  in  no  way  to  interfere  with  the  rural 
character  of  his  subject.  When  he  went  farther  afield — to 
Windsor  Forest,  Hampshire,  the  New  Forest,  or  the  Isle  of 
Wight — he  was  equally  diligent  with  his  pencil,  and  came 
home  laden  with  sketches  of  the  old  monarchs  of  the  forest. 
When  in  a  state  of  partial  decay  his  skilful  touch  brought 
them  to  life  again,  laden  with  branches  and  lichen,  with 
leaves  and  twigs  and  bark,  and  with  every  feature  that 
gives  such  a  charm  to  these  important  elements  in  true 
English  landscape  scenery. 

On  my  brother's  first  visit  to  London,  accompanied  by 
my  father,  he  visited  many  collections  where  the  old  Dutch 


60  HIS  FAVOURITE  SUBJECTS.  CHAP 

masters  were  to  be  seen,  and  he  doubtless  derived  much 
advantage  from  his  careful  studies,  more  particularly  from 
the  works  of  Hobbema,  Ruysdael,  and  Wynants.  These 
came  home  to  him  as  representations  of  Nature  as  she  is. 
They  were  more  free  from  the  traditional  modes  of  repre- 
senting her.  The  works  of  Claude  Lorraine  and  Kichard 
Wilson  were  also  the  objects  of  his  admiration,  though  the 
influence  of  the  time  for  classicality  of  treatment  to  a 
certain  extent  vitiated  these  noble  works.  When  a 
glorious  sunset  was  observed,  the  usual  expression  among 
the  lovers  of  art  was,  "What  a  magnificent  Claudish  effect !" 
thus  setting  up  the  result  of  man's  feeble  attempt  at  repre- 
sentation as  the  standard  of  comparison,  in  place  of  the  far 
grander  original ! 

My  brother  carefully  studied  Nature  herself.  His 
works,  following  those  of  my  father,  led  back  the  public 
taste  to  a  more  healthy  and  true  condition,  and  by  the  aid 
of  a  noble  army  of  modem  British  landscape  painters,  this 
department  of  art  has  been  elevated  to  a  very  high  standard 
of  truth  and  excellence. 

I  find  some  letters  from  Patrick  to  my  father,  after  his 
settlement  as  an  artist  in  London.  My  father  seems  to 
have  supplied  him  with  money  during  the  early  part  of 
his  career,  and  afterwards  until  he  had  received  the  amount 
of  his  commissions  for  pictures.  In  one  of  his  letters  he 
says :  "  That  was  an  unlucky  business,  the  loss  of  that 
order  which  you  were  so  good  as  send  me  on  my  account." 
It  turned  out  that  the  order  had  dropt  out  of  the  letter  en- 
closing it,  and  was  not  recovered.  In  fact,  Patrick  was 
very  careless  about  all  money  transactions. 

In  1814  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Barnes,  and 
accompanied  him  to  Bure  Cottage,  Ringwood,  near  South- 
ampton, where  he  remained  for  some  time.  He  went  into 
the  New  Forest,  and  brought  home  "  lots  of  sketches."  In 
1815  he  exhibited  his  works  at  the  Royal  Academy.  He 
writes  to  his  father  that  "  the  prices  of  my  pictures  in  the 
Gallery  are — two  at  fourteen  guineas  each  (small  views  in 
Hampshire),  one  at  twelve  guineas,  and  two  at  fourteen 


in.  PRICES   OF  HIS  WORKS.  61 

guineas.  They  are  all  sold  but  one."  These  pictures 
would  now  fetch  in  the  open  market  from  two  to  three 
hundred  guineas  each.  But  in  those  days  good  work  was 
little  known,  and  landscapes  especially  were  very  little 
sought  after. 

Patrick  Nasmyth's  admirable  rendering  of  the  finer 
portions  of  landscape  nature  attracted  the  attention  of  col- 
lectors, and  he  received  many  commissions  from  them  at 
very  low  prices.  There  was  at  that  time  a  wretched 
system  of  delaying  the  payment  for  pictures  painted  on 
commission,  as  well  as  considerable  loss  of  time  by  the 
constant  applications  made  for  the  settlement  of  the  balance. 
My  brother  was  accordingly  under  the  necessity  of  painting 
his  pictures  for  the  Dealers,  who  gave  him  at  once  the 
price  which  he  required  for  his  works.  The  influence  of 
this  system  was  not  always  satisfactory.  The  Middlemen 
or  Dealers,  who  stood  between  the  artist  and  the  final 
possessor  of  the  works,  were  not  generous.  They  higgled 
about  prices,  and  the  sums  which  they  gave  were  almost 
infinitesimal  compared  with  the  value  of  Patrick  Nasmyth's 
pictures  at  the  present  time. 

The  Dealers  were  frequent  visitors  at  his  little  painting- 
room  in  his  lodgings.  They  took  undue  advantage  of  my 
brother's  simplicity  and  innate  modesty  in  regard  to  the 
commercial  value  of  his  works.  When  he  had  sketched  in 
a  beautiful  subject,  and  when  it  was  clear  that  in  its  highest 
state  of  development  it  must  prove  a  fine  work,  the  Dealer 
would  pile  up  before  him  a  row  of  guineas,  or  sovereigns, 
and  say,  "  Now,  Peter,  that  picture's  to  be  mine  ! "  The 
real  presence  of  cash  proved  too  much  for  him.  He  never 
was  a  practical  man.  He  agreed  to  the  proposal,  and  thus 
he  parted  with  his  pictures  for  much  less  than  they  were 
worth.  He  was  often  remonstrated  with  by  his  brother 
artists  for  letting  them  slip  out  of  his  hands  in  that  way — 
works  that  he  would  not  surrender  until  he  had  completed 
them,  and  brought  them  up  to  the  highest  point  of  his 
fastidious  taste  and  standard  of  excellence. 

Among  his  dearest  friends  were  David  Roberts  and 


6-2  DEATH  OF  PATRICK  NASMYTH.  CHA*>. 

Clarkson  Stanfield.  He  usually  replied  to  their  friendly 
remonstrances  by  laughingly  pointing  to  his  bursting  port- 
folios of  sketches,  and  saying,  "  There's  lots  of  money  in 
these  banks  to  draw  from."  He  thus  warded  off  their 
earnest  and  often-repeated  remonstrances.  Being  a  single 
man,  and  his  habits  and  style  of  living  of  the  most  simple 
kind,  he  had  very  little  regard  for  money  except  as  it 
ministered  to  his  immediate  necessities.  His  evenings 
were  generally  spent  at  a  club  of  brother  artists  "  over  the 
water;"  and  in  their  company  he  enjoyed  many  a  pleasant 
hour.  His  days  were  spent  at  his  easel.  They  were  occa- 
sionally varied  by  long  walks  into  the  country  near  London, 
for  the  purpose  of  refilling  his  sketch-book. 

It  was  on  one  of  such  occasions — when  he  was  sketching 
the  details  of  some  picturesque  pollard  old  willows  up  the 
Thames,  and  standing  all  the  time  in  wet  ground — that 
he  caught  a  severe  cold  which  confined  him  to  the  house. 
He  rapidly  became  worse.  Two  of  his  sisters,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  in  London  at  the  time,  nursed  him  with 
devoted  attention.  But  it  was  too  late.  The  disease  had 
taken  fatal  hold  of  him.  On  the  evening  of  the  17th 
August  1831  there  was  a  violent  thunderstorm.  At 
length  the  peals  of  thunder  ceased,  the  rain  passed  away, 
and  the  clouds  dispersed.  The  setting  sun  burst  forth  in 
a  golden  glow.  The  patient  turned  round  on  his  couch 
and  asked  that  the  curtains  might  be  drawn.  It  was  done. 
A  blaze  of  sunset  lit  up  his  weary  and  worn-out;  face. 
"  How  glorious  it  is ! "  he  said.  Then,  as  the  glow  vanished 
he  fell  into  a  deep  and  tranquil  sleep,  from  which  he  never 
awoke.  Such  was  the  peaceful  end  of  my  brother  Patrick, 
at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-four  years. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MY   EARLY   YEARS. 

I  WAS  born  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  August  1808, 
at  my  father's  house,  No.  47  York  Place,  Edinburgh.  I 
was  named  James  Hall  after  my  father's  dear  friend,  Sir 
James  Hall  of  Dunglass.  My  mother  afterwards  told  me 
that  I  must  have  been  "a  very  noticin'  bairn,"  as  she 
observed  me,  when  I  was  only  a  few  days  old,  following 
with  my  little  eyes  any  one  who  happened  to  be  in  the 
room,  as  if  I  had  been  thinking  to  my  little  self,  "Who 
are  you?" 

After  a  suitable  time  I  was  put  under  the  care  of  a 
nursemaid.  I  remember  her  well — Mary  Peterkin — a 
truly  Scandinavian  name.  She  came  from  Haddingtonshire, 
where  most  of  the  people  are  of  Scandinavian  origin.  Her 
hair  was  of  a  bright  yellow  tint.  She  was  a  cheerful  young 
woman,  and  sang  to  me  like  a  nightingale.  She  could  not 
only  sing  old  Scotch  songs,  but  had  a  wonderful  memory 
for  fairy  tales.  When  under  the  influence  of  a  merry 
laugh,  you  could  scarcely  see  her  eyes ;  their  twinkle  was 
hidden  by  her  eyelids  and  lashes.  She  was  a  willing 
worker,  and  was  always  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  at 
everything  about  the  house.  She  took  great  pride  in  me, 
calling  me  her  "  laddie." 

When  I  was  toddling  about  the  house,  another  sister 
was  born,  the  last  of  the  family.  Little  Mary  was  very 
delicate;  and  to  improve  her  health  she  was  sent  to  a 
small  farm-house  at  Braid  Hills,  about  four  miles  south 
of  Edinburgh.  It  was  one  of  the  most  rural  and  beautiful 


64  LEFT-HANDED.  CHAP. 

surroundings  of  the  city  at  that  time.  One  of  my  earliest 
recollections  is  that  of  being  taken  to  see  poor  little  Mary 
at  the  farmer's  house.  While  my  nursemaid  was  occupied 
in  inquiring  after  my  sister,  I  was  attracted  by  the  bright 
red  poppies  in  a  neighbouring  field.  When  they  made 
search  for  me  I  could  not  be  found.  I  was  lost  for  more  than 
an  hour.  At  last,  seeing  a  slight  local  disturbance  among 
the  stalks  of  corn,  they  rushed  to  the  spot,  and  brought 
me  out  with  an  armful  of  brilliant  red  poppies.  To  this 
day  poppies  continue  to  be  my  greatest  favourites. 

When  I  was  about  four  or  five  years  old,  I  was  observed 
to  give  a  decided  preference  to  the  use  of  my  left  hand. 
Everything  was  done  to  prevent  my  using  it  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  right.  My  mother  thought  that  it  arose  from 
my  being  carried  on  the  wrong  arm  by  my  nurse  while 
an  infant.  The  right  hand  was  thus  confined,  and  the 
left  hand  was  used.  I  was  constantly  corrected,  but  "  on 
the  sly "  I  always  used  it,  especially  in  drawing  my  first 
little  sketches.  At  last  my  father,  after  viewing  with 
pleasure  one  of  my  artistic  efforts,  done  with  the  forbidden 
hand,  granted  it  liberty  and  independence  for  all  time 
coming.  "Well,"  he  said,  "you  may  go  on  in  your  own 
way  in  the  use  of  your  left  hand,  but  I  fear  you  will  be  an 
awkward  fellow  in  everything  that  requires  handiness 
in  life."  I  used  my  right  hand  in  all  that  was  necessary, 
and  my  left  in  all  sorts  of  practical  manipulative  affairs. 
My  left  hand  has  accordingly  been  my  most  willing  and 
obedient  servant  in  transmitting  my  will  through  my 
fingers  into  material  or  visible  forms.  In  this  way  I 
became  ambidexter. 

When  I  was  about  four  years  old,  I  often  followed  my 
father  into  his  workshop  when  he  had  occasion  to  show 
to  his  visitors  some  of  his  mechanical  contrivances  or 
artistic  models.  The  persons  present  usually  expressed 
their  admiration  in  warm  terms  of  what  was  shown  to 
them.  On  one  occasion  I  gently  pulled  the  coat-tail  of 
one  of  the  listener-,  and  confidentially  said  to  him,  as  if  I 
knew  all  about  it,  "My  papa's  a  kevie  Felloe !"  My 


iv.  DAY  OF  THE   FEAST.  65 

father  was  so  greatly  amused  by  this  remark  that  he  often 
referred  to  it  as  "the  last  good  thing"  from  that  old- 
fashioned  creature  little  Jamie. 

One  of  my  earliest  recollections  is  the  annual  celebration 
of  my  brother  Patrick's  birthday.  Being  the  eldest  of 
the  family,  his  birthday  was  held  in  special  honour.  My 
father  invited  about  twenty  of  his  most  intimate  friends 
to  dinner.  My  mother  brought  her  culinary  powers  into 
full  operation.  The  younger  members  of  the  family  also 
toiA  a  lively  interest  in  all  that  was  going  on,  with  certain 
reversionary  views  as  to  "  the  day  after  the  feast."  We 
took  a  great  interest  in  the  Trifle,  which  was  no  trifle  in 
reality,  in  so  far  as  regarded  the  care  and  anxiety  involved 
in  its  preparation.  In  connection  with  this  celebration, 
it  was  an  established  institution  that  a  large  hamper 
always  arrived  in  good  time  from  the  farm  attached  to 
my  mother's  old  home  at  Woodhall,  near  Edinburgh.  It 
contained  many  substantial  elements  for  the  entertainment 
— a  fine  turkey,  fowls,  duck,*  and  suchlike ;  with  two 
magnums  of  the  richest  cream.  There  never  was  such 
cream  !  It  established  a  standard  of  cream  in  my  memory; 
and  since  then  I  have  always  been  hypercritical  about  the 
article. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  when  I  was  about  four  years 
old,  and  being  the  youngest  of  the  family,  I  was  taken 
into  the  company  after  the  dinner  was  over,  and  held  up 
by  my  sister  Jane  to  sing  a  verse  from  a  little  song  which 
my  nurse  Mary  Peterkin  had  taught  me,  and  which  ran 
thus  : 

"  I'll  no  bide  till  Saturday, 
But  I'll  awa'  the  morn, 
An'  follow  Donald  Hielandman, 
An'  carry  his  poother-horn." 

This  was  my  first  and  last  vocal  performance.  It  was 
received  with  great  applause.  In  fact,  it  was  encored. 
The  word  "poother,"  which  I  pronounced  "pootle,"  excited 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  audience.  I  was  then  sent  to  bed 
with  a  bit  of  plum-cake,  and  was  doubtless  awakened  early 


66  A  WONDERFUL  ESCAPE.  CHAP. 

next  morning  by  the  irritation  of  the  dried  crumbs  of  the 
previous  night's  feast. 

I  am  reminded,  by  reading  over  a  letter  of  my  brother 
Patrick's,  of  an  awkward  circumstance  that  happened  to 
me  when  I  was  six  years  old.  In  his  letter  to  my  father, 
dated  London,  22d  September  1814,  he  says:  "I  did  get 
a  surprise  when  Margaret's  letter  informed  me  of  my  little 
brother  Jamie's  fall.  It  was  a  wonderful  escape.  For 
God's  sake  keep  an  eye  upon  him  !"  Like  other  strong 
and  healthy  boys,  I  had  a  turn  for  amusing  myself  in  my 
own  way.  When  sliding  down  the  railing  of  the  stairs 
I  lost  my  grip  and  fell  suddenly  over.  The  steps  were  of 
stone.  Fortunately,  the  servants  were  just  coming  up 
laden  with  carpets  which  they  had  been  beating.  I  fell 
into  their  midst  and  knocked  them  out  of  their  hands.  I 
was  thus  saved  from  cracking  my  poor  little  skull.  But 
for  that  there  might  have  been  no  steam  hammer — at 
least  of  my  contrivance  ! 

Everything  connected  with  war  and  warlike  exploits  is 
interesting  to  a  boy.  The  war  with  France  was  then  in 
full  progress.  Troops  and  bands  paraded  the  streets. 
Kecruits  were  sent  away  as  fast  as  they  could  be  drilled. 
The  whole  air  was  filled  with  war.  Everybody  was  full 
of  excitement  about  the  progress  of  events  in  Spain.  When 
the  great  guns  boomed  forth  from  the  Castle,  the  people 
were  first  startled.  Then  they  were  surprised  and  anxious. 
There  had  been  a  battle  and  a  victory !  "  Who  had 
fallen  ?"  was  the  first  thought  in  many  minds.  Where 
had  the  battle  been,  and  what  was  the  victory  1  Business 
suspended.  People  rushed  about  the  streets  to  ascer- 
tain the  facts.  It  might  have  been  at  Salamanca,  Talavera, 
or  Vittoria,  But  a  long  time  elapsed  before  the  details 
could  be  received ;  and  during  that  time  sad  suspense  and 
anxiety  prevailed  in  almost  every  household.  There  was 
no  telegraph  thru.  It  was  only  after  the  Gazette  had  been 
published  that  people  knew  who  had  fallen  and  who  had 
survived. 

The  war  proceeded.     The  volunteering  which  went  on 


iv.  PRISONERS  OF  WAR.  67 

at  the  time  gave  quite  a  military  aspect  to  the  city.  I 
remember  how  odd  it  appeared  to  me  to  see  some  well- 
known  faces  and  figures  metamorphosed  into  soldiers.  It 
was  considered  a  test  of  loyalty  as  well  as  of  patriotism, 
to  give  time,  money,  and  leisure  to  take  up  the  arms  of 
defence,  and  to  practise  daily  in  military  uniform  in  the 
Meadows  or  on  Bruntsfield  Links.  Windows  were  thrown 
up  to  hear  the  bands  playing  at  the  head  of  the  troops, 
and  crowds  of  boys,  full  of  military  ardour,  went,  as  usual, 
hand  to  hand  in  front  of  the  drums  and  fifes.  The  most 
interesting  part  of  the  procession  to  my  mind  was  the 
pioneers  in  front,  with  their  leather  aprons,  their  axes  and 
saws,  and  their  big  hairy  caps  and  beards.  They  were  to 
me  so  suggestive  of  clearing  the  way  through  hedges  and 
forests,  and  of  what  war  was  in  its  actual  progress. 

Every  victory  was  followed  by  the  importation  of  large 
numbers  of  French  prisoners.  Many  of  them  were  sent  to 
Edinburgh  Castle.  They  were  permitted  to  relieve  the 
tedium  of  their  confinement  by  manufacturing  and  selling 
toys,  workboxes,  brooches,  and  carved  work  of  different 
kinds.  In  the  construction  of  these  they  exhibited  great 
skill,  taste,  and  judgment.  They  carved  them  out  of 
bits  of  bone  and  wood.  The  patterns  were  most  beautiful ; 
and  they  were  ingeniously  and  tastefully  ornamented.  The 
articles  were  to  be  had  for  a  mere  trifle,  although  fit  to 
be  placed  with  the  most  choice  objects  of  artistic  skill. 

These  poor  prisoners  of  war  were  allowed  to  work  at 
their  tasteful  handicrafts  in  small  sheds  or  temporary  work- 
shops at  the  Castle,  behind  the  palisades  which  separated 
them  from  their  free  customers  outside.  There  was  just 
room  between  the  bars  of  the  palisades  for  them  to  hand 
through  their  exquisite  works,  and  to  receive  in  return  the 
modest  prices  which  they  charged.  The  front  of  these 
palisades  became  a  favourite  resort  for  the  inhabitants  of 
Edinburgh;  and  especially  for  the  young  folks.  I  well 
remember  being  impressed  with  the  contrast  between  the 
almost  savage  aspect  of  these  dark-haired  foreigners,  and 
the  neat  and  delicate  produce  of  their  skilful  fingers. 


68  MARCH  OF  THE  FRENCH  PRISONERS.          CHAP. 

At  the  peace  of  1814,  which  followed  the  siege  of  Paris, 
great  rejoicings  and  illuminations  took  place,  in  the  belief 
that  the  war  was  at  an  end.  The  French  prisoners  were 
sent  back  to  their  own  country,  alas  !  to  appear  again 
before  us  at  Waterloo.  The  liberation  of  those  confined 
in  Edinburgh  Castle  was  accompanied  by  an  extraordinary 
scene.  The  French  prisoners  inarched  down  to  the  trans- 
port ships  at  Leith  by  torchlight.  All  the  town  was  out 
to  see  them.  They  passed  in  military  procession  through 
the  principal  streets,  singing  as  they  marched  along  their 
revolutionary  airs,  "Ca  Ira"  and  "The  Marseillaise." 
The  wild  enthusiasm  of  these  haggard-looking  men,  lit  up 
by  torchlight  and  accompanied  by  the  cheers  of  the  dense 
crowd  which  lined  the  streets  and  filled  the  windows,  made 
an  impression  on  my  mind  that  I  can  never  forget. 

A  year  passed.  Napoleon  returned  from  Elba,  and  was 
rejoined  by  nearly  all  his  old  fighting-men.  I  well  re- 
member, young  as  I  was,  an  assembly  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Edinburgh  in  Charlotte  Square,  to  bid  farewell  to  the 
troops  and  officers  then  in  garrison.  It  was  a  fine  summer 
evening  when  this  sad  meeting  took  place.  The  bands 
were  playing  as  their  last  performance,  "  Go  where  glory 
waits  thee!"  The  air  brought  tears  to  many  eyes;  for 
many  who  were  in  the  ranks  might  never  return.  After 
many  a  hand-shaking,  the  troops  marched  to  the  Castle, 
previous  to  their  early  embarkation  for  the  Low  Countries 
on  the  following  morning. 

Then  camo  Waterloo  and  the  victory !  The  Castle 
guns  boomed  forth  again ;  and  the  streets  were  filled  with 
people  anxious  to  hear  the  news.  At  last  came  the  Gazette 
ill  led  with  the  details  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  Many 
a  heart  was  bn.k.-u,  many  a  fireside  was  made  desolate. 
It  was  indeed  a  sad  time.  The  terrible  anxiety  that  per- 
vaded so  many  families ;  the  dreadful  sacrifice  of  lives  on 
so  many  battlefields;  and  the  enormously  increased  taxa- 
tion, which  caused  so  many  families  to  stint  themselves  to 
i  the  barest  necessaries  of  life; — such  was  the  inglorious 
side  of  war. 


IV.  RETURN   OF  THE    "BLACK   WATCH.  69 

But  there  was  also  the  glory,  which  almost  compensated 
for  the  sorrow.  I  cannot  resist  narrating  the  entry  of  the 
Forty-Second  Kegiment  into  Edinburgh  shortly  after  the 
battle  of  Waterloo.  The  old  "Black  Watch"  is  a  regi- 
ment dear  to  every  Scottish  heart.  It  has  fought  and 
struggled  when  resistance  was  almost  certain  death.  At 
Quatre  Bras  two  flank  companies  were  cut  to  pieces  by 
Pir6's  cavalry.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  was  assailed  by 
Reille's  furious  cannonade,  and  suffered  severely.  The 
French  were  beaten  back,  and  the  remnant  of  the  Forty- 
Second  retired  to  Waterloo,  where  they  formed  part  of  the 
brigade  under  Major- General  Pack.  At  the  first  grand 
charge  of  the  French,  Picton  fell  and  many  were  killed. 
Then  the  charge  of  the  Greys  took  place,  and  the  Highland 
regiments  rushed  forward,  with  cries  of  "Scotland  for 
ever!"  Only  a  remnant  of  the  Forty-Second  survived. 
They  were  however  recruited,  and  marched  into  France 
with  the  rest  of  the  army. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  the  Forty-Second  returned 
to  England,  and  in  the  beginning  of  1816  they  set  out  on 
their  march  towards  Edinburgh.  They  were  everywhere 
welcomed  with  enthusiasm.  Crowds  turned  out  to  meet 
them  and  cheer  them.  When  the  first  division  of  the 
regiment  approached  Edinburgh,  almost  the  entire  popula- 
tion turned  out  to  welcome  them.  At  Musselburgh,  six 
miles  off,  the  road  was  thronged  with  people.  When  the 
soldiers  reached  Piershill,  two  miles  off,  the  road  was  so 
crowded  that  it  took  them  two  hours  to  reach  the  Castle. 
I  was  on  a  balcony  in  the  upper  part  of  the  High  Street, 
and  my  father,  mother,  and  sisters  were  with  me.  We 
had  waited  very  long;  but  at  last  we  heard  the  distant 
sound  of  the  cheers,  which  came  on  and  on,  louder  and 
louder. 

The  High  Street  was  wedged  with  people  excited  and 
anxious.  There  seemed  scarcely  room  for  a  regiment  to 
march  through  them.  The  house-tops  and  windows  were 
crowded  with  spectators.  It  was  a  grand  sight.  The 
high-gabled  houses  reaching  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  St, 


70  THP:  CALTON  HILLSIDE.  CHAP. 

Giles'  with  its  mural  crown,  the  Tron  Kirk  in  the  distance, 
and  the  picturesque  details  of  the  buildings,  all  added  to 
the  effectiveness  of  the  scene. 

At  last  the  head  of  the  gallant  band  appeared.  The 
red  coats  gradually  wedged  their  way  through  the  crowd, 
amidst  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  cheers  of  the  spectators. 
Every  window  was  in  a  wave  of  gladness,  and  every 
house-top  was  in  a  fever  of  excitement.  As  the  red  line 
passed  our  balcony,  with  Colonel  Dick  at  its  head,  we  saw 
a  sight  that  can  never  be  forgotten.  The  red-and-white 
plumes,  the  tattered  colours  riddled  with  bullets,  the 
glittering  bayonets,  were  seen  amidst  the  crowd  that 
thronged  round  the  gallant  heroes,  amidst  tears  and  cheers 
and  hand-shakings  and  shouts  of  excitement.  The  mass 
of  men  appeared  like  a  solid  body  moving  slowly  along ; 
the  soldiers  being  almost  hidden  amongst  the  crowd.  At 
last  they  passed,  the  pipers  and  drums  playing  a  Highland 
march ;  and  the  Forty-Second  slowly  entered  the  Castle. 
It  was  perhaps  the  most  extraordinary  scene  ever  witnessed 
in  Edinburgh. 

One  of  my  greatest  enjoyments  when  a  child  was  in 
going  out  with  the  servants  to  the  Calton,  and  wait  while 
the  "  claes "  bleached  in  the  sun  on  the  grassy  slopes  of 
the  hill  The  air  was  bright  and  fresh  and  pure.  The 
lasses  regarded  these  occasions  as  a  sort  of  holiday.  One 
or  two  of  the  children  usually  accompanied  them.  They 
sat  together,  and  the  servants  told  us  their  auld-warld 
stories;  common  enough  in  those  days,  but  which  have 
now,  in  a  measure,  been  forgotten.  "Steam"  and  "pro- 
gress "  have  made  the  world  much  less  youthful  and  joyous 
than  it  was  then. 

The  women  brought  their  work  and  their  needles  with 
them,  and  when  they  had  told  their  stories,  the  children 
ran  about  the  hill  making  bunches  of  wild  flowers — in- 
cluding huivln-lls  and  wild  thyme.  They  ran  after  the 
butterflies  and  the  bumbees,  and  made  acquaintance  in  a 
small  way  with  the  beauties  of  nature.  Then  the  servants 
opened  their  baskets  of  provisions,  and  we  had  a  delightful 


IT.  THE  GREENSIDE  WORKSHOPS.  71 

picnic.  Though  I  am  now  writing  about  seventy  years 
after  the  date  of  these  events,  I  can  almost  believe  that  I 
am  enjoying  the  delightful  perfume  of  the  wild  thyme  and 
the  fragrant  plants  and  flowers,  wafted  around  me  by  the 
warm  breezes  of  the  Calton  hillside. 

In  the  days  I  refer  to,  there  was  always  a  most  cheerful 
and  intimate  intercourse  kept  up  between  the  children 
and  the  servants.  They  were  members  of  the  same  family, 
and  were  treated  as  such.  The  servants  were  for  the 
most  part  country -bred — daughters  of  farm  servants  or 
small  formers.  They  were  fairly  educated  at  their  parish 
schools ;  they  could  read  and  write,  and  had  an  abundant 
store  of  old  recollections.  Many  a  pleasant  crack  we  had 
with  them  as  to  their  native  places,  their  families,  and  all 
that  was  connected  with  them.  They  became  lastingly 
attached  to  their  masters  and  mistresses,  as  well  as  to  the 
children.  All  this  led  to  true  attachment ;  and  when  they 
left  us,  for  the  most  part  to  be  married,  we  continued  to 
keep  up  a  correspondence  with  them,  which  lasted  for 
many  years. 

While  enjoying  these  delightful  holidays,  before  my 
school-days  began,  my  practical  education  was  in  progress, 
especially  in  the  way  of  acquaintance  with  the  habits  of 
nature  in  a  vast  variety  of  its  phases,  always  so  attractive 
to  the  minds  of  healthy  children.  It  happened  that  close 
to  the  Calton  Hill,  in  the  valley  at  its  northern  side, 
there  were  many  workshops  where  interesting  trades  were 
carried  on ;  there  were  coppersmiths,  tinsmiths,  brass- 
founders,  goldbeaters,  and  blacksmiths.  Their  shops  were 
all  arranged  in  a  busy  group  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  in 
a  place  called  Greenside.  The  workshops  were  open  to 
the  inspection  of  passers-by.  Little  boys  looked  in  and  saw 
the  men  at  work  amidst  the  blaze  of  fires  and  the  beatings 
of  hammers. 

Amongst  others,  I  was  an  ardent  admirer.  I  may 
almost  say  that  this  row  of  busy  workshops  was  my  first 
school  of  practical  education.  I  observed  the  mechani- 
cal manipulation  of  the  men,  their  dexterous  use  of  the 


72 


THK   CHIMKS   UK   ST.    ClLI-X. 


hammer,  the  chisel,  and  the  file;  and  I  imbibed  many 
lessons  which  afterwards  proved  of  use  to  me.  Then  I 
had  tools  at  home  in  my  father's  workshop.  I  tried  to 
follow  their  methods ;  I  became  greatly  interested  in  the 
use  of  tools  and  their  appliances  ;  I  could  make  things  for 
myself.  In  short,  I  became  so  skilled  that  the  people 

about  the  house 
called  me  "  a 
little  Jack-of-all- 
trades." 

AYJ  i  ile  sitting 
on  the  grassy 
slopes  of  the 
Calton  Hill  I 
would  often  hear 
the  chimes  sound- 
ing from  the 
grand  old  tower 
of  St.  Giles.  The 
cathedral  lay  on 

teH&^53^26i^i         tbe  °ther  side  of 

the  valley  which 
divides  the  Old 
Town  from  the 
New.  The  sounds 
came  over  the 
murmur  of  the 
traffic  in  the 
streets  below. 

The  chime-bells  were  played  every  day  from  twelve  till 
one — the  old-fashioned  dinner-hour  of  the  citizens.  The 
practice  had  been  in  existence  for  more  than  a  hundred 
and  fifty  years.  The  pleasing  effect  of  the  merry  airs, 
which  came  wafted  to  me  by  the  warm  summer  breezes, 
made  mo  long  to  see  them  as  well  as  hear  them. 

My  father  was  always  anxious  to  give  pleasure  to  his 
rhildivn.  Ar«, nimbly,  he  took  me  one  day,  as  a  special 
livai,  to  the  tup  of  the  {/rand  old  tower,  tu  xcc  the  chimes 


MURAL  CROWN  OF  ST.  GILES*,  EDINUURCH. 


iv.  THE  CHIME-PLAYER  AT  WORK.  73 

played.  As  we  passed  up  the  tower,  a  strong  vaulted  room 
was  pointed  out  to  me,  where  the  witches  used  to  be 
imprisoned.  I  was  told  that  the  poor  old  women  were 
often  taken  down  from  this  dark  vault  to  be  burnt  alive  ! 
Such  terrible  tales  enveloped  the  tower  with  a  horrible 
fascination  to  my  young  mind.  What  a  fearful  contrast  to 
the  merry  sound  of  the  chimes  issuing  from  its  roof  on  a 
bright  summer  day. 

On  my  way  up  to  the  top  flat,  where  the  chimes  were 
played,  I  had  to  pass  through  the  vault  iii  which  the  great 
pendulum  was  slowly  swinging  in  its  ghostly-like  tick-tack, 
tick-tack;  while  the  great  ancient  clock  was  keeping  time 
with  its  sudden  and  startling  movement.  The  whole  scene 
was  almost  as  uncanny  as  the  witches'  cell  underneath. 
There  was  also  a  wild  rumbling  thumping  sound  overhead. 
I  soon  discovered  the  cause  of  this,  when  I  entered  the 
flat  where  the  musician  was  at  work.  He  was  seen  in 
violent  action,  beating  or  hammering  on  the  keys  of  a 
gigantic  pianoforte-like  apparatus.  The  instruments  he 
used  were  two  great  leather-faced  mallets,  one  of  which  he 
held  in  each  hand.  Each  key  was  connected  by  iron  rods 
with  the  chime-bells  above.  The  frantic  and  mad-like  move- 
ments of  the  musician,  as  he  energetically  rushed  from  one 
key  to  another,  often  widely  apart,  gave  me  the  idea  that 
the  man  was  daft — especially  as  the  noise  of  the  mallets 
was  such  that  I  heard  no  music  emitted  from  the  chimes  so 
far  overhead.  It  was  only  when  I  had  climbed  up  the 
stair  of  the  tower  to  where  the  bells  were  rung  that  I 
understood  the  performance,  and  comprehended  the  beating 
of  the  chimes  which  gave  me  so  much  pleasure  when  I 
heard  them  at  a  distance. 

Another  source  of  enjoyment  in  my  early  days  was  to 
accompany  my  mother  to  the  market.  As  I  have  said 
before,  my  mother,  though  generous  in  her  hospitality,  was 
necessarily  thrifty  and  economical  in  the  management  of 
her  household.  There  were  no  less  than  fourteen  persons 
in  the  house  to  be  fed,  and  this  required  a  good  deal  of 
marketing.  At  the  time  I  refer  to,  (about  1816),  it  was 


74  EDINBURGH   FISHWIVES.  CHAP. 

the  practice  of  every  lady  who  took  pride  in  managing 
economically  the  home  department  of  her  husband's  affairs, 
to  go  to  market  in  person.  The  principal  markets  in 
Edinburgh  were  then  situated  in  the  valley  between  the 
Old  and  New  Towns,  in  what  used  to  be  called  the  Nor* 
Loch. 

Dealers  in  fish  and  vegetables  had  their  stalls  there  : 
the  market  for  butcher  meat  was  near  at  hand:  each 
being  in  their  several  locations.  It  was  a  very  lively  and 
bustling  sight  to  see  the  marketing  going  on.  When  a  lady 
was  observed  approaching,  likely  to  be  a  customer,  she  was 
at  once  surrounded  by  the  "caddies."  They  were  a  set  of 
sturdy  hard-working  women,  each  with  a  creel  on  her  back. 
Their  competition  for  the  employer  sometimes  took  a  rather 
energetic  form.  The  rival  candidates  pointed  to  her  with 
violent  exclamations;  "She's  my  ledie!  she's  wyledie!" 
ejaculated  one  and  all.  To  dispel  the  disorder,  a  selection 
of  one  of  the  caddies  would  be  made,  and  then  all  was 
quiet  again  until  another  customer  appeared. 

There  was  a  regular  order  in  which  the  purchases  were 
deposited  in  the  creel.  First,  there  came  the  fish,  which 
were  carefully  deposited  in  the  lowest  part,  with  a. clean  deal 
board  over  them.  The  fishwives  were  a  most  sturdy  and 
independent  class,  both  in  manners  and  language.  When 
at  home,  at  Newhaven  or  Fisherrow,  they  made  and  mended 
their  husbands'  nets,  put  their  fishing  tackle  to  rights,  and 
whrii  the  ii.shing  boats  came  in  they  took  the  fish  to  market 
at  Edinburgh.  To  see  the  groups  of  these  hard-working 
women  trudging  along  with  their  heavy  creels  on  their 
backs,  clothed  in  their  remarkable  costume,  with  their 
fitriped  petticoats  kilted  up  and  showing  their  sturdy  legs, 
was  indeed  a  remarkable  sight.  They  were  cheerful  and 
good-natured,  but  very  outspoken.  Their  skins  were  clear 
an«l  ruddy,  and  many  of  the  young  fishwives  were  handsome 
and  j'lvtty.  They  were,  in  fact,  the  incarnation  of  robust 
health. 

In  dealing  with  them  at  the  Fish  Market  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  hig-ling.  They  often  asked  two  or  three  times 


IV.  EDINBURGH   MARKETING.  76 

more  than  the  fish  were  worth — at  least,  according  to  the 
then  market  price.  After  a  stormy  night,  during  which 
the  husbands  and  sons  had  toiled  to  catch  the  fish,  on  the 
usual  question  being  asked,  "  Weel,  Janet,  hoo's  haddies 
the  day  T'  "Haddies,  mem]  Ou,  haddies  is  men's  lives  tli& 
day  !  "  which  was  often  true,  as  haddocks  were  often  caught 
at  the  risk  of  their  husbands'  lives.  After  the  usual  amount 
of  higgling,  the  haddies  were  brought  down  to  their  proper 
market  price, — sometimes  a  penny  for  a  good  haddock,  or, 
when  herrings  were  rife,  a  dozen  herrings  for  twopence, 
crabs  for  a  penny,  and  lobsters  for  threepence.  For  there 
were  no  railways  then  to  convey  the  fish  to  England,  and 
thus  equalise  the  price  for  all  classes  of  the  community. 

Let  me  mention  here  a  controversy  between  a  fishwife 
and  a  buyer  called  Thomson.  The  buyer  offered  a  price 
so  ridiculously  small  for  a  parcel  of  fish  that  the  seller 
became  quite  indignant,  and  she  terminated  at  once  all 
further  higgling.  Looking  up  to  him,  she  said,  "  Lord  help 
yer  e'e-sight,  Maister  Tamson  !"  "  Lord  help  my  e'e-sight, 
woman  !  What  has  that  to  do  with  it  ?"  "  Ou,"  said  she, 
"  because  ye  ha'e  nae  nose  to  put  spectacles  on  ! "  As  it 
happened,  poor  Mr.  Thomson  had,  by  some  accident  or 
disease,  so  little  of  a  nose  left,  if  any  at  all,  that  the  bridge 
of  the  nose  for  holding  up  the  spectacles  was  almost  entirely 
wanting.  And  thus  did  the  fishwife  retaliate  on  her 
niggardly  customer. 

When  my  mother  had  got  her  fish  laid  at  the  bottom 
of  the  creel,  she  next  went  to  the  "flesher"  for  her  butcher- 
meat.  There  was  no  higgling  here,  for  the  meat  was  sold 
at  the  ordinary  market  price.  Then  came  the  poultry 
stratum;  then  the  vegetables,  or  fruits  in  their  season; 
and,  finally,  there  was  "  the  floore  " — a  bunch  of  flowers ; 
not  a  costly  bouquet,  but  a  large  assortment  of  wallflowers, 
daffodils  (with  their  early  spring  fragrance),  polyanthuses, 
lilacs,  gilly-flowers,  and  the  glorious  old-fashioned  cabbage 
rose,  as  well  as  the  even  more  gloriously  fragrant  moss 
rose.  The  caddy's  creel  was  then  topped  up,  and  the 
marketing  was  completed.  The  lady  was  followed  home ; 


76  FONDNESS  FOR  CATS.  CHAP. 

the  contents  were  placed  in  the  larder ;  and  the  flowers 
distributed  all  over  the  house. 

I  have  many  curious  traditional  evidences  of  the  great 
fondness  for  cats  which  distinguished  the  Nasmyth  family 
for  several  generations.  My  father  had  always  one  or  two 
of  such  domestic  favourites,  who  were,  in  the  best  sense, 
his  "familiars."  Their  quiet,  companionable  habits  ren- 
dered them  very  acceptable  company  when  engaged  in  his 
artistic  work.  I  know  of  no  sound  so  pleasantly  tranquil- 
lising  as  the  purring  of  a  cat,  or  of  anything  more  worthy 
of  admiration  in  animal  habit  as  the  neat,  compact,  and 
elegant  manner  in  which  the  cat  adjusts  itself  at  the  fire- 
side, or  in  a  snug,  cosy  place,  when  it  settles  down  for  a 
long  quiet  sleep.  Every  spare  moment  that  a  cat  has 
before  lying  down  to  rest  is  occupied  in  carefully  cleaning 
itself,  even  under  adverse  circumstances.  The  cat  is  the 
true  original  inventor  of  a  sanitary  process,  which  has 
lately  been  patented  and  paraded  before  the  public  as  a 
sanitary  novelty  ;  and  yet  it  has  been  in  practice  ever  since 
cats  were  created.  Would  that  men  and  women  were 
more  alive  to  habitual  cleanliness — even  the  cleanliness  of 
cats.  The  kindly  and  gentle  animal  gives  us  all  a  lesson 
in  these  respects. 

Then,  nothing  can  be  more  beautiful  in  animal  action 
than  the  exquisitely  precise  and  graceful  manner  in  which 
the  cat  exerts  the  exact  amount  of  effort  requisite  to  land 
it  at  the  height  and  spot  it  wishes  to  reach  at  one  bound. 
The  neat  and  delicately  precise  manner  in  which  cats  use 
their  paws  when  playing  with  those  who  habitually  treat 
them  with  gentle  kindness  is  truly  admirable.  In  these 
respects  cats  are  entitled  to  the  most  kindly  regard. 
There  are,  unfortunately,  many  who  entertain  a  strong 
prejudice  against  this  most  perfect  and  beautiful  member 
of  the  animal  creation,  and  who  abuse  them  because  they 
t  ill-treatment,  occasioned  by  their  innate  feeling  of 
indapendenca  Cats  have  no  doubt  less  personal  attach- 
iiii-iit  than  dogs,  but  when  kindly  treated  they  become  in 
many  respects  attached  and  ailectionatc  animals. 


iv.  A  KILLER  OF  CATS  DENOUNCED.  77 

My  father,  when  a  boy,  made  occasional  visits  to 
Hamilton,  in  the  West  of  Scotland,  where  the  descendants 
of  his  Covenanting  ancestors  still  lived.  One  of  them  was 
an  old  bachelor — a  recluse  sort  of  man ;  and  yet  he  had 
the  Nasmyth  love  of  cats.  Being  of  pious  pedigree  and 
habits,  he  always  ended  the  day  by  a  long  and  audible 
prayer.  My  father  and  his  companions  used  to  go  to  the 
door  of  his  house  to  listen  to  him,  but  especially  to  hear 
his  culminating  finale.  He  prayed  that  the  Lord  would 
help  him  to  forgive  his  enemies  and  all  those  who  had 
done  him  injury;  and  then,  with  a  loud  burst,  he  con- 
cluded, "Except  John  Anderson  o'  the  Toonhead,  for  he 
killed  my  cat,  and  him  I'll  ne'er  forgie ! "  In  conclusion, 
I  may  again  refer  to  Elspeth  Nasmytb,  who  was  burnt  alive 
for  witchcraft,  because  she  had  four  black  cats,  and  read 
her  Bible  through  two  pairs  of  spectacles ! 


CHAPTER   V. 

MY   SCHOOL-DAYS. 

BEFORE  I  went  to  school  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  be 
placed  under  the  special  care  of  my  eldest  sister,  Jane. 
She  was  twenty  years  older  than  myself,  and  had  acquired 
much  practical  experience  in  the  management  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  family.  I  could  not  have  had  a  more  care- 
ful teacher.  She  initiated  me  into  the  difficulties  of  A  B  C, 
and  by  learning  me  to  read  she  gave  me  a  key  to  the 
thoughts  of  the  greatest  thinkers  who  have  ever  lived. 

But  all  this  was  accomplished  at  first  in  a  humdrum 
and  tentative  way.  About  seventy  years  ago  children's 
books  were  very  uninteresting.  In  the  little  stories  manu- 
factured for  children,  the  good  boy  ended  in  a  coach-and- 
four,  and  the  bad  boy  in  a  ride  to  Tyburn.  The  good 
boys  must  have  been  a  set  of  little  snobs  and  prigs,  and 
I  could  scarcely  imagine  that  they  could  ever  have  lived 
as  they  were  represented  in  these  goody  books.  If  so, 
they  must  have  been  the  most  tiresome  and  uninteresting 
vermin  that  can  possibly  be  imagined. 

After  my  sister  had  done  what  she  could  for  me,  I  was 
sent  to  school  to  learn  "  English."  I  was  placed  under  the 
tuition  of  a  leading  teacher  called  Knight,  whose  school- 
room was  in  the  upper  storey  of  a  house  in  George  Street. 
II-  re  I  learned  to  read  with  case.  But  my  primitive  habit 
of  spelling  by  ear,  in  accordance  with  the  simple  sound  of 
the  letters  of  the  alphabet  (phonetically,  so  to  speak) 
brought  me  into  collision  with  my  teacher.  I  got  many  a 
en  the  side  of  the  ln-uil,  and  many  a  "  palmy"  on  my 


CHAP.V.  THE  THRIFT   BOXES.  79 

hands  with  a  thick  strap  of  hard  leather,  which  did  not 
give  me  very  inviting  views  as  to  the  pleasures  of  learning. 
The  master  was  vicious  and  vindictive.  I  -think  it  a  cow- 
ardly way  to  deal  with  a  little  boy  in  so  cruel  a  manner, 
and  to  send  him  home  with  his  back  and  fingers  tingling 
and  sometimes  bleeding,  because  he  cannot  learn  so  quickly 
as  his  fellows. 

On  one  occasion  Knight  got  out  of  temper  with  my 
stupidity  or  dulness  in  not  comprehending  something  about 
*  a  preter-pluperfect  tense,'  or  some  mystery  of  that  sort. 
He  seized  me  by  the  ears,  and  beat  my  head  against  the 
wall  behind  me  with  such  savage  violence  that  when  he 
let  me  go,  stunned  and  unable  to  stand,  I  fell  forward  on 
the  floor  bleeding  violently  at  the  nose,  and  with  a  terrific 
headache.  The  wretch  might  have  ruined  my  brain  for 
life.  I  was  carried  home  and  put  to  bed,  where  I  lay 
helpless  for  more  than  a  week.  My  father  threatened  to 
summon  the  teacher  before  the  magistrates  for  what  might 
have  been  a  fatal  assault  on  poor  little  me ;  but  on  making 
a  humble  apology  for  his  brutal  usage  he  was  let  off.  Of 
course  I  was  not  sent  back  to  his  school.  I  have  ever  since 
entertained  a  hatred  against  grammatical  rules. 

There  was  at  that  time  an  excellent  system  of  teaching 
young  folks  the  value  of  thrift.  This  consisted  in  saving 
for  some  purpose  or  another  the  Saturday's  penny — one 
penny  being  our  weekly  allowance  of  pocket-money.  The 
feats  we  could  perform  in  the  way  of  procuring  toys, 
picture-books,  or  the  materials  for  constructing  flying 
kites,  would  amaze  the  youngsters  of  the  present  day,  who 
are  generally  spoiled  by  extravagance.  And  yet  we  ob- 
tained far  more  pleasure  from  our  purchases.  We  had  in 
my  time  "  penny  pigs,"  or  thrift  boxes.  They  were  made 
in  a  vase  form,  of  brown  glazed  earthenware,  the  only 
entrance  to  which  was  a  slit — enough  to  give  entrance  to 
a  penny.  When  the  Saturday's  penny  was  not  required 
for  any  immediate  purposes,  it  was  dropped  through  the 
slit,  and  remained  there  until  the  box  was  full.  The 
maximum  of  pennies  it  could  contain  was  about  forty- 


80  PUPIL  AT  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL.  CHAP. 

eight.  When  that  was  accomplished,  the  penny  pig  was 
broken  with  a  hammer,  and  its  rich  contents  flowed  forth. 
The  breaking  of  the  pig  was  quite  an  event.  The  fine  fat 
old  George  the  Third  penny  pieces  looked  thoroughly 
substantial  in  our  eyes.  And  then  there  was  the  spending 
of  the  money, — for  some  long-looked-for  toy,  or  pencils,  or 
book,  or  painting  materials. 

One  of  the  ways  in  which  I  used  my  Saturday  pennies 
was  in  going  with  some  of  my  companions  into  the  country 
to  have  a  picnic.  We  used  to  light  a  fire  behind  a  hedge 
or  a  dyke,  or  in  the  corner  of  some  ruin,  and  there  roast 
our  potatoes,  or  broil  a  red  herring  on  an  extempore  gridiron 
we  contrived  for  the  purpose.  We  lit  the  fire  by  means 
of  a  flint  and  steel  and  a  tinder-box,  which  in  those  days 
every  boy  used  to  possess.  The  bramble-berries  gave  us 
our  dessert.  We  thoroughly  enjoyed  these  glorious  Saturday 
afternoons.  It  gave  us  quite  a  Robinson  Crusoe  sort  of  feel- 
ing to  be  thus  secluded  from  the  world.  Then  the  beauty 
of  the  scenery  amidst  which  we  took  our  repast  was  such  as 
I  cannot  attempt  to  describe.  A  walk  of  an  hour  or  so  would 
bring  us  into  the  presence  of  an  old  castle,  or  amongst  the 
rocky  furze  and  heather-clad  hills,  amidst  clear  rapid  streams, 
so  that,  but  for  the  distant  peeps  of  the  city,  one  might 
think  that  he  was  far  from  the  busy  haunts  of  men  and  boys. 

To  return  to  my  school-days.  Shortly  after  I  left  the 
school  in  George  Street,  where  the  schoolmaster  had  almost 
split  my  skull  in  battering  it  upon  the  wall  behind  me,  I 
was  entered  as  a  pupil  at  the  Edinburgh  Higli  School,  in 
October  1817.  The  school  was  situated  near  the  old 
Infirmary.  Professor  Pillans  was  the  rector,  and  under 
him  were  four  masters.  I  was  set  to  study  Latin  under 
Mr.  Irvine,  lie  was  a  mere  schoolmaster  in  the  narrowest 
sense  of  the  term.  He  was  not  endowed  with  the  best  of 
tempers,  and  it  was  often  put  to  the  breaking  strain  by  the 
tricks  and  negligence  of  the  lower-form  portion  of  his  class. 
It  consisted  of  nearly  two  hundred  boys  ;  the  other  three 
masters  had  about  the  same  number  of  scholars.  They 
each  had  a  separate  class-room. 


v.  OLD  EDINBURGH  HOUSES.  81 

I  began  to  learn  the  elementary  rudiments  of  Latin 
grammar.  But  not  having  any  natural  aptitude  for  aquir- 
ing  classic  learning  so  called,  I  fear  I  made  but  little  pro- 
gress during  the  three  years  that  I  remained  at  the  High 
School.  Had  the  master  explained  to  us  how  nearly  allied 
many  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  roots  were  to  our  familiar 
English  words,  I  feel  assured  that  so  interesting  and  valu- 
able a  department  of  instruction  would  not  have  been 
neglected.  But  our  memories  were  strained  by  being  made 
to  say  off  "  by  heart,"  as  it  was  absurdly  called,  whole 
batches  of  grammatical  rules,  with  all  the  botheration  of 
irregular  verbs  and  suchlike.  So  far  as  I  was  concerned, 
I  derived  little  benefit  from  my  High  School  teaching, 
except  that  I  derived  one  lesson  which  is  of  great  use  in 
after  life.  I  mean  as  regards  the  performance  of  duty.  I 
did  my  tasks  punctually  and  cheerfully,  though  they  were 
far  from  agreeable.  This  is  an  exercise  in  early  life  that 
is  very  useful  in  later  years. 

In  my  walks  to  and  from  the  High  School,  the  usual 
way  was  along  the  North  and  South  Bridges, — the  first 
over  the  Nor'  Loch,  now  the  railway  station,  and  the  second 
over  the  Cowgate.  That  was  the  main  street  between  the 
Old  Town  and  the  New.  But  there  were  numerous  wynds 
and  closes  (as  the  narrow  streets  are  called)  which  led  down 
from  the  High  Street  and  the  upper  part  of  the  Canongate 
to  the  High  School,  through  which  I  often  preferred  to 
wander.  So  long  as  Old  Edinburgh  was  confined  within 
its  walls  the  nobles  lived  in  those  narrow  streets ;  and  the 
old  houses  are  full  of  historical  incident.  My  father  often 
pointed  out  these  houses  to  me,  and  I  loved  to  keep  up 
my  recollections.  I  must  have  had  a  little  of  the  antiquarian 
spirit  even  then.  I  got  to  know  the  most  remarkable  of 
those  ancient  houses — many  of  which  were  distinguished 
by  the  inscriptions  on  the  lintel  of  the  entrance,  as  well  as 
the  arms  of  the  former  possessors.  Some  had  mottoes  such 
as  this:  "BLESIT  BE  GOD  AND  HYS  GIFTIS.  1584." 

There  was  often  a  tower-shaped  projection  from  the 
main  front  of  the  house,  up  which  a  spiral  stair  proceeded. 


82  SIR  WALTER  SCOTT.  CIIAI-. 

This  is  usually  a  feature  in  old  Scotch  buildings.    But  in  these 
closes  the  entrance  to  the  houses  was  through  a  ponderous 
door,  studded  with  great  broad-headed  nails,  with  loopholes  at 
each  side  of  the  door,  as  if  to  present  the  strongest  possible 
resistance  to  any  attempt  at  forcible  entrance.     Indeed,  in 
the  old  times  before  the  Union  the  nobles  were  often  as 
strong  as  the  King,  and  many  a  time 
the  High  Street  was  reddened  by  the 
blood  of  the  noblest  and  bravest  of  the 
land.     In  1588  there  was  a  cry  of  "A 
Naesmyth,"  "A   Scott,"  in  the  High 
Street.     It  was  followed  by  a  clash  of 
arms,   and  two   of  Sir   Michael  Nae- 
\f    smyth's  sons  were  killed  in  that  bloody 
feud.     Edinburgh  was  often  the  scene 
DOORIIEAD,  FROM  AN  OLD  <*  such  disasters.     Hence  the  strength- 
MASSION.  ening  of  their  houses,  so  as  to  resist 

the  inroads  of  feudal  enemies. 

The  mason-work  of  the  doors  was  executed  with  great 
care  and  dexterity.  It  was  chamfered  at  the  edges  in  a 
bold  manner,  and  ornamented  with  an  O.G.  bordering, 
which  had  a  fine  effect,  while  it  rendered  the  entrance  more 
pleasant  by  the  absence  of  sharp  angles.  The  same  style 
of  ornamentation  was  generally  found  round  the  edges  of 
the  stone-work  of  the  windows,  most  commonly  by  chamfer- 
ing off  the  square  angle  of  the  stone-work.  This  not  only 
added  a  grim  grace  to  the  appearance  of  the  windows,  but 
allowed  a  more  free  entrance  of  light  into  the  apartments, 
while  it  permitted  the  inmates  to  have  a  better  range  of 
view  up  and  down  the  Close.  These  gloomy-looking 
mansions  were  grim  in  a  terrible  sense,  and  they  reminded 
one  of  the  fearful  transactions  of  "the  good  old  times  ! "  On 
many  occasions,  when  I  was  taking  a  (launder  through  these 
historic  houses  in  tin-  wynds  and  closes  of  the  Old  Town,  I 
met  Sir  Walter  Scott  showing  them  to  his  visitors,  and 
listened  to  his  d»-rp,  euim'st  voice  while  narrating  to  them 
some  trnil.lr  i,,rid,.nt  in  ivgard  to  their  former  inhabitants. 
On  other  occasions  I  have  frequently  met  Sir  Walter 


v.  THE  HEART  OF  MIDLOTHIAN.  83 

sturdily  limping  along  over  the  North  Bridge,  while  on  his 
way  from  the  Court  of  Session  (where  he  acted  as  Clerk  of 
the  Records)  to  his  house  in  Castle  Street.  In  the  same 
way  I  saw  most  of  the  public  characters  connected  with 
the  Law  Courts  or  the  University.  Sir  Walter  was  easily 
distinguished  by  his  height,  as  well  as  his  limp  or  halt  in 
his  walk.  My  father  was  intimate  with  most,  if  not  all,  of 
the  remarkable  Edinburgh  characters,  and  when  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  accompanying  him  in  his  afternoon  walks  I 
could  look  at  them  and  hear  them  in  the  conversations 
that  took  place. 

I  remember,  when  I  was  with  my  father  in  one  of  his 
walks,  that  a  young  English  artist  accompanied  us.  He 
had  come  across  the  Border  to  be  married  at  Gretna  Green, 
and  he  brought  his  bride  onward  to  Edinburgh.  My  father 
wished  to  show  him  some  of  the  most  remarkable  old 
buildings  of  the  town.  It  was  about  the  end  of  1817, 
when  one  of  the  most  interesting  buildings  in  Edinburgh 
was  about  to  bo  demolished.  This  was  no  less  a  place 
than  the  Old  Tolbooth  in  the  High  Street, — a  grand  but 
gloomy  old  building.  It  had  been  originally  used  as  the 
city  palace  of  the  Scottish  kings.  There  they  held  their 
councils  and  dispensed  justice.  But  in  course  of  time  the 
King  and  Court  abandoned  the  place,  and  it  had  sunk 
into  a  gaol  or  prison  for  the  most  abandoned  of  malefactors. 
After  their  trial  the  prisoners  were  kept  there  waiting  for 
execution,  and  they  were  hanged  on  a  flat-roofed  portion 
of  the  building  at  its  west  end. 

At  one  of  the  strongest  parts  of  the  building  a  strong 
oak  chest,  iron-plated,  had  been  built  in,  held  fast  by  a 
thick  wall  of  stone  and  mortar  on  each  side.  The  iron 
chest  measured  about  nine  feet  square,  and  was  closed  by 
a  strong  iron  door  with  heavy  bolts  and  locks.  This  was 
the  Heart  of  Midlothian,  the  condemned  cell  of  the  Tol- 
booth.1 The  iron  chest  was  so  heavy  that  the  large  body 

1  Long  after  the  condemned  cell  had  been  pulled  down,  an  English 
artist  went  down  to  Edinburgh  to  address  a  large  meeting  of  his 


84  JOHN  LINNELL,  ARTIST*  CHAP. 

of  workmen  could  not,  with  all  their  might,  pull  it  out. 
After  stripping  it  of  its  masonry,  they  endeavoured  by 
strong  levers  to  tumble  it  down  into  the  street.  At  last, 
with  a  "  Yo  !  heave  ho  !"  it  fell  down  with  a  mighty  crash. 
The  iron  chest  was  so  strong  that  it  held  together,  and 
only  the  narrow  iron  door,  with  its  locks,  bolts,  and  bars, 
was  burst  open,  and  jerked  off  amongst  the  bystanders. 

It  was  quite  a  scene.  A  large  crowd  had  assembled, 
and  amongst  them  was  Sir  Walter  Scott.  Recognising  my 
father,  he  stood  by  him,  while  both  awaited  the  ponderous 
crash.  Sir  Walter  was  still  the  Great  Unknown.  When 
his  Heart  of  Midlothian  was  published  in  the  course  of  the 
following  year,  it  was  pretty  well  known  that  he  was  the 
author  of  that  fascinating  novel.  Sir  Walter  got  the  door 
and  the  key,  as  relics,  for  his  house  at  Abbotsford. 

There  was  a  rush  of  people  towards  the  iron  chest  to 
look  into  the  dark  interior  of  that  veritable  chamber  of 
horrors.  My  father's  artist  friend  went  forward  with  the 
rest,  and  endeavoured  to  pick  up  some  remnant  of  the 
demolished  structure.  As  soon  as  the  clouds  of  dust  had 
been  dispersed,  he  observed,  under  the  place  where  the 
iron  box  had  stood,  a  number  of  skeletons  of  rats,  as  dry 
as  mummies.  He  selected  one  of  these,  wrapped  it  in  a 
newspaper,  and  put  it  in  his  pocket  as  a  recollection  of  his 
first  day  in  Edinburgh,  and  of  the  final  destruction  of  the 
"  Heart  of  Midlothian."  This  artist  was  no  other  than 
John  Linnell,  the  afterwards  famous  landscape  painter. 
He  was  then  a  young  and  unknown  man.  He  brought  a 
letter  of  introduction  to  my  father.  He  also  brought  a 
landscape  as  a  specimen  of  his  young  efforts,  and  it  was  so 
splendidly  done  that  my  father  augured  a  brilliant  career 
for  this  admirable  artist.1 


brother  politicians.  He  began  by  addressing  them  as  "Men  of  the 
Heart  of  '^Midlothian  /"  There  was  a  loud  guffaw  throughout  the 
audience.  He  addressed  them  as  if  they  were  a  body  of  condemned 

II  i:ilr  factors. 

1  I  was  so  much  imjin-sscd  with  the  events  of  the  day,  and  also  with 
the  fact  of  the  young  artist  having  taken  with  him  so  repulsive  a' 


v.  THE  COLLECTING  PERIOD.  85 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Sir  Walter  Scott  on  another 
and,  to  me,  a  very  memorable  occasion.  From  an  early 
period  of  my  schoolboy  days  I  had  a  great  regard  for  every 
object  that  had  reference  to  bygone  times.  They  influ- 
enced my  imagination,  and  conjured  up  in  my  mind 
dreamy  visions  of  the  people  of  olden  days.  It  did  not 
matter  whether  it  was  an  old  coin  or  an  old  castle.  I 
took  pleasure  in  rambling  about  the  old  castles  near  Edin- 
burgh, many  of  them  connected  with  the  times  of  Mary 
Queen  of  Scots.  Craigmillar  Castle  was  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  city ;  there  was  also  Crighton  Castle,  and 
above  all  Borthwick  Castle.  This  grand  massive  old  ruin 
left  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind.  The  sight  of  its 
gloomy  interior,  with  the  great  hall  lighted  up  only  by 
stray  glints  of  sunshine,  as  if  struggling  for  access  through 
the  small  deep-seated  windows  in  its  massive  walls,  to- 
gether with  its  connection  with  the  life  and  times  of  Queen 
Mary,  had  a  far  greater  influence  upon  my  mind  than  I 
experienced  while  standing  amidst  the  Coliseum  at  Eome. 

Like  many  earnest-minded  boys,  I  had  a  severe  attack 
at  the  right  time  of  life,  say  from  12  to  15,  of  what  I 
would  call  "  the  collecting  period."  This  consisted,  in  my 
case,  of  accumulating  old  coins,  perhaps  one  of  the  most 
salutary  forms  of  this  youthful  passion.  I  made  exchanges 
with  my  school  companions.  Sometimes  my  father's  friends, 
seeing  my  anxiety  to  improve  my  collection  gave  me  choice 
specimens  of  bronze  and  other  coins  of  the  Roman 
emperors,  usually  duplicates  from  their  own  collection. 

memento  as  a  rat's  skeleton,  that  I  never  forgot  it.  More  than  half 
century  later,  when  I  was  at  a  private  view  of  the  Royal  Academy, 
I  saw  sitting  on  one  of  the  sofas  a  remarkable  and  venerable-looking 
old  gentleman.  On  inquiring  of  my  friend  Thomas  Webster  who  he 
was,  he  answered,  "  Why,  that's  old  Linnell ! "  I  then  took  the  liberty 
of  sitting  down  beside  him,  and,  apologising  for  my  intrusion  on  his 
notice,  I  said  it  was  just  fifty-seven  years  since  I  had  last  seen  him  ! 
I  mentioned  the  circumstance  of  the  rat-skeleton  which  he  had  put  in 
his  pocket  at  Edinburgh.  He  was  pleased  and  astonished  to  have  the 
facts  so  vividly  recalled  to  his  mind.  At  last  he  said,  "Well,  I  have 
that  mummy  rat,  the  relic  of  the  Heart  of  Midlothian,  safe  in  a 
cabinet  of  curiosities  in  my  house  at  Redhill  to  this  day." 


86  SCOTT  AND  WATT.  CHAP. 

These  coins  had  the  effect  of  promoting  my  knowledge  of 
Roman  history.  I  read  up  in  order  to  find  out  the  acts 
and  deeds  of  the  old  rulers  of  the  civilised  world.  Besides 
collecting  the  coins,  I  used  to  make  careful  drawings  of  the 
obverse  and  reverse  faces  of  each  in  an  illustrated  catalogue 
which  I  kept  in  my  little  coin  cabinet. 

I  remember  one  day,  when  sitting  beside  my  father 
making  a  very  careful  drawing  of  a  fine  bronze  coin  of 
Augustus,  that  Sir  Walter  Scott  entered  the  room.  He 
frequently  called  upon  my  father  in  order  to  consult  him 
with  respect  to  his  architectural  arrangements.  Sir  Walter 
caught'  sight  of  me,  and  came  forward  to  look  over  the 
work  I  was  engaged  in.  At  his  request  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  showing  him  my  little  store  of  coin  treasures,  after 
which  he  took  out  of  his  waistcoat  pocket  a  beautiful 
silver  coin  of  the  reign  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  and  gave 
it  to  me  as  being  his  "  young  brother  antiquarian."  I  shall 
never  forget  the  kind  fatherly  way  in  which  he  presented 
it.  I  considered  it  a  great  honour  to  be  spoken  to  in  so 
friendly  a  way  by  such  a  man ;  besides,  it  vastly  enriched 
my  little  collection  of  coins  and  medals. 

It  was  in  the  year  1817  that  I  had  the  pleasure,  never 
to  be  forgotten,  of  seeing  the  great  engineer,  James  Watt. 
He  was  then  close  upon  his  eighty-second  year.  His  visit 
to  Edinburgh  was  welcomed  by  the  most  distinguished 
scientific  and  literary  men  of  the  city.  My  father  had  the 
honour  of  meeting  him  at  a  dinner  given  by  the  Earl  of 
Buchan,  at  his  residence  in  George  Street.  There  were 
present,  Sir  James  Hall,  President  of  the  Royal  Society ; 
Francis  Jeffrey,  Editor  of  the  Edinburgh  Review;  Walter 
Scott,  still  the  Great  Unknown ;  and  many  other  distin- 
guished notabilities.  The  cheerful  old  man  delighted  them 
with  his  kindly  talk,  as  well  as  astonished  them  with  the 
extent  and  pmfundity  of  his  information. 

On  the  following  day  Mr.  Watt  paid  my  father  a  visit 
He  carefully  examined  his  artistic  and  other  works. 
1 1-iving  inspected  with  great  pleasure  some  landscape  paint- 
ings of  various  scenes  in  Scotland  executed  by  my  sisters, 


v.  MECHANICAL  PURSUITS.  87 

who  were  then  highly  efficient  artists,  he  purchased  a 
specimen  of  each,  as  well  as  three  landscapes  painted  by 
my  father,  as  a  record  of  his  pleasant  visit  to  the  capital  of 
Ids  native  country.  I  well  remember  the  sight  I  then  got 
of  the  Great  Engineer.  I  had  just  returned  from  the  High 
School  when  he  was  leaving  my  father's  house.  It  was  but 
a  glimpse  I  had  of  him.  But  his  benevolent  countenance 
and  his  tall  but  bent  figure  made  an  impression  on  my  mind 
that  I  can  never  forget.  It  was  even  something  to  have 
seen  for  a  few  seconds  so  truly  great  and  noble  a  man. 

I  did  not  long  continue  my  passion  for  the  collection  of 
coins.  I  felt  a  greater  interest  in  mechanical  pursuits.  I 
have  a  most  cherished  and  grateful  remembrance  of  the 
happy  hours  and  days  that  I  spent  in  my  father's  workroom. 
When  the  weather  was  cold  or  wet,  he  took  refuge  with 
his  lathe  and  tools,  and  there  I  followed  and  watched  him. 
He  took  the  greatest  pleasure  in  instructing  me.  Even  in 
the  most  humble  mechanical  job  he  was  sure  to  direct  my 
attention  to  the  action  of  the  tools  and  to  the  construction 
of  the  work  he  had  in  hand,  and  pointed  out  the  manipu- 
lative processes  requisite  for  its  being  effectually  carried 
out.  My  hearty  zeal  in  assisting  him  was  well  rewarded 
by  his  implanting  in  my  mind  the  great  fundamental  prin- 
ciples on  which  the  practice  of  engineering  in  its  grandest 
forms  is  based.  But  I  did  not  learn  this  all  at  once.  It 
came  only  gradually,  and  by  dint  of  constant  repetition  and 
inculcation.  In  the  meantime  I  made  a  beginning  by  doing 
some  little  mechanical  work  on  my  own  occount. 

While  attending  the  High  School,  from  1817  to  1820, 
there  was  the  usual  rage  amongst  boys  for  spinning-tops, 
"  peeries,"  and  "young  cannon."  By  means  of  my  father's 
excellent  foot- lathe  I  turned  out  the  spinning -tops  in 
capital  style,  so  much  so  that  I  became  quite  noted 
amongst  my  school  companions.  They  all  wanted  to  have 
specimens  of  my  productions.  They  would  give  any  price 
for  them.  The  peeries  were  turned  with  perfect  accuracy, 
and  the  steel  shod,  or  spinning  pivot,  was  centred  so  as  to 
correspond  exactly  with  the  axis  of  the  top.  They  cou.lol 


88  THE  KING'S  BIRTHDAY.  CHAP. 

spin  twice  as  long  as  the  bought  peeries.  When  at  full 
speed  they  would  "sleep,"  that  is,  revolve  without  the 
slightest  waving.  This  was  considered  high  art  as  regarded 
top-spinning. 

Flying-kites  and  tissue  paper  balloons  were  articles  that 
I  was  somewhat  famed  for  producing.  There  was  a  good 
deal  of  special  skill  required  for  the  production  of  a  flying- 
kite.  It  must  be  perfectly  still  and  steady  when  at  its 
highest  flight  in  the  air.  Paper  messengers  were  sent  up 
to  it  along  the  string  which  held  it  to  the  ground.  The 
top  of  the  Calton  Hill  was  the  most  favourite  place  for 
enjoying  this  pleasant  amusement. 

Another  article  for  which  I  became  equally  famous  was 
the  manufacture  of  small  brass  cannon.  These  I  cast  and 
bored,  and  mounted  on  their  appropriate  gun-carriages. 
They  proved  very  effective,  especially  in  the  loudness  of 
the  report  when  fired.  I  also  converted  large  cellar-ke}'s 
into  a  sort  of  hand-cannon.  A  touch-hole  was  bored  into 
the  barrel  of  the  key,  with  a  sliding  brass  collar  that 
allowed  the  key-guns  to  be  loaded  and  primed  and  ready 
for  firing. 

The  principal  occasion  on  which  the  brass  cannon  and 
hand-guns  were  used  was  on  the  4th  of  June — King  George 
the  Third's  birthday.  This  was  always  celebrated  with 
exuberant  and  noisy  loyalty.  The  guns  of  the  Castle  were 
fired  at  noon,  and  the  number  of  shots  corresponded  with 
the  number  of  years  that  the  king  had  reigned.  The 
grand  old  Castle  was  enveloped  in  smoke,  and  the  dis- 
charges reverberated  along  the  streets  and  among  the 
surrounding  hills.  Everything  was  in  holiday  order.  The 
coaches  were  hung  with  garlands,  the  shops  were  orna- 
mented, the  troops  were  reviewed  on  Bruntsfield  Links, 
and  the  citizens  drank  the  king's  health  at  the  Cross, 
throwing  the  glasses  over  their  shoulders.  The  boys  fired 
off  gunpowder,  or  threw  squibs  or  crackers  from  morning 
till  night.  It  was  one  of  the  greatest  schoolboy  events  of 
the  yrar. 

My  little  brass  cannon  and  band-guns  were  very  busy 


v.  FLINTS  AND  STEELS.  89 

during  that  day.  They  were  fired  until  they  became  quite 
hot.  These  were  the  pre-lucifer  days.  The  fire  to  light 
the  powder  at  the  touch-hole  was  obtained  by  the  use  of  a 
flint,  a  steel,  and  a  tinder-box.  The  flint  was  struck 
sharply  on  the  steel ;  a  spark  of  fire  fell  into  the  tinder- 
box,  and  the  match  of  hemp  string,  soaked  in  saltpetre, 
was  readily  lit,  and  fired  off  the  little  guns. 

I  carried  on  quite  a  trade  in  forging  beautiful  little 
steels.  I  forged  them  out  of  old  files,  which  proved 
excellent  material  for  the  purpose.  I  filed  them  up  into 
neat  and  correct  forms,  and  then  hardened  and  tempered 
them,  secundum  artem,  at  the  little  furnace  stove  in  my 
father's  workroom,  where  of  course  there  were  also  a  suit- 
able anvil,  hammer,  and  tongs.  I  often  made  potent  use 
of  these  steels  in  escaping  from  the  ordeal  of  some  severe 
task  imposed  upon  me  at  school.  The  schoolmaster  often 
deputed  his  authority  to  the  monitors  to  hear  us  say  our 
lessons.  But  when  I  slyly  exhibited  a  beautiful  steel  the 
monitor  could  not  maintain  his  grim  sense  of  duty,  and  he 
often  let  me  escape  the  ordeal  of  repeating  some  passage 
from  a  Latin  school-book  by  obtaining  possession  of  the 
article.  I  thus  bought  myself  off.  This  system  of  bribery 
and  corruption  was  no  doubt  shockingly  improper,  but  as  I 
was  not  naturally  endowed  with  the  taste  for  learning 
Latin  and  Greek,  I  continued  my  little  diplomatic  tricks 
until  I  left  school. 

As  I  have  said,  I  did  not  learn  much  at  the  High 
School.  My  mind  was  never  opened  up  by  what  was 
taught  me  there.  It  was  a  mere  matter  of  rote  and  cram. 
I  learnt  by  heart  a  number  of  Latin  rules  and  phrases,  but 
what  I  learnt  soon  slipped  from  my  memory.  My  young 
mind  was  tormented  by  the  tasks  set  before  me.  At  the 
same  time  my  hungry  mind  thirsted  for  knowledge  of 
another  kind. 

There  was  one  thing,  however,  that  I  did  learn  at  the 
High  School.  That  was  the  blessings  and  advantages  of 
friendship.  There  were  several  of  my  schoolfellows  of  a 
like  disposition  with  myself,  with  whom  I  formed  attach- 


90  BOY  FRIENDS.  CHAP. 

ments  which  ended  only  with  life.  I  may  mention  two  of 
them  in  particular — Jemmy  Patterson  and  Tom  Smith. 
The  former  was  the  son  of  one  of  the  largest  iron  founders 
in  Edinburgh.  He  was  kind,  good,  and  intelligent.  He 
and  I  were  great  cronies.  He  took  me  to  his  father's 
workshops.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  agreeable  to 
my  tastes.  For  there  I  saw  how  iron  castings  were  made. 
Mill-work  and  steam-engines  were  repaired  there,  and  I 
could  see  the  way  in  which  power  was  produced  and 
communicated.  To  me  it  was  a  most  instructive  school  of 
practical  mechanics.  Although  I  was  only  about  thirteen 
at  the  time,  I  used  to  "lend  a  hand,"  in  which  hearty  zeal 
made  up  for  want  of  strength.  I  look  back  to  these  days, 
especially  to  the  Saturday  afternoons  spent  in  the  work- 
shops of  this  admirably  conducted  iron  foundry,  as  a  most 
important  part  of  my  education  as  a  mechanical  engineer. 
I  did  not  read  about  such  things ;  for  words  were  of  little 
use.  But  I  saw  and  handled,  and  thus  all  the  ideas  in 
connection  with  them  became  permanently  rooted  in  my 
mind. 

Each  department  of  the  iron  foundry  was  superintended 
by  an  able  and  intelligent  man,  who  was  distinguished 
not  only  by  his  ability  but  for  his  steadiness  and  sobriety. 
The  men  were  for  the  most  part  promoted  to  their  foreman- 
ship  from  the  ranks,  and  had  been  brought  up  in  the 
workshop  from  their  boyhood.  They  possessed  a  strong 
individuality  of  character,  and  served  their  employer 
faithfully  and  loyally.  One  of  these  excellent  men,  with 
whom  I  was  frequently  brought  into  contact,  was  William 
Watson.  Ho  took  special  charge  of  all  that  related  to  the 
construction  and  repairs  of  steam-engines,  water-wheels, 
and  mill-work  generally.  lie  was  a  skilful  designer  and 
draughtsman,  and  an  excellent  pattern  maker.  His  designs 
were  drawn  in  a  bold  and  distinct  style,  on  large  deal 
boards,  and  were  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  mechanics 
to  be  translated  by  them  into  actual  work. 

It  \\as  no  small  privilege  to  me  to  stand  by,  and  now 
and  then  hold  the  end  of  the  long  straight  edge,  or  by 


v.  FOUNDRY   FOREMEN.  91 

some  humble  but  zealous  genuine  help  of  mine  contribute 
to  the  progress  of  these  substantial  and  most  effective 
mechanical  drawings.  Watson  explained  to  me,  in  the 
most  common-sense  manner,  his  reasons  for  the  various 
forms,  arrangements,  and  proportions  of  the  details  of  his 
designs.  He  was  an  enthusiast  on  the  subject  of  Euclid ; 
and  to  see  the  beautiful  problems  applied  by  him  in  work- 
ing out  his  excellent  drawings  was  to  me  a  lesson  beyond 
all  price. 

Watson  was  effectively  assisted  by  his  two  sons,  who 
carried  out  their  father's  designs  in  constructing  the  wood 
patterns  after  which  the  foundry-men  or  moulders  reproduced 
their  forms  in  cast  iron,  while  the  smiths  by  their  craft 
realised  the  wrouglit-iron  portions.  These  sons  of  Mr. 
Watson  were  of  that  special  class  of  workmen  called  mill- 
wrights— a  class  now  almost  extinct,  though  many  of  the 
best  known  engineers  originally  belonged  to  them.  They 
could  work  with  equal  effectiveness  in  wood  or  iron. 

Another  foreman  in  Mr.  Patterson's  foundry  was  called 
Lewis.  He  had  special  charge  of  the  iron  castings  designed 
for  architectural  and  ornamental  purposes.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  taste  and  artistic  feeling,  and  I  was  able  even 
at  that  time  to  appreciate  the  beauty  of  his  designs.  One 
of  the  most  original  characters  about  the  foundry,  however, 
was  Johnie  Syme.  He  took  charge  of  the  old  Boulton 
and  Watt  steam-engine,  which  gave  motion  to  the  machinery 
of  the  works.  It  also  produced  the  blast  for  the  cupolas, 
in  which  the  pig  and  cast  iron  scrap  was  daily  melted  and 
cast  into  the  various  objects  produced  in  the  foundry. 
Johnie  was  a  complete  incarnation  of  technical  knowledge. 
He  was  the  Jack-of-all-trades  of  the  establishment ;  and 
the  standing  counsel  in  every  out-of-the-way  case  of  manag- 
ing and  overcoming  mechanical  difficulties.  He  was  the 
superintendent  of  the  boring  machines.  In  those  days  the 
boring  of  a  steam-engine  cylinder  was  considered  high  art 
in  excelsis  !  Patterson's  firm  was  celebrated  for  the  accuracy 
of  its  boring. 

I  owe  Johnie  Syme  a  special  debt  of  gratitude,  as  it 


92  JOHNIE  SYME.  OHAP. 


was  he  who  first  initiated  me  into  that  most  important  of 
all  technical  processes  in  practical  mechanism — the  art  of 
hardening  and  tempering  steel.  It  is,  perhaps,  not -saying 
too  much  to  assert  that  the  successful  practice  of  the 
mechanical  arts,  by  means  of  which  man  rises  from  the 
savage  to  the  civilised  state,  is  due  to  that  wonderful 
change.  Man  began  with  wood,  and  stone,  and  bone ;  he 
proceeded  to  bronze  and  iron  ;  but  it  was  only  by  means 
of  liardened  steel  that  he  could  accomplish  anything  in 
arms,  in  agriculture,  or  in  architecture.  The  instant 
hardening  which  occurs  on  plunging  a  red-hot  piece  of  steel 
into  cold  water  may  well  be  described  as  mysterious. 
Even  in  these  days,  when  science  has  defined  the  causes  of 
so  many  phenomena,  the  reason  of  steel  becoming  hard  on 
suddenly  cooling  it  down  from  a  red-heat,  is  a  fact  that  no 
one  has  yet  explained.  The  steel  may  be  tempered  by 
modifying  the  degree  of  heat  to  which  it  is  afterwards 
subjected.  It  may  thus  be  toughened  by  slightly  relieating 
the  hardened  steel ;  the  resoftcning  course  is  indicated  by 
certain  prismatic  tints,  which  appear  in  a  peculiar  order  of 
succession  on  its  surface.  The  skilful  artisan  thus  knows  by 
experience  the  exact  point  at  which  it  is  necessary  again 
to  plunge  it  into  cold  water  in  order  to  secure  the  requisite 
combination  of  toughness  and  hardness  to  the  steel  required 
for  his  purposes. 

In  all  these  matters,  my  early  instructor,  Johnie  Syme, 
gave  me  such  information  as  proved  of  the  greatest  use  to 
me  in  the  after  progress  of  my  mechanical  career.  Johnie 
Symo  was  also  the  very  incarnation  of  quaint  sly  humour ; 
and  when  communicating  some  of  his  most  valued  arcana 
of  practical  mechanical  knowledge  he  always  reminded  me 
of  some  of  Ostade's  Dutchmen,  by  an  almost  indescribable 
sly  humorous  twinkle  of  the  eye,  which  in  that  droll  way 
stamped  his  information  on  my  memory. 

Tom  Smith  was  another  of  my  attached  cronies.  Our 
f'lirn.Uiij)  began  •*  the  High  School  in  1818.  Our  simi- 
huity  <>f  disposition  bound  us  together.  Smith  was  the 
son  of  an  enterprising  general  merchant  at  Leith.  His 


V.  TOM  SMITH. 


father  had  a  special  genius  for  practical  chemistry.  He 
had  established  an  extensive  colour  manufactory  at  Porto- 
bello,  near  Edinburgh,  where  he  produced  white  lead,  red 
lead,  and  a  great  variety  of  colours — in  the  preparation  of 
which  he  required  a  thorough  knowledge  of  chemistry. 
Tom  Smith  inherited  his  father's  tastes,  and  admitted  me 
to  share  in  his  experiments,  which  were  carried  on  in  a 
chemical  laboratory  situated  behind  his  father's  house  at 
the  bottom  of  Leith  Walk. 

We  had  a  special  means  of  communication.  When 
anything  particular  was  going  on  at  the  laboratory,  Tom 
hoisted  a  white  flag  on  the  top  of  a  high  pole  in  his  father's 
garden.  Though  I  was  more  than  a  mile  apart,  I  kept  a 
look-out  in  the  direction  of  the  laboratory  with  a  spy-glass. 
My  father's  house  was  at  the  top  of  Leith  Walk,  and 
Smith's  house  was  at  the  bottom  of  it.  When  the  flag 
was  hoisted  I  could  clearly  see  the  invitation  to  me  to 
"  come  down."  I  was  only  too  glad  to  run  down  the  Walk 
and  join  my  chum,  and  take  part  with  him  in  some  interest- 
ing chemical  process.  Mr.  Smith,  the  father,  made  me 
heartily  welcome.  He  was  pleased  to  see  his  son  so  much 
attached  to  me,  and  he  perhaps  believed  that  I  was  worthy 
of  his  friendship.  We  took  zealous  part  in  all  the  chemical 
proceedings,  and  in  that  way  Tom  was  fitting  himself  for 
the  business  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  most  genial  tempered  man.  He  was 
shrewd  and  quick-witted,  like  a  native  of  York,  as  he  was. 
I  received  the  greatest  kindness  from  him  as  well  as  from 
his  family.  His  house  was  like  a  museum.  It  was  full  of 
cabinets,  in  which  were  placed  choice  and  interesting 
objects  in  natural  history,  geology,  mineralogy,  and  metal- 
lurgy. All  were  represented.  Many  of  these  specimens 
had  been  brought  to  him  from  abroad  by  his  ship  captains 
who  transported  his  colour  manufactures  and  other  com- 
modities to  foreign  parts. 

My  friend  Tom  Smith  and  I  made  it  a  rule — and  in 
this  we  were  encouraged  by  his  father — that,  so  far  as  was 
possible,  we  ourselves  should  actually  make  the  acids  and 


94  EXPERIMENTS  IN  CHEMISTRY.  CHAP. 

other  substances  used  in  our  experiments.  We  were  not 
to  buy  them  ready  made,  as  this  would  have  taken  the 
zest  out  of  our  enjoyment.  We  should  have  lost  the 
pleasure  and  instruction  of  producing  them  by  aid  of  our 
own  wits  and  energies.  To  encounter  and  overcome  a 
difficulty  is  the  most  interesting  of  all  things.  Hence, 
though  often  baffled,  we  eventually  produced  perfect  speci- 
mens of  nitrous,  nitric,  and  muriatic  acids.  We  distilled 
alcohol  from  duly  fermented  sugar  and  water,  and  rectified 
the  resultant  spirit  from  fusel  oil  by  passing  the  alcoholic 
vapour  through  animal  charcoal  before  it  entered  the  worm 
of  the  still.  We  converted  part  of  the  alcohol,  into  sul- 
phuric ether.  We  produced  phosphorus  from  bones,  and 
elaborated  many  of  the  mysteries  of  chemistry. 

The  amount  of  practical  information  which  we  obtained 
by  this  system  of  making  our  own  chemical  agents  was 
such  as  to  reward  us,  in  many  respects,  for  the  labour  we 
underwent.  To  outsiders  it  might  appear  a  very  trouble- 
some and  roundabout  way  of  getting  at  the  finally  desired 
result.  But  I  feel  certain  that  there  is  no  better  method 
of  rooting  chemical,  or  any  other  instruction,  deeply  in 
our  minds.  Indeed,  I  regret  that  the  same  system  is  not 
pursued  by  young  men  of  the  present  day.  They  are 
seldom,  if  ever,  called  upon  to  exert  their  own  wits  and 
industry  to  obtain  the  requisites  for  their  instruction.  A 
great  deal  is  now  said  about  "technical  education";  but 
how  little  there  is  of  technical  handiness  or  head  work ! 
Everything  is  bought  ready  made  to  their  hands ;  and  hence 
there  is  no  call  for  individual  ingenuity. 

I  often  observe,  in  shop-windows,  every  detail  of  model 
ships  and  model  steam-engines,  supplied  ready  made  for 
those  who  are  "  said  to  be"  of  an  ingenious  and  mechanical 
turn.  Thus  the  vital  uses  of  resourcefulness  are  done 
away  with,  and  a  sham  exhibition  of  mechanical  genius  is 
paraded  before  you  by  the  young  impostors — the  result, 
for  the  most  part,  of  too  free  a  supply  of  pocket  money. 
I  have  known  too  many  instances  of  parents,  led  by  such 
false  evidence  of  constructive  skill,  apprenticing  their  sons 


v.  KID  GLOVES  NON-CONDUCTORS.  95 

to  some  engineering  firm;  and,  after  paying  vast  sums, 
finding  out  that  the  pretender  comes  out  of  the  engineering 
shop  with  no  other  practical  accomplishment  than  that  of 
cigar-smoking ! 

The  truth  is  that  the  eyes  and  the  fingers — the  bare 
fingers — are  the  two  principal  inlets  to  sound  practical 
instruction.  They  are  the  chief  sources  of  trustworthy 
knowledge  as  to  all  the  materials  and  operations  which  the 
engineer  has  to  deal  with.  No  look  knowledge  can  avail 
for  that  purpose.  The  nature  and  properties  of  the 
materials  must  come  in  through  the  finger  ends.  Hence, 
I  have  no  faith  in  young  engineers  who  are  addicted  to 
wearing  gloves.  Gloves,  especially  kid  gloves,  are  perfect 
non-conductors  of  technical  knowledge.  This  has  really 
more  to  do  with  the  efficiency  of  young  aspirants  for 
engineering  success  than  most  people  arc  aware  of. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MECHANICAL   BEGINNINGS. 

I  LEFT  the  High  School  at  the  end  of  1820.  I  carried 
with  me  a  small  amount  of  Latin,  and  no  Greek.  I  do 
not  think  I  was  much  the  better  for  my  small  acquaintance 
with  the  dead  languages.  I  wanted  something  more  living 
and  quickening.  I  continued  my  studies  at  private  classes. 
Arithmetic  and  geometry  were  my  favourite  branches. 
The  three  first  books  of  Euclid  were  to  me  a  new  intellec- 
tual life.  They  brought  out  my  power  of  reasoning.  They 
trained  me  mentally.  They  enabled  me  to  arrive  at  correct 
conclusions,  and  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  absolute  truths. 
It  is  because  of  this  that  I  have  ever  since  held  the  beauti- 
fully perfect  method  of  reasoning,  as  exhibited  in  the  exact 
method  of  arriving  at  Q.E.D.,  to  be  one  of  the  most  satis- 
factory efforts  and  exercises  of  the  human  intellect. 

Besides  visiting  and  taking  part  in  the  works  at  Patter- 
son's foundry,  and  joining  in  the  chemical  experiments  at 
Smith's  laboratory,  my  father  gave  me  every  opportunity 
for  practising  the  art  of  drawing.  He  taught  me  to  sketch 
with  exactness  every  object,  whether  natural  or  artificial,  so 
as  to  enable  the  hand  to  accurately  reproduce  what  the  eye 
had  seen.  In  order  to  acquire  this  almost  invaluable  art, 
which  can  serve  so  many  valuable  purposes  in  life,  he  was 
careful  to  educate  my  eye,  so  that  I  might  perceive  the 
relative  proportions  of  the  objects  placed  before  me.  He 
would  throw  down  at  random  a  number  of  bricks,  or  pieces 
of  wood  representing  them,  and  set  me  to  copy  their  forms, 
tln-ir  proportions,  their  lights  and  shadows  respectively. 


n.  GRAPHIC  LANGUAGE.  97 

I  have  often  heard  him  say  that  any  one  who  could  make 
a  correct  drawing  in  regard  to  outline,  and  also  indicate  by 
a  few  effective  touches  the  variation  of  lights  and  shadows 
of  such  a  group  of  model  objects,  might  not  despair  of 
making  a  good  and  correct  sketch  of  the  exterior  of  York 
Minster ! 

My  father  was  an  enthusiast  in  praise  of  this  graphic 
language,  and  I  have  followed  his  example.  In  fact,  it 
formed  a  principal  part  of  my  own  education.  It  gave  me 
the  power  of  recording  observations  with  a  few  graphic 
strokes  of  the  pencil,  which  far  surpassed  in  expression  any 
number  of  mere  words.  This  graphic  eloquence  is  one  of 
the  highest  gifts  in  conveying  clear  and  correct  ideas  as  to 
the  forms  of  objects — whether  they  be  those  of  a  simple 
and  familiar  kind,  or  of  some  form  of  mechanical  construc- 
tion, or  of  the  details  of  a  fine  building,  or  the  characteristic 
features  of  a  wide-stretching  landscape.  This  accomplish- 
ment of  accurate  drawing,  which  I  achieved  for  the  most  part 
in  my  father's  work-room,  served  me  many  a  good  turn  in 
future  years  with  reference  to  the  engineering  work  which 
became  the  business  of  my  life. 

I  was  constantly  busy.  Mind,  hands,  and  body  were 
kept  in  a  state  of  delightful  and  instructive  activity.  When 
not  drawing,  I  occupied  myself  in  my  father's  workshop  at 
the  lathe,  the  furnace,  or  the  bench.  I  gradually  became 
initiated  into  every  variety  of  mechanical  and  chemical 
manipulation.  I  made  my  own  tools  and  constructed  my 
chemical  apparatus,  as  far  as  lay  in  my  power.  With 
respect  to  the  latter,  I  constructed  a  very  handy  and  effect- 
ive blowpipe  apparatus,  consisting  of  a  small  air  force- 
pump,  connected  with  a  cylindrical  vessel  of  tin  plate.  By 
means  of  an  occasional  use  of  the  handy  pump,  it  yielded 
such  a  fine  steady  blowpipe  blast,  as  enabled  me  to  bend 
glass  tubes  and  blow  bulbs  for  thermometers,  to  analyse 
metals  or  mineral  substances,  or  to  do  any  other  work  for 
which  intense  heat  was  necessary.  My  natural  aptitude 
for  manipulation,  whether  in  mechanical  or  chemical  opera- 
tions, proved  very  serviceable  to  myself  as  well  as  to  others  ; 

H 


98  WALKS  ROUND  EDINBURGH.  CHAP. 

and  (as  will  be  shown  hereafter)  it  gained  for  me  the  friend- 
ship of  many  distinguished  scientific  men. 

But  I  did  not  devote  myself  altogether  to  experiments. 
Exercise  is  as  necessary  for  the  body  as  the  mind.  With- 
out full  health  a  man  cannot  enjoy  comfort,  nor  can  he 
possess  endurance.  I  therefore  took  plenty  of  exercise  out 
of  doors.  I  accompanied  my  father  in  his  walks  round 
Edinburgh.  My  intellect  was  kept  alive  during  these 
delightful  excursions.  For  sometimes  my  father  was 
accompanied  by  brother -artists,  whose  conversation  is 
always  so  attractive;  and  sometimes  by  scientific  men, 
such  as  Sir  James  Hall,  Professor  Leslie,  Dr.  Erewster,  and 
others.  Whatever  may  have  been  my  opportunities  for 
education  so-called,  nothing  could  have  better  served 
the  purpose  of  real  education  (the  evolution  of  the  mental 
faculties)  than  the  opportunities  I  enjoyed  while  accom- 
panying and  listening  to  the  conversation  of  men  distin- 
guished for  their  originality  of  thought  and  their  high 
intellectual  capacity.  This  was  a  mental  culture  of  the 
best  kind. 

The  volcanic  origin  of  the  beautiful  scenery  round 
Edinburgh  was  often  the  subject  of  their  conversation. 
Probably  few  visitors  are  aware  that  all  those  remarkable 
eminences,  which  give  to  the  city  and  its  surroundings  so 
peculiar  and  romantic  an  aspect,  are  the  results  of  the 
operation,  during  inconceivably  remote  ages,  of  volcanic 
force  penetrating  the  earth's  crust  by  disruptive  power, 
and  pouring  forth  streams  of  molten  lava,  now  shrunk  and 
cooled  into  volcanic  rock.  The  observant  eye,  opened  by 
the  light  of  Science,  can  see  unmistakable  evidences  of  a 
condition  of  things  which  were  in  action  at  periods  so 
remote  as,  in  comparison,  to  shrink  up  the  oldest  of  human 
records  into  events  of  yesterday. 

I  had  often  the  privilege  of  standing  by  and  hearing  the 
philosophic  Leslie,  Brewster,  and  Hall,  discussing  these 
volcanic  remains  in  their  actual  presence;  sometimes  at 
Arthur's  Seat  or  on  the  Calton  Hill,  or  at  the  rock  on 
which  Edinburgh  Castle  stands.  Their  observations  sank 


vi.  VOLCANIC  ACTION.  99 

indelibly  into  my  memory,  and  gave  me  the  key  to  the 
origin  of  this  grand  class  of  terrestrial  phenomena.  When 
standing  at  the  "  Giant's  Ribs,"  on  the  south  side  of 
Arthur's  Seat,  I  felt  as  if  one  of  the  grandest  pages  of  the 
earth's  history  lay  open  before  me.  The  evidences  of 
similar  volcanic  action  abound  in  many  other  places  near 
Edinburgh ;  and  they  may  be  traced  right  across  Scotland 
from  the  Bass  Eock  to  Fingal's  Cave,  the  Giant's  Causeway 
in  Antrim,  and  Slievh  League  on  the  south-west  coast  of 
Donegal  in  Ireland. 

Volcanic  action,  in  some  inconceivably  remote  period  of 
the  earth's  crust  history,  has  been  the  Plough,  and  after 
denudation  by  water,  has  been  the  Harrow,  by  which  the 
originally  deep-seated  mineral  treasures  of  the  globe  have 
been  brought  within  the  reach  of  man's  industrial  efforts. 
It  has  thus  yielded  him  inexhaustible  mineral  harvests,  and 
helped  him  to  some  of  the  most  important  material 
elements  in  his  progress  towards  civilisation.  It  is  from 
this  consideration  that,  while  enjoying  the  results  of  these 
grand  fundamental  actions  of  the  Creator's  mighty  agencies 
in  their  picturesque  aspect,  the  knowledge  of  their  useful 
results  to  man  adds  vastly  to  the  grandeur  of  the  contem- 
plation of  their  aspect  and  nature.  This  great  subject 
caused  me,  even  at  this  early  period  of  my  life,  to  behold 
with  special  interest  the  first  peep  at  the  structure  of  the 
moon's  surface,  as  revealed  to  me  by  an  excellent  Eamsden 
"  spy-glass>"  which  my  father  possessed,  and  thus  planted 
the  seed  of  that  earnest  desire  to  scrutinise  more  minutely 
the  moon's  wonderful  surface,  which  in  after  years  I  pursued 
by  means  of  the  powerful  reflecting  telescopes  constructed 
by  myself. 

To  turn  to  another  subject.  In  1822  the  loyalty  of 
Scotland  was  greatly  excited  when  George  the  Fourth  paid 
his  well-known  visit  to  Edinburgh.  It  was  then  the  second 
greatest  city  in  the  kingdom,  and  had  not  been  visited  by 
royalty  for  about  170  years.  The  civic  authorities,  and 
the  inhabitants  generally,  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost 
to  give  the  king  a  cordial  welcome,  in  spite  of  a  certain 


100  GEORGE  THE  FOURTH'S  VISIT.  CHAP. 

feeling  of  dissatisfaction  as  to  his  personal  character.  The 
recent  trial  and  death  of  Queen  Caroline  had  not  been 
forgotten,  yet  all  such  recollections  were  suppressed  in  the 
earnest  desire  to  show  every  respect  to  the  royal  visitor. 
Edinburgh  was  crowded  with  people  from  all  parts  of  the 
country ;  heather  was  arrayed  on  every  bonnet  and  hat ; 
and  the  reception  was  on  the  whole  magnificent.  Perhaps 
the  most  impressive  spectacle  was  the  orderliness  of  the 
multitude,  all  arrayed  in  their  Sunday  clothes.  The  streets, 
windows,  and  house-tops  were  crowded;  and  the  Calton 
Hill,  Salisbury  Crags,  and  even  Arthur's  Seat  itself,  were 
covered  with  people.  On  the  night  before  the  arrival  a 
gigantic  bonfire  on  Arthur's  Seat  lit  up  with  a  tremendous 
blaze  the  whole  city,  as  well  as  the  surrounding  country. 
It  formed  a  magnificent  and  picturesque  sight,  illuminating 
the  adjacent  mountains  as  well  as  the  prominent  features 
of  the  city.  It  made  one  imagine  that  the  grand  old 
volcanic  mountain  had  once  more,  after  a  rest  of  some 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  years,  burst  out  again  in  its 
former  vehemence  of  eruptive  activity. 

There  were,  of  course,  many  very  distinguished  men 
who  took  part  in  the  pageant  of  the  king's  entry  into 
Edinburgh,  but  none  of  them  had  their  presence  more 
cordially  acknowledged  than  Sir  Walter  Scott,  who  never 
felt  more  proud  of  "his  own  romantic  town"  than  he  did 
upon  this  occasion.  It  is  unnecessary  to  mention  the 
many  interesting  features,  of  the  royal  reception.  The 
king's  visit  lasted  for  seven  or  eight  days,  and  everything 
passed  off  loyally,  orderly,  happily,  and  successfully. 

Shortly  after  this  time  there  was  a  great  deal  of  distress 
among  the  labouring  classes.  All  the  manufacturing  towns 
were  short  of  employment,  and  the  weavers  and  factory- 
workers  were  thrown  upon  the  public.  Many  of  the  work- 
men thought  that  politics  were  the  causes  of  their  suffering. 
Radical  clubs  were  formed,  and  the  Glasgow  weavers  began 
to  drill  at  nights  in  the  hopes  of  setting  things  to  rights 
by  means  of  physical  force.  A  large  number  of  the  starving 
weavers  came  to  Edinburgh.  A  committee  was  formed, 


vi.  THE  RADICAL  KOAt).  101 

and  contributions  were  collected,  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
them  temporary  employment.  They  were  set  to  work  to 
make  roads  and  walks  round  the  Calton  Hill  and  Salisbury 
Crags.  The  fine  walk  immediately  under  the  precipitous 
crags,  which  opens  out  such  perfect  panoramic  views  of 
Edinburgh,  was  made  by  these  poor  fellows.  It  was  hard 
work  for  their  delicate  hands  and  fingers,  which  before 
had  been  accustomed  only  to  deal  with  threads  and  soft 
fabrics.  They  were  very  badly  suited  for  handling  the 
mattock,  shovel,  and  hand-barrow.  The  result  of  their 
labours,  however,  proved  of  great  advantage  to  Edinburgh 
in  opening  up  the  beauties  of  its  scenery.  The  road  round 
the  crags  is  still  called  "  The  Radical  Road." 

Let  me  here  mention  one  of  the  most  memorable  inci- 
dents of  the  year  1824.  I  refer  to  the  destructive  fire 
which  took  place  in  the  old  town  of  Edinburgh.  It  broke 
out  in  an  apartment  situated  in  one  of  the  highest  piles  of 
houses  in  the  High  Street.  In  spite  of  every  effort  of  the 
firemen  the  entire  pile  was  gutted  and  destroyed.  The  fire 
was  thought  to  be  effectually  arrested ;  but  towards  the 
afternoon  of  the  next  day  smoke  was  observed  issuing  from 
the  upper  part  of  the  steeple  of  the  Tron  Church.  The 
steeple  was  built  of  timber,  covered  with  lead.  There  is 
never  smoke  but  there  is  fire ;  and  at  last  the  flames  burst 
forth.  The  height  of  the  spire  was  so  lofty  that  all 
attempts  to  extinguish  the  fire  were  hopeless.  The  lead  was 
soon  melted,  and  rushed  in  streams  into  the  street  below. 
At  length  the  whole  steeple  fell  down  with  a  frightful  crash. 

I  happened  to  see  the  first  outbreak  of  this  extraordinary 
fire,  and  I  watched  its  progress  to  its  close.  Burning 
embers  were  carried  by  the  wind  and  communicated  the 
fire  to  neighbouring  houses.  The  last  outburst  took  place 
one  night  about  ten.  All  the  fire-engines  of  Edinburgh  and 
the  neighbourhood  were  collected  round  the  buildings, 
and  played  water  upon  the  flames,  but  without  effect. 
Whole  ranges  of  lofty  old  houses  were  roaring  with  fire. 
In  the  course  of  two  or  three  hours,  several  acres,  covered 
by  the  loftiest  and  most  densely  crowded  houses  in  the 


102  THE  GREAT  FIRE.  CHAP. 


High  Street,  were  in  a  blaze.  Some  of  them  were  of 
thirteen  stories.  Floor  after  floor  came  crashing  down, 
throwing  out  a  blaze  of  embers.  The  walls  of  each  house 
acted  as  an  enormous  chimney — the  windows  acting  as 
draught-holes.  The  walls,  under  the  intense  heat,  were 
fluxed  and  melted  into  a  sort  of  glass.  The  only  method 
of  stopping  the  progress  of  the  fire  was  to  pull  down  the 
neighbouring  houses,  so  as  to  isolate  the  remaining  parts 
of  the  High  Street. 

As  the  parapet  of  the  grand  old  tower  of  the  High 
Church,  St.  Giles,  was  near  the  site  of  the  fire, — so  near  as 
to  enable  one  to  look  down  into  it, — my  father  obtained 
permission  to  ascend,  and  I  with  him.  When  we  emerged 
from  the  long  dark  spiral  stairs  on  to  the  platform  on  the 
top  of  the  tower,  we  found  a  select  party  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished inhabitants  looking  down  into  the  vast  area  of 
fire  ;  and  prominent  among  them  was  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
At  last,  after  three  days  of  tremendous  efforts,  the  fire  was 
subdued ;  but  not  till  after  a  terrible  destruction  of  pro- 
perty. The  great  height  of  the  ruined  remains  of  the  piles 
of  houses  rendered  it  impossible  to  have  them  removed  by 
the  ordinary  means.  After  several  fruitless  attempts  with 
chains  and  ropes,  worked  by  capstans,  to  pull  them  down, 
gunpowder  was  at  last  resorted  to.  Mines  were  dug  under 
each  vast  pile ;  one  or  two  barrels  of  gunpowder  were 
placed  into  them  and  fired;  and  then  the  before  solid 
masses  came  tumbling  down  amidst  clouds  of  dust.  The 
management  of  this  hazardous  but  eventually  safe  process 
was  conducted  by  Captain  Basil  Hall.  He  ordered  a  crew 
of  sailors  to  be  brought  up  from  the  man-of-war  guard  ship  in 
the  Firth  of  Forth ;  and  by  their  united  efforts  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  ruined  walls  was  at  last  successfully  accomplished. 

In  the  autumn  of  1823,  when  I  was  fifteen  years  old,  I 
had  a  most  delightful  journey  with  my  father.  It  was  the 
first  occasion  on  which  I  had  been  a  considerable  distance 
from  home.  And  yet  the  journey  was  only  to  Stirling. 
My  father  had  received  a  commission  to  paint  a  view  of 


VI.  JOURNEY  TO  STIRLING.  103 

the  castle  as  seen  from  the  ruins  of  Cambuskenneth  Abbey, 
situated  a  few  miles  from  the  town.  We  started  from 
Newhaven  by  a  small  steamboat,  passing,  on  our  way  up 
the  Firth,  Queensferry,  Culross,  and  Alloa.  We  then 
entered  the  windings  of  the  river,  from  which  I  saw  the 
Ochils,  a  noble  range  of  bright  green  mountains.  The 
passage  of  the  steamer  through  the  turns  and  windings  of 
the  Forth  was  most  interesting. 

We  arrived  at  Stirling,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  Cam- 
buskenneth Abbey,  where  there  was  a  noble  old  Gothic 
tower.  This  formed  the  foreground  of  my  father's  careful 
sketch,  with  Stirling  Castle  in  the  background,  and  Ben 
Lomond  with  many  other  of  the  Highland  mountains  in 
the  distance.  As  my  father  wished  to  make  a  model  of 
the  Gothic  tower,  he  desired  me  to  draw  it  carefully,  and 
to  take  the  dimensions  of  all  the  chief  parts  as  well  as  to 
make  detailed  sketches  of  its  minor  architectural  features. 
It  was  a  delightful  autumn  afternoon,  and,  before  the  day 
had  closed,  our  work  at  the  abbey  was  done.  We  returned 
to  Stirling  and  took  a  walk  round  the  castle  to  see  the  effect 
of  the  sun  setting  behind  the  Highland  mountains. 

Next  morning  we  visited  the  castle.  I  was  much  in- 
terested with  the  interior,  especially  with  a  beautifully 
decorated  Gothic  oratory  or  private  chapel,  used  by  the 
Scottish  kings  when  they  resided  at  Stirling.  The  oratory 
had  been  converted  with  great  taste  into  an  ante-drawing- 
room  of  the  governor's  house.  The  exquisite  decorations 
of  this  chapel  were  the  first  specimens  of  Gothic  carving  in 
oak  that  I  had  ever  seen,  and  they  seemed  to  put  our 
modern  carvings  to  shame.1  The  Great  Hall,  where  the 


1  This  exquisite  specimen  of  a  carved  oak  Gothic  apartment  had  a 
terrible  incident  in  Scottish  history  connected  with  it.  It  was  in  this 
place  that  The  Douglas  intruded  his  presence  on  James  the  Third. 
He  urged  his  demands  in  a  violent  and  threatening  manner,  and  after- 
wards laid  hands  upon  the  king.  The  latter,  in  defending  himself 
with  his  dagger,  wounded  the  Douglas  mortally  ;  and  to  get  rid  of  the 
body  the  king  cast  it  out  of  the  window  of  the  chapel,  where  it  fell 
down  the  precipitous  rock  underneath.  The  chapel  has  since  been 
destroyed  by  fire. 


104  THE  DEVON  IRONWORKS.  CHAP. 

Scottish  Parliament  used  to  meet,  was  also  very  interesting 
as  connected  with  the  ancient  history  of  the  country. 

From  Stirling  we  walked  to  Alloa,  passing  the  pictur- 
esque cascades  rushing  down  the  clefts  of  the  Ochils.  We 
put  up  for  the  night  at  Clackmannan,  a  very  decayed  and 
melancholy-looking  village,  though  it  possessed  a  fine 
specimen  of  the  Scottish  castellated  tower.  It  is  said  that 
Robert  Bruce  slept  here  before  the  Battle  of  Bannockburn. 
But  the  most  interesting  thing  that  I  saw  during  the 
journey  was  the  Devon  Ironworks.  I  had  read  and  heard 
about  the  processes  carried  on  there  in  smelting  iron  ore 
and  running  it  into  pig-iron.  The  origin  of  the  familiar 
trade  term  "  pig-iron "  is  derived  from  the  result  of  the 
arrangement  most  suitable  for  distributing  the  molten  iron 
as  it  rushes  forth  from  the  opening  made  at  the  bottom 
part  of  the  blast-furnace,  when,  after  its  reduction  from 
the  ore,  it  collects  in  a  fluid  mass  of  several  tons  weight. 
Previous  to  "  tapping  "  the  furnace  a  great  central  channel 
is  made  in  the  sand-covered  floor  of  the  forge ;  this  central 
channel  is  then  subdivided  into  many  lateral  branches  or 
canals,  into  which  the  molten  iron  flows,  and  eventually 
hardens. 

The  great  steam-engine  that  worked  the  blast  furnaCe 
was  the  largest  I  had  ever  seen.  A  singular  expedient  was 
employed  at  these  works,  of  using  a  vast  vault  hewn  in  the 
solid  rock  of  the  hillside  for  the  purpose  of  storing  up  the 
blast  produced  by  the  engines,  and  so  equalising  the  pres- 
sure ;  thus  turning  a  mountain  side  into  a  reservoir  for  the 
use  of  a  blast-furnace.  This  seemed  to  me  a  daring  and 
wonderful  engineering  feat. 

We  waited  at  the  works  until  the  usual  tune  had 
arrived  for  letting  out  the  molten  iron  which  had  been 
accumulating  at  the  lower  part  of  the  blast-furnace.  It 
was  a  fine  sight  to  see  the  stream  of  white-hot  iron  flowing 
like  water  into  the  large  gutter  immediately  before  the 
opening.  From  this  the  molten  iron  flowed  on  until  it 
filled  the  moulds  of  sand  which  branched  off  from  the 
central  gutter.  The  iron  left  in  the  centre,  when  cooled 


vi.  ROBERT  BALD.  105 

and  broken  up,  was  called  sow  metal,  while  that  in  th<? 
branches  was  called  pig  iron  ;  the  terms  being  derived  from 
the  appearance  of  a  sow  engaged  in  its  maternal  duties. 
The  pig-iron  is  thus  cast  in  handy-sized  pieces  for  the 
purpose  of  being  transported  to  other  iron  foundries  ;  while 
the  clumsy  sow  metal  is  broken  up  and  passes  through 
another  process  of  melting,  or  is  reserved  for  foundry  uses 
at  the  works  where  it  is  produced.  After  inspecting  with 
great  pleasure  the  machinery  connected  with  the  foundry, 
we  took  our  leave  and  returned  to  Edinburgh  by  steamer 
from  Alloa. 

Shortly  after,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  make  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Robert  Bald,  the  well-known  mining  engineer. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  kind-hearted  men  I  have  ever 
known.  He  was  always  ready  to  communicate  his  know- 
ledge to  young  and  old.  His  sound  judgment  and  long 
practical  experience  in  regard  to  coal-mining  and  the 
various  machinery  connected  with  it,  rendered  him  a  man 
of  great  importance  in  the  northern  counties,  where  his 
advice  was  eagerly  sought  for.  Besides  his  special  know- 
ledge, he  had  a  large  acquaintance  with  literature  and 
science.  He  was  bright,  lively,  and  energetic.  He  was  a 
living  record  of  good  stories,  and  in  every  circle  in  which 
he  moved  he  was  the  focus  of  cheerfulness.  In  fact,  there 
was  no  greater  social  favourite  in  Edinburgh  than  Robert 
Bald. 

Bald  was  very  fond  of  young  people,  and  he  became 
much  attached  to  me.  He  used  to  come  to  my  father's 
house,  and  often  came  in  to  see  what  I  was  about  in  the 
work-room.  He  was  rejoiced  to  see  the  earnest  and  indus- 
trious manner  in  which  I  was  employed,  in  preparing 
myself  for  my  proposed  business  as  an  engineer.  He 
looked  over  my  tools,  mostly  of  my  own  making,  and  gave 
me  every  encouragement.  When  he  had  any  visitors  he 
usually  brought  them  and  introduced  them  to  me.  In 
this  way  I  had  the  happiness  to  make  the  acquaintance  of 
Robert  Napier,  Nelson,  and  Cook,  of  Glasgow;  and  in 
after  life  I  continued  to  enjoy  their  friendship.  It  would 


106  THE  CARRON  IRONWORKS.  CHAP. 

be  difficult  for  me  to  detail  the  acts  of  true  disinterested 
kindness  which  I  continued  to  receive  from  this  admirable 
man. 

On  several  occasions  he  wished  me  to  accompany  him 
on  his  business  journeys,  in  order  that  I  might  see  some 
works  that  would  supply  me  with  valuable  information. 
He  had  designed  a  powerful  pumping  engine  to  drain  more 
effectually  a  large  colliery  district  situated  near  Bannock- 
l,um — dose  to  the  site  of  the  great  battle  in  the  time  of 
Robert  the  Bruce.  He  invited  me  to  join  him.  It  was 
with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  accepted  his  invitation ; 
for  there  would  be  not  only  the  pleasure  of  seeing  a  noble 
piece  of  steam  machinery  brought  into  action  for  the  first 
time,  but  also  the  enjoyment  of  visiting  the  celebrated 
CaiTon  Ironworks. 

The  Carron  Ironworks  are  classic  ground  to  engineers. 
They  are  associated  with  the  memory  of  Roebuck,  Watt, 
and  Miller  of  Dalswinton.  For  there  Roebuck  and  Watt 
began  the  first  working"  steam-engine ;  Miller  applied  the 
steam-engine  to  the  purposes  of  navigation,  and  invented 
the  Carronade  gun.  The  works  existed  at  an  early  period 
in  the  history  of  British  iron  manufacture.  Much  of  the 
machinery  continued  to  be  of  wood.  Although  effective 
in  a  general  way  it  was  monstrously  cumbrous.  It  gave 
the  idea  of  vast  power  and  capability  of  resistance,  while 
it  was  far  from  being  so  in  reality.  It  was,  however, 
truly  imposing  and  impressive  in  its  effect  upon  strangers. 
When  seen  partially  lit  up  by  the  glowing  masses  of  white- 
hot  iron,  with  only  the  rays  of  bright  sunshine  gleaming 
through  a  few  holes  in  the  roof,  and  the  dark,  black,  smoky 
vaults  in  which  the  cumbrous  machinery  was  heard  rum- 
bling away  in  the  distance — while  the  moving  parts  were 
dimly  seen  through  the  murky  atmosphere,  mixed  with 
the  sounds  of  escaping  steam  and  rushes  of  water ;  with 
the  half-naked  men  darting  about  with  masses  of  red-hot 
iron  and  ladles  full  of  molten  cast-iron — it  made  a  power- 
ful impression  upon  the  mind. 

I  was  afterwards  greatly  interested  by  a  collection  of 


vi.  RELICS  OF  BANNOCKBURK  107 

old  armour,  dug  up  from  the  field  of  the  Battle  of  Bannock- 
burn  close  at  hand.  They  were  arranged  on  the  walls  of 
the  house  of  the  manager  of  the  Carron  Ironworks.  There 
were  swords,  daggers,  lances,  battle-axes,  shields,  and  coats 
of  chain-armour.  Some  of  the  latter  were  whole,  others  in 
fragmentary  portions.  I  was  particularly  interested  with 
the  admirable  workmanship  of  the  coats  of  mail.  The  iron 
links  extended  from  the  covering  of  the  head  to  the  end  of 
the  arms,  and  from  the  shoulders  down  to  the  hips,  in  one 
linked  iron  fabric.  The  beauty  and  exactness  with  which 
this  chain-armour  had  been  forged  and  built  up  were  truly 
wonderful.  There  must  have  been  "giants  in  those  days." 
This  grand  style  of  armour  was  in  use  from  the  time  of 
the  Conquest,  and  was  most  effective  in  the  way  of  pro- 
tection, as  it  was  fitted  by  its  flexibility  to  give  full  play 
to  the  energetic  action  of  the  wearer.  It  was  infinitely 
superior  to  the  senseless  plate-armour  that  was  used,  at  a 
subsequent  period,  to  encase  soldiers  like  lobsters.  The 
chain-armour  I  saw  at  Carron  left  a  deep  impression  on  my 
mind.  I  never  see  a  bit  of  it,  or  of  its  representation  in 
the  figures  on  our  grand  tombs  of  the  thirteenth  century, 
but  I  think  of  my  first  sight  of  it  at  Carron  and  of  the 
tremendous  conflict  at  Bannockburn. 

Eemembering,  also,  the  impressive  sight  of  the  pictur- 
esque fire-lit  halls,  and  the  terrible -looking,  cumbrous 
machinery  which  I  first  beheld  on  a  grand  scale  at  Carron, 
I  have  often  regretted  that  some  of  our  artists  do  not  follow 
up  the  example  set  them  by  that  admirable  painter,  Wright 
of  Derby,  and  treat  us  to  the  pictures  of  some  of  our  great 
ironworks.  They  not  only  abound  with  the  elements  of 
the  picturesque  in  its  highest  sense,  but  also  set  forth  the 
glory  of  the  useful  arts  in  such  a  way  as  would  worthily 
call  forth  the  highest  power  of  our  artists. 

To  return  to  my  life  at  Edinburgh.  I  was  now  seven- 
teen years  old.  I  had  acquired  a  considerable  amount  of 
practical  knowledge  as  to  the  use  and  handling  of  mechani- 
cal tools,  and  I  desired  to  turn  it  to  some  account.  I  was 
able  to  construct  working  models  of  steam-engines  and 


108 


MODEL  OF  STEAM-ENGINE. 


(  1IAP. 


other  apparatus  required  for  the  illustration  of  mechanical 
subjects.  I  began  with  making  a  small  working  steam- 
engine  for  the  purpose  of  grinding  the  oil-colours  used  by 
my  father  in  his  artistic  work.  The  result  was  quite 
satisfactory.  Many  persons  came  to  see  my  active  little 
steam-engine  at  work,  and  they  were  so  pleased  with  it 


SECTIONAL  MODEL  OF  CONDENSING   STEAM-ENGINE.      BY  JAMES   NASMYTH. 

that  I  received  several  orders  for  small  workshop  engines, 
and  also  for  some  models  of  steam-engines  to  illustrate  the 
subjects  taught  at  Mechanics'  Institutions. 

I  contrived  a  sectional  model  of  a  complete  condensing 
steam-engine  of  the  beam  and  parallel  motion  construction. 
The  model,  as  seen  from  one  side,  exhibited  every  external 
detail  in  full  and  due  action  when  the  flywheel  was  moved 
round  by  hand  ;  while,  on  the  other  or  sectional  side,  every 
detail  of  the  interior  was  seen,  with  the  steam-valves  and 
Mir-puinp,  as  wi.-ll  as  the  motion  of  the  piston  in  the  cylinder, 
with  tho  construction  of  the  piston  and  the  stuffing  box, 


PROFESSOR  LESLIE.  109 


together  with  the  slide-valve  and  steam  passages,  all  in  due 
position  and  relative  movement. 

The  first  of  these  sectional  models  of  the  steam-engine 
was  made  for  the  Edinburgh  School  of  Arts,  where  its  uses 
in  instructing  mechanics  and  others  in  the  application  of 
steam  were  highly  appreciated.  The  second  was  made  for 
Professor  Leslie,  of  the  Edinburgh  University,  for  use  in 
his  lectures  on  Natural  Philosophy.  The  professor  had,  at 
his  own  private  cost,  provided  a  complete  and  excellent 
set  of  apparatus,  which,  for  excellent  workmanship  and 
admirable  utility,  had  never,  I  believe,  been  provided  for 
the  service  of  any  university.  He  was  so  pleased  with  my 
addition  to  his  class-room  apparatus,  that,  besides  express- 
ing his  great  thanks  for  my  services,  he  most  handsomely 
presented  me  with  a  free  ticket  to  his  Natural  Philosophy 
class  as  a  regular  student,  so  long  as  it  suited  me  to  make 
use  of  his  instruction.  But  far  beyond  this,  as  a  reward 
for  my  earnest  endeavours  to  satisfy  this  truly  great 
philosopher,  was  the  kindly  manner  in  which  he  on  all 
occasions  communicated  to  me  conversationally  his  original 
and  masterly  views  on  the  great  fundamental  principles  of 
Natural  Philosophy — especially  as  regarded  the  principles 
of  Dynamics  and  the  Philosophy  of  Mechanics.  The  clear 
views  which  he  communicated  in  his  conversation,  as  well 
as  in  his  admirable  lectures,  vividly  illustrated  by  the 
experiments  which  he  had  originated,  proved  of  great 
advantage  to  me ;  and  I  had  every  reason  to  consider  his 
friendship  and  his  teaching  as  amongst  the  most  important 
elements  in  my  future  success  as  a  practical  engineer. 

Having  referred  to  the  Edinburgh  School  of  Arts,  I  feel 
it  necessary  to  say  something  about  the  origin  of  that 
excellent  institution.  A  committee  of  the  most  distin- 
guished citizens  of  Edinburgh  was  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  instituting  a  college,  in  which  working  men  and 
mechanics  might  possess  the  advantages  of  instruction  in 
the  principles  on  which  their  various  occupations  were 
conducted.  Among  the  committee  were  Leonard  Homer, 
Francis  Jeffrey,  Henry  Cockburn,  John  Murray  of  Hender- 


110  EDINBURGH  SCHOOL  OF  ARTS.  CHAP. 

land,  Alexander  Bryson,  James  Milne,  John  Miller,  the 
Lord  Provost,  and  various  members  of  the  Council.  Their 
efforts  succeeded,  and  the  institution  was  founded.  The 
classes  were  opened  in  1821,  in  which  year  I  became  a 
student. 

In  order  to  supply  the  students,  who  were  chiefly  young 
men  of  the  working  class,  with  sound  instruction  in  the 
various  branches  of  science,  the  lectures  were  delivered  and 
the  classes  were  superintended  by  men  of  established  ability 
in  their  several  departments.  This  course  was  regularly 
pursued  from  its  fundamental  and  elementary  principles  to 
the  highest  point  of  scientific  instruction.  The  consecutive 
lectures  and  examinations  extended,  as  in  the  University, 
from  October  to  May  in  each  year's  session.  It  was,  in 
fact,  our  first  technical  college.  In  these  later  days,  when 
so  many  of  our  so-called  Mechanics'  Institutes  are  merely 
cheap  reading-clubs  for  the  middle  classes,  and  the  lectures 
are  delivered  for  the  most  part  merely  for  a  pleasant 
evening's  amusement,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  have  greatly 
departed  from  the  original  design  with  which  Mechanics' 
Institutions  were  founded. 

As  the  Edinburgh  School  of  Arts  was  intended  for  the 
benefit  of  mechanics,  the  lectures  and  classes  were  held  in 
the  evening  after  the  day's  work  was  over.  The  lectures 
on  chemistry  were  given  by  Dr.  Fyfe — an  excellent  man. 
His  clearness  of  style,  his  successful  experiments,  and 
the  careful  and  graphic  method  by  which  he  carried  his 
students  from  the  first  fundamental  principles  to  the 
highest  points  of  chemical  science,  attracted  a  crowded  and 
attentive  audience.  Not  less  interesting  were  the  lectures 
on  Mechanical  Philosophy,  which  in  my  time  were  delivered 
by  Dr.  Lees  and  Mr.  Buchanan.  The  class  of  Geometry 
and  Mathematics  was  equally  well  conducted,  though  the 
attendance  was  not  so  great. 

The  building  which  the  directors  had  secured  for  the 
lecture-hull  and  class-rooms  of  the  institution  was  situated 
at  the  lower  end  of  Niddry  Street,  nearly  under  the  great 
arch  of  the  South  Bridge.  It  had  been  built  about  a 


vi.  LECTURE-HALL  AND   LIBRARY.  Ill 

hundred  years  before,  and  was  formerly  used  by  an  associ- 
ation of  amateur  musicians,  who  gave  periodical  concerts 
of  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  The  orchestra  was  now 
converted  into  a  noble  lecture  table,  with  accommodation 
for  any  amount  of  apparatus  that  might  be  required  for 
the  purposes  of  illustration.  The  seats  were  arranged  in 
the  body  of  the  hall  in  concentric  segments,  with  the  lecture 
table  as  their  centre.  In  an  alcove  right  opposite  the 
lecturer  might  often  be  seen  the  directors  of  the  institution 
— Jeffrey,  Horner,  Murray,  and  others — who  took  every 
opportunity  of  dignifying  by  their  presence  this  noble 
gathering  of  earnest  and  intelligent  working  men. 

A  library  of  scientific  books  was  soon  added  to  the 
institution,  by  purchases  or  by  gifts.  Such  was  the  eager- 
ness to  have  a  chance  of  getting  the  book  you  wanted  that 
I  remember  standing  on  many  occasions  for  some  time 
amidst  a  number  of  applicants  awaiting  the  opening  of  the 
door  on  an  evening  library  night.  It  was  as  crowded  as  if 
I  had  been  standing  at  the  gallery  door  of  the  theatre  on 
a  night  when  some  distinguished  star  from  London  was 
about  to  make  his  appearance.  There  was  the  same  eager- 
ness to  get  a  good  place  in  the  lecture-room,  as  near  to  the 
lecture  table  as  possible,  especially  on  the  chemistry  nights. 

I  continued  my  regular  attendance  at  this  admirable 
institution  from  1821  to  1826.  I  am  glad  to  find  that  it 
still  continues  in  active  operation.  In  November  1880  the 
number  of  students  attending  the  Edinburgh  School  of  Arts 
amounted  to  two  thousand  five  hundred  !  I  have  been  led 
to  this  prolix  account  of  the  beginning  of  the  institution  by 
the  feeling  that  I  owe  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  it,  and 
because  of  the  instructive  and  intellectually  enjoyable 
evenings  which  I  spent  there,  in  fitting  myself  for  entering 
upon  the  practical  work  of  my  life. 

The  successful  establishment  of  the  Edinburgh  School 
of  Arts  had  a  considerable  effect  throughout  the  country. 
Similar  institutions  were  established,  lectures  were  de- 
livered, and  the  necessary  illustrations  were  acquired — 
above  all,  the  working  models  of  the  steam-engine.  There 


112  ATTEND  UNIVERSITY  CLASSES.  CHAP. 

was  quite  a  run  upon  me  for  supplying  them.  My  third 
working  model  was  made  to  the  order  of  Robert  Bald,  for 
the  purpose  of  being  presented  to  the  Alloa  Mechanics'  Insti- 
tute ;  the  fourth  was  manufactured  for  Mr.  G.  Buchanan, 
who  lectured  on  mechanical  subjects  throughout  the 
country ;  and  the  fifth  was  supplied  to  a  Mr.  Offley,  an 
English  gentleman  who  took  a  fancy  for  the  model  when 
he  came  to  purchase  some  of  my  father's  works. 

The  price  I  charged  for  my  models  was  £10 ;  and  with 
the  pecuniary  results  I  made  over  one-third  to  my  father, 
as  a  sort  of  help  to  remunerate  him  for  my  "keep,"  and 
with  the  rest  I  purchased  tickets  of  admission  to  certain 
classes  in  the  University.  I  attended  the  Chemistry  course 
under  Dr.  Hope ;  the  Geometry  and  Mathematical  course 
under  Professor  Wallace ;  and  the  Natural  Philosophy  course 
under  my  valued  friend  and  patron  Professor  Leslie. 
What  with  my  attendance  upon  the  classes,  and  my  work- 
shop and  drawing  occupations,  my  time  did  not  hang  at  all 
heavy  on  my  hands. 

I  got  up  early  in  the  mornings  to  work  at  my  father's 
lathe,  and  I  sat  up  late  at  night  to  do  the  brass  castings  in 
my  bedroom.  Some  of  this,  however,  I  did  during  the 
day-time,  when  not  attending  the  University  classes.  The 
way  in  which  I  converted  my  bedroom  into  a  brass  foundry 
was  as  follows :  I  took  up  the  carpet  so  that  there  might 
be  nothing  but  the  bare  boards  to  be  injured  by  the  heat. 
My  furnace  in  the  grate  was  made  of  four  plates  of  stout 
sheet-iron,  lined  with  fire-brick,  corner  to  corner.  To  get 
the  requisite  sharp  draught  I  bricked  up  with  single  bricks 
the  front  of  the  fireplace,  leaving  a  hole  at  the  back  of  the 
furnace  for  the  short  pipe  just  to  fit  into.  The  fuel  was 
generally  gas  coke  and  cinders  saved  from  the  kitchen. 
The  heat  I  raised  was  superb — a  white  heat,  sufficient  to 
melt  in  a  crucible  six  or  eight  pounds  of  brass. 

Then  I  had  a  box  of  moulding  sand,  where  the  moulds 
were  gently  rammed  in  around  the  pattern  previous  to  the 
casting.  But  how  did  I  get  my  brass  ?  All  the  old  brass- 
works  in  my  father's  workshop  drawers  and  boxes  were 


CASTING  IN  THE  BEDROOM.  113 


laid  under  contribution.  This  brass  being  for  the  most 
part  soft  and  yellow,  I  made  it  extra  hard  by  the  addition 
of  a  due  proportion  of  tin.  It  was  then  capable  of  re- 
taining a  fine  edge.  When  I  had  exhausted  the  stock  of 
old  brass,  I  had  to  buy  old  copper,  or  new,  in  the  form 
of  ingot  or  tile  copper,  and  when  melted  I  added  to  it 
one -eighth  of  its  weight  of  pure  tin,  which  yielded  the 
strongest  alloy  of  the  two  metals.  When  cast  into  any 
required  form  this  was  a  treat  to  work,  so  sound  and  close 
was  the  grain,  and  so  durable  in  resisting  wear  and  tear. 
This  is  the  true  bronze  or  gun  metal. 

When  melted,  the  liquid  brass  was  let  into  the  openings, 
until  the  whole  of  the  moulds  were  filled.  After  the  metal 
cooled  it  was  taken  out ;  and  when  the  room  was  sorted 
up  no  one  could  have  known  that  my  foundry  operations 
had  been  carried  on  in  my  bedroom.  My  brass  foundry 
was  right  over  my  father's  bedroom.  He  had  forbidden 
me  to  work  late  at  night,  as  I  did  occasionally  on  the  sly. 
Sometimes  when  I  ought  to  have  been  asleep  I  was  detected 
by  the  sound  of  the  ramming  in  of  the  sand  of  the 
moulding  boxes.  On  such  occasions  my  father  let  me  know 
that  I  was  disobeying  his  orders  by  rapping  on  the  ceiling 
of  his  bedroom  with  a  slight  wooden  rod  of  ten  feet  that 
he  kept  for  measuring  purposes.  But  I  got  over  that 
difficulty  by  placing  a  bit  of  old  carpet  under  my  moulding 
boxes  as  a  non-conductor  of  sound,  so  that  no  ramming 
could  afterwards  be  heard.  My  dear  mother  also  was 
afraid  that  I  should  damage  my  health  by  working  so  con- 
tinuously. She  would  come  into  the  workroom  late  in  the 
evening,  when  I  was  working  at  the  lathe  or  the  vice,  and 
say,  "Ye'll  kill  yerself,  laddie,  by  working  so  hard  and  so 
late."  Yet  she  took  a  great  pride  in  seeing  me  so  busy 
and  so  happy. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  my  steam-engine  models  were  made 
in  my  father's  workroom.  His  foot-lathe  and  stove,  to- 
gether with  my  brass  casting  arrangements  in  my  bedroom, 
answered  all  my  purposes  in  the  way  of  model  making. 
But  I  had  at  times  to  avail  myself  of  the  smithy  and 

I 


114  GEORGE  DOUGLASS.  CHAP. 

foundry  that  my  kind  and  worthy  friend,  George  Douglass, 
had  established  in  the  neighbourhood.  He  had  begun 
business  as  "a  jobbing  smith,"  but  being  a  most  intelligent 
and  energetic  workman,  he  shot  ahead  and  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  a  large  trade  in  steam-engines.  When  I  had  any 
part  of  a  job  in  hand  that  was  beyond  the  capabilities  of 
my  father's  lathe,  or  my  bedroom  casting  apparatus,  I 
immediately  went  to  Douglass's  smithy,  where  every  oppor- 
tunity was  afforded  me  for  carrying  on  my  larger  class  of 
work. 

His  place  was  only  about  five  minutes'  walk  from  my 
father's  house.  I  had  the  use  of  his  large  turning-lathe, 
which  was  much  more  suitable  for  big  or  heavy  work  than 
the  lathe  at  home.  When  any  considerable  bit  of  steel  or 
iron  forging  had  to  be  done,  a  forge  fire  and  anvil  were 
always  placed  at  my  service.  In  making  my  flywheels  for 
the  sectional  models  of  steam-engines  I  had  a  rather  neat 
and  handy  way  of  constructing  them.  The  boss  of  the 
wheel  of  brass  was  nicely  bored ;  the  arm-holes  were  care- 
fully drilled  and  taped,  so  as  to  allow  the  arms  which  I  had 
turned  to  be  screwed  in  and  appear  like  neat  columns  of 
round  wrought  iron  or  steel  screwed  into  the  boss  of  the 
flywheel 

In  return  for  the  great  kindness  of  George  Douglass  in 
allowing  me  to  have  the  use  of  his  foundry,  I  resolved  to 
present  him  with  a  specimen  of  my  handiwork.  I  desired 
to  try  my  powers  in  making  a  more  powerful  steam-engine 
than  I  had  as  yet  attempted  to  construct,  in  order  to  drive 
the  large  turning-lathe  and  the  other  tools  and  machinery 
of  his  small  foundry.  I  accordingly  set  to  work  and  con- 
structed a  direct-acting,  high-pressure  steam-engine,  with  a 
cylinder  four  inches  in  diameter.  I  use  the  term  Direct- 
acting,  because  I  dispensed  with  the  beam  and  parallel 
motion,  which  was  generally  considered  the  correct  mode 
of  transferring  the  action  of  the  piston  to  the  crank. 

The  result  of  my  labours  was  a  very  efficient  steam- 
engine,  which  set  all  the  lathes  and  mechanical  tools  in 
brisk  activity  of  movement.  It  had  such  an  enlivening 


VI.  SYMPATHY  OF  ACTIVITY.  116 

effect  upon  the  workmen  that  George  Douglass  afterwards 
told  me  that  the  busy  hum  of  the  wheels,  and  the  active, 
smooth,  rhythmic  sound  of  the  merry  little  engine  had, 
through  some  sympathetic  agency,  so  quickened  the  stroke 
of  every  hammer,  chisel,  and  file  in  his  workmen's  hands, 
that  it  nearly  doubled  the  output  of  work  for  the  same 
wages ! 

The  sympathy  of  activity  acting  upon  the  workmen's 
hands  cannot  be  better  illustrated  than  by  a  story  told  me 
by  my  father.  A  master  tailor  in  a  country  town  employed 
a  number  of  workmen.  They  had  been  to  see  some  tragic 
melodrama  performed  by  some  players  in  a  booth  at  the 
fair.  A  very  slow,  doleful,  but  catching  air  was  played, 
which  so  laid  hold  of  the  tailors'  fancy  that  for  some  time 
after  they  were  found  slowly  whistling  or  humming  the 
doleful  ditty,  the  movement  of  their  needles  keeping  time 
to  it;  the  result  was  that  the  clothing  that  should  have 
been  sent  home  on  Saturday  was  not  finished  until  the 
Wednesday  following.  The  music  had  done  it!  The 
master  tailor,  being  something  of  a  philosopher,  sent  his 
men  to  the  play  again ;  but  he  arranged  that  they  should 
be  treated  with  lively  merry  airs.  The  result  was  that  the 
lively  airs  displaced  the  doleful  ditty;  and  the  tailors' 
needles  again  reverted  to  even  more  than  their  accustomed 
quickness. 

However  true  the  story  may  be,  it  touches  an  important 
principle  in  regard  to  the  stimulation  of  activity  by  the 
rapid  movements  or  sounds  of  machinery,  which  influence 
every  workman  within  their  sight  or  hearing.  We  all  know 
the  influence  of  a  quick  merry  air,  played  by  fife  and  drum, 
upon  the  step  and  marching  of  a  regiment  of  soldiers.  It 
is  the  same  with  the  quick  movements  of  a  steam-engine 
upon  the  activity  of  workmen. 

I  may  add  that  my  worthy  friend,  George  Douglass,  de- 
rived other  advantages  from  the  construction  of  my  steam- 
engine.  Being  of  an  enterprising  disposition  he  added 
another  iron  foundry  to  his  smaller  shops;  he  obtained 
many  good  engineering  tools,  and  in  course  of  time  he  began 


116 


THE  EXPANSOMETER 


CHAP. 


o- 


0- 


to  make  steam-engines  for  agricultural 
purposes.  These  were  used  in  lieu  of 
horse  power  for  thrashing  corn,  and 
performing  several  operations  that  used 
to  be  done  by  hand  labour  in  the  farm- 
yards. Orders  came  in  rapidly,  and 
before  long  the  chimneys  of  Douglass's 
steam-engines  were  as  familiar  in  the 
country  round  Edinburgh  as  corn  stacks. 
All  the  large  farms,  especially  in  Mid- 
lothian and  East  Lothian,  were  supplied 
with  his  steam-engines.  The  business  of 
George  Douglass  became  very  large ; 
and  in  course  of  time  he  was  enabled  to 
retire  with  a  considerable  fortune. 

In  addition  to  the  steam-engine  which 
1  presented  to  Douglass,  I  received  an 
order  to  make  another  from  a  manu- 
facturer of  braiding.  His  machines  had 
before  been  driven  by  hand  labour ;  but 
as  his  business  extended,  the  manufacturei 
employed  me  to  furnish  him  with  an 
engine  of  two-horse  power,  which  was 
duly  constructed  and  set  to  work,  and 
gave  him  the  highest  satisfaction. 

I  may  here  mention  that  one  of  my 
earliest  attempts  at  original  contrivance 
was  an  Expansometer — an  instrument 
for  measuring  in  bulk  all  metals  and  solid 
substances.  The  object  to  be  experi- 
mented on  was  introduced  into  a  tube 
of  brass,  with  as  much  water  round  it 
as  to  fill  the  tube.  The  apparatus  was 
then  plunged  into  a  vessel  of  boiling 
water,  or  heated  to  boiling  point;  when 
the  total  expansion  of  the  bar  wus 
measured  by  a  graduated  scale,  as  seen 
in  the  annexed  engraving.  By  this  simple 


A  ROAD  STEAM-CARRIAGE. 


117 


means  the  expansion  of  any  material  might  be  ascertained 
under  various  increments  of  heat,  say  from  60°  to  212°. 
It  was  simply  a  thermometer,  the  mass  marking  its  own 
expansion.  Dr.  Brewster  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  ap' 
paratus  that  he  described  it  and  figured  it  in  the  Edinburgh 
Philosophical  Journal,  of  which  he  was  then  editor. 

About  the  year  1827,  when  I  was  nineteen  years  old, 


THE  ROAD   STRAM-CARRIAGE.      BY  JAMES  NASMYTH. 

the  subject  of  steam  carriages  to  run  upon  common  roads 
occupied  considerable  attention.  Several  engineers  and 
mechanical  schemers  had  tried  their  hands,  but  as  yet  no 
substantial  results  had  come  of  their  attempts  to  solve  the 
problem.  Like  others,  I  tried  my  hand.  Having  made  a 
small  working  model  of  a  steam -carriage,  I  exhibited  it 
before  the  members  of  the  Scottish  Society  of  Arts.  The 
performance  of  this  active  little  machine  was  so  gratifying 
to  the  Society  that  they  requested  me  to  construct  one  of 


118  THE  STEAM  BLAST.  CHAP. 

such  power  as  to  enable  four  or  six  persons  to  be  conveyed 
along  the  ordinary  roads.  The  members  of  the  Society,  in 
their  individual  capacity,  subscribed  £60,  which  they  placed 
in  my  hands  as  the  means  for  carrying  out  their  project. 

I  accordingly  set  to  work  at  once.  I  had  the  heavy 
parts  of  the  engine  and  carriage  done  at  Anderson's 
foundry  at  Leith.  There  was  in  Anderson's  employment  a 
most  able  general  mechanic  named  .Robert  Maclaughlan, 
who  had  served  his  time  at  Carmichaels'  of  Dundee. 
Anderson  possessed  some  excellent  tools,  which  enabled  me 
to  proceed  rapidly  with  the  work.  Besides,  he  was  most 
friendly,  and  took  much  delight  in  being  concerned  in  my 
enterprise.  This  "  big  job "  was  executed  in  about  four 
months.  The  steam-carriage  was  completed  and  exhibited 
before  the  members  of  the  Society  of  Arts.  Many  success- 
ful trials  were  made  with  it  on  the  Queensferry  Road,  near 
Edinburgh.  The  runs  were  generally  of  four  or  five 
miles,  with  a  load  of  eight  passengers  sitting  on  benches 
about  three  feet  from  the  ground. 

The  experiments  were  continued  for  nearly  three  months, 
to  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  members.  I  may  mention 
that  in  my  steam-carriage  I  employed  the  waste  steam  to 
create  a  blast  or  draught  by  discharging  it  into  the  short 
chimney  of  the  boiler  at  its  lowest  part,  and  found  it  most 
effective.  I  was  not  at  that  time  aware  that  George 
Stephenson  and  others  had  adopted  the  same  method ;  but 
it  was  afterwards  gratifying  to  me  to  find  that  I  had  been 
correct  as  regards  the  important  uses  of  the  steam  blast  in 
the  chimney.  In  fact,  it  is  to  this  use  of  the  waste  steam 
that  we  owe  the  practical  success  of  the  locomotive-engine 
as  a  tractive  power  on  railways,  especially  at  high  speeds. 

The  Society  of  Arts  did  not  attach  any  commercial  value 
to  my  steam  road-carriage.  It  was  merely  as  a  matter  of 
experiment  that  they  had  invited  me  to  construct  it.  When 
it  proved  successful  they  made  me  a  present  of  the  entire 
apparatus.  As  I  was  anxious  to  get  on  with  my  studies, 
and  to  prepare  for  the  work  of  practical  engineering,  I 
proceeded  no  further.  I  broke  up  the  steam-carriage  and 


VI.  THE  CARMICHAELS.  119 

sold  the  two  small  high-pressure  engines,  provided  with  a 
compact  and  strong  boiler,  for  £67,  a  sum  which  more  than 
defrayed  all  the  expenses  of  the  construction  and  working 
of  the  machine. 

I  still  continued  to  make  investigations  as  to  the  powers 
and  capabilities  of  the  steam-engine.  There  were  numerous 
breweries,  distilleries,  and  other  establishments,  near  Edin- 
burgh, where  such  engines  were  at  work.  As  they  were 
made  by  different  engineers,  I  was  desirous  of  seeing  them 
and  making  sketches  of  them,  especially  when  there  was 
any  special  peculiarity  in  their  construction.  I  found  this 
a  most  favourite  and  instructive  occupation.  The  engine 
tenters  became  very  friendly  with  me,  and  they  were  always 
glad  to  see  me  interested  in  them  and  their  engines.  They 
were  especially  delighted  to  see  me  make  "  drafts,"  as  they 
called  my  sketches,  of  the  engines  under  their  charge. 

My  father  sometimes  feared  that  my  too  close  and  zealous 
application  to  engineering  work  might  have  a  bad  effect 
upon  my  health.  My  bedroom  work  at  brass  casting,  my 
foundry  work  at  the  making  of  steam-engines,  and  my 
studies  at  the  University  classes,  were  perhaps  too  much 
for  a  lad  of  my  age,  just  when  I  was  in  the  hobbledehoy 
state — between  a  boy  and  a  man.  Whether  his  apprehen- 
sions were  warranted  or  not,  it  did  so  happen  that  I  was 
attacked  with  typhus  fever  in  1828,  a  disease  that  was  then 
prevalent  in  Edinburgh.  I  had  a  narrow  escape  from  its 
fatal  influence.  But  thanks  to  my  good  constitution,  and 
to  careful  nursing,  I  succeeded  in  throwing  off  the  fever, 
and  after  due  time  recovered  my  usual  health  and  strength. 

In  the  course  of  my  inspection  of  the  engines  made  by 
different  makers,  I  was  impressed  with  the  superiority  of 
those  made  by  the  Carmichaels  of  Dundee.  They  were  ex- 
cellent both  in  design  and  in  execution.  I  afterwards  found 
that  the  Carmichaels  were  among  the  first  of  the  Scottish 
engine  makers  who  gave  due  attention  to  the  employment 
of  improved  mechanical  tools,  with  the  object  of  producing 
accurate  work  with  greater  ease,  rapidity,  and  economy, 
than  could  possibly  be  effected  by  the  hand  labour  of  even 


120  MAUDSLAY'S  MACHINE  TOOLS.  CHAP,  vi 

the  most  skilful  workmen.  I  was  told  that  the  cause  of 
the  excellence  of  the  Carmichaels'  work  was  not  only  in 
the  ability  of  the  heads  of  the  firm,  but  in  their  employ- 
ment of  the  best  engineers'  tools.  Some  of  their  leading 
men  had  worked  at  Maudslay's  machine  shop  in  London, 
the  fame  of  which  had  already  reached  Dundee;  and 
Maudslay's  system  of  employing  machine  tools  had  been 
imported  into  the  northern  steam  factory. 

I  had  on  many  occasions,  when  visiting  the  works  where 
steam-engines  were  employed,  heard  of  the  name  and  fame 
of  Maudslay.  I  was  told  that  his  works  were  the  very 
centre  and  climax  of  all  that  was  excellent  in  mechanical 
workmanship.  These  reports  built  up  in  my  mind,  at  this 
early  period  of  my  aspirations,  an  earnest  and  hopeful  desire 
that  I  might  some  day  get  a  sight  of  Maudslay's  celebrated 
works  in  London.  In  course  of  time  it  developed  into  a 
passion.  I  will  now  proceed  to  show  how  my  inmost  desires 
were  satisfied. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

HENRY  MAUDSLAY,  LONDON. 

THE  chief  object  of  my  ambition  was  now  to  be  taken  on  at 
Henry  Maudslay's  works  in  London.  I  had  heard  so  much 
of  his  engineering  work,  of  his  assortment  of  machine-making 
tools,  and  of  the  admirable  organisation  of  his  manufactory, 
that  I  longed  to  obtain  employment  there.  I  was  willing 
to  labour,  in  however  humble  a  capacity,  in  that  far-famed 
workshop. 

I  was  aware  that  my  father  had  not  the  means  of  paying 
the  large  premium  required  for  placing  me  as  an  apprentice 
at  Maudslay's  works.  I  was  also  informed  that  Maudslay 
had  ceased  to  take  pupils.  After  experience,  he  found  that 
the  premium  apprentices  caused  him  much  annoyance  and 
irritation.  They  came  in  "gloves;"  their  attendance  was 
irregular ;  they  spread  a  bad  example  amongst  the  regular 
apprentices  and  workmen ;  and  on  the  whole  they  were 
found  to  be  very  disturbing  elements  in  the  work  of  the 
factory. 

It  therefore  occurred  to  me  that,  by  showing  some 
specimens  of  my  work  and  drawings,  I  might  be  able  to 
satisfy  Mr.  Maudslay  that  I  was  not  an  amateur,  but  a 
regular  working  engineer.  With  this  object  I  set  to  work, 
and  made  with  special  care  a  most  complete  working  model 
of  a  high-pressure  engine.  The  cylinder  was  2  inches 
diameter,  and  the  stroke  6  inches.  Every  part  of  the 
engine,  including  the  patterns,  the  castings,  the  forgings, 
were  the  results  of  my  own  individual  handiwork.  I  turned 
out  this  sample  of  my  ability  as  an  engineer  workman 


122  VOYAGE  TO  LONDON.  CHAP. 

in  such  a  style  as  even  now  I  should  be  proud  to 
own. 

In  like  manner  I  executed  several  specimens  of  my  ability 
as  a  mechanical  draughtsman ;  for  I  knew  that  Maudslay 
would  thoroughly  understand  my  ability  to  work  after  a 
plan.  Mechanical  drawing  is  the  alphabet  of  the  engineer. 
Without  this  the  workman  is  merely  a  "  hand."  With  it 
he  indicates  the  possession  of  "  a  head."  I  also  made  some 
samples  of  my  skill  in  hand-sketching  of  machines,  and  parts 
of  machines,  in  perspective — that  is,  as  such  objects  really 
appear  when  set  before  us  in  their  natural  aspect.  I  was 
the  more  desirous  of  exhibiting  the  ability  which  I  possessed 
in  mechanical  draughtsmanship,  as  I  knew  it  to  be  a  some- 
what rare  and  much-valued  acquirement.  It  was  a  branch 
of  delineative  art  that  my  father  had  carefully  taught  me. 
Throughout  my  professional  life  I  have  found  this  art  to  be 
of  the  utmost  practical  value. 

Having  thus  provided  myself  with  such  visible  and 
tangible  evidences  of  my  capabilities  as  a  young  engineer, 
I  carefully  packed  up  my  working  model  and  drawings,  and 
prepared  to  start  for  London.  On  the  19th  of  May  1829, 
accompanied  by  my  father,  I  set  sail  by  the  Leith  smack 
Edmlwrgh  Castle,  Captain  Orr,  master.  After  a  pleasant 
voyage  of  four  days  we  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Thames. 
We  sailed  up  from  the  Nore  on  Saturday  afternoon,  lifted 
up,  as  it  were,  by  the  tide,  for  it  was  almost  a  dead  calm 
the  whole  way. 

The  sight  of  the  banks  of  the  famous  river,  with  the 
Kent  orchards  in  full  blossom,  and  the  frequent  passages 
of  steamers  with  bands  of  music  and  their  decks  crowded 
with  pleasure-seekers,  together  with  the  sight  of  numbers  of 
noble  merchant  ships  in  the  river,  formed  a  most  glorious 
and  exciting  scene.  It  was  also  enhanced  by  the  thought 
that  I  was  nearing  the  great  metropolis,  around  which  so 
many  bright  but  anxious  hopes  were  centred,  as  the  scene 
of  my  first  important  step  into  the  anxious  business  of  life. 

The  tide,  which  had  carried  us  up  the  river  as  far  as 
Woolwich,  suddenly  turned  ;  and  we  remained  there  during 


7IL  FIRST  SIGHT  OF  LONDON.  123 

the  night.  Early  next  morning  the  tide  rose,  and  we  sailed 
away  again.  It  was  a  bright  mild  morning.  The  sun 
came  "  dancing  up  the  east "  as  we  floated  past  wharfs  and 
woodyards  and  old  houses  on  the  banks,  past  wherries  and 
coal  boats  and  merchant  ships  on  the  river,  until  we  reached 
our  destination  at  the  Irongate  Wharf,  near  the  Tower  of 
London.  I  heard  St.  Paul's  clock  strike  six  just  as  we 
reached  our  mooring  ground. 

Captain  Orr  was  kind  enough  to  allow  us  to  make  the 
ship  our  hotel  during  the  Sunday,  as  it  was  by  no  means 
convenient  for  us  to  remove  our  luggage  on  that  day.  My 
father  took  me  ashore  and  we  walked  to  Eegent's  Park. 
One  of  my  sisters,  who  was  visiting  a  friend  in  London, 
was  residing  in  that  neighbourhood.  My  father  so  planned 
his  route  as  to  include  many  of  the  most  remarkable  streets 
and  buildings  and  sights  of  London.  He  pointed  out  the 
principal  objects,  and  gave  me  much  information  about 
their  origin  and  history. 

I  was  much  struck  with  the  beautiful  freshness  and 
luxuriant  growth  of  the  trees  and  shrubs  in  the  squares ; 
for  spring  was  then  in  its  first  beauty.  The  loveliness  of 
Eegent's  Park  surprised  me.  The  extent  of  the  space,  the 
brilliancy  of  the  fresh- leaved  trees,  and  the  handsome 
buildings  by  which  the  park  was  surrounded,  made  it  seem 
to  me  more  splendid  than  a  picture  from  the  Arabian 
Nights.  Under  the  happy  aspect  of  a  brilliant  May  fore- 
noon, this  first  long  walk  through  London,  with  all  its 
happy  attendant  circumstances,  rendered  it  one  of  the 
most  vividly  remembered  incidents  in  my  life. 

After  visiting  my  sister  and  giving  her  all  the  details  of 
the  last  news  from  home,  she  joined  us  in  our  walk  down 
to  Westminster  Abbey.  The  first  view  of  the  interior 
stands  out  in  my  memory  as  one  of  the  most  impressive 
sights  I  ever  beheld.  I  had  before  read,  over  and  over 
again,  the  beautiful  description  of  the  Abbey  given  by 
Washington  Irving  in  the  Sketch  Book,  one  of  the  most 
masterly  pieces  of  writing  that  I  know  of.  I  now  found 
one  of  my  day-dreams  realised. 


124  INTERVIEW  WITH  MAUDSLAY.  CIJAP. 

We  next  proceeded  over  Westminster  Bridge  to  call 
upon  my  brother  Patrick.  We  found  him  surrounded  by 
paintings  from  his  beautiful  sketches  from  Nature.  Some 
of  them  were  more  or  less  advanced  in  the  form  of  ex- 
quisite pictures,  which  now  hang  on  many  walls,  and  will 
long  commemorate  his  artistic  life.  We  closed  this  ever- 
memorable  day  by  dining  at  a  tavern  at  the  Surrey  end 
of  Waterloo  Bridge.  We  sat  at  an  upper  window  which 
commanded  a  long  stretch  of  the  river,  and  from  which 
we  could  see  the  many  remarkable  buildings,  from  St. 
Paul's  to  Westminster  Abbey  and  the  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment, which  lay  on  the  other  side  of  the  Thames. 

On  the  following  clay  my  father  and  I  set  out  in  search 
of  lodgings,  hotels  being  at  that  time  beyond  our  economical 
method  of  living.  We  succeeded  in  securing  a  tidy 
lodging  at  No.  14  Agnes  Place,  Waterloo  Koad.  The 
locality  had  a  special  attraction  for  me,  as  it  was  not  far 
from  that  focus  of  interest — Maudslay's  factory.  Our 
luggage  was  removed  from  the  ship  to  the  lodgings,  and 
my  ponderous  cases,  containing  the  examples  of  my  skill 
as  an  engineer  workman,  were  deposited  in  a  carpenter's 
workshop  close  at  hand. 

I  was  now  anxious  for  the  interview  with  Maudslay. 
My  father  had  been  introduced  to  him  by  a  mutual  friend 
some  two  or  three  years  before,  and  that  was  enough. 
On  the  morning  of  May  the  26th  we  set  out  together, 
and  reached  his  house  in  Westminster  Eoad,  Lambeth.  It 
adjoined  his  factory.  My  father  knocked  at  the  door. 
My  own  heart  beat  fast.  Would  he  be  at  home  ?  Would 
he  receive  us  1  Yes !  he  was  at  home ;  and  we  were 
invited  to  enter. 

Mr.  Maudslay  received  us  in  the  most  kind  and  frank 
manner.  After  a  little  conversation  my  father  explained 
the  object  of  his  visit.  "  My  son,"  he  said,  pointing  to 
me,  "  is  very  anxious  to  have  the  opportunity  of  acquiring 
a  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  mechanical  engineering, 
by  serving  as  an  apprentice  in  some  such  establishment 
as  yours."  "Well,"  replied  Maudslay,  "I  must  frankly 


vii.  INSPECTION  OF  THE  WORKS.  125 

confess  to  you  that  my  experience  of  pupil  apprentices 
has  been  so  unsatisfactory  that  my  partner  and  myself 
have  determined  to  discontinue  to  receive  them — no  matter 
at  what  premium."  This  was  a  very  painful  blow  to 
myself;  for  it  seemed  to  put  an  end  to  my  sanguine 
expectations. 

Mr.  Maudslay  knew  that  my  father  was  interested  in 
all  matters  relating  to  mechanical  engineering,  and  he 
courteously  invited  him  to  go  round  the  works.  Of  course 
I  accompanied  them.  The  sight  of  the  workshops  aston- 
ished me.  They  excelled  all  that  I  had  anticipated.  The 
beautiful  machine  tools,  the  silent  smooth  whirl  of  the 
machinery,  the  active  movements  of  the  men,  the  excellent 
quality  of  the  work  in  progress,  and  the  admirable  order 
and  management  that  pervaded  the  whole  establishment, 
rendered  me  more  tremblingly  anxious  than  ever  to  obtain 
some  employment  there,  in  however  humble  a  capacity. 

Mr.  Maudslay  observed  the  earnest  interest  which  I 
and  my  father  took  in  everything  going  on,  and  explained 
the  movements  of  the  machinery  and  the  rationale  of  the 
proceedings  in  the  most  lively  and  kindly  manner.  It 
was  while  we  were  passing  from  one  part  of  the  factory  to 
another  that  I  observed  the  beautiful  steam-engine  which 
gave  motion  to  the  tools  and  machinery  of  the  workshops. 
The  man  who  attended  it  was  engaged  in  cleaning  out  the 
ashes  from  under  the  boiler  furnace,  in  order  to  wheel 
them  away  to  their  place  outside.  On  the  spur  of  the 
moment  I  said  to  Mr.  Maudslay,  "If  you  would  only 
permit  me  to  do  such  a  job  as  that  in  your  service,  I 
should  consider  myself  most  fortunate!"  I  shall  never 
forget  the  keen  but  kindly  look  that  he  gave  me.  "  So," 
said  he,  "you  are  one  of  that  sort,  are  you?"  I  was 
inwardly  delighted  at  his  words. 

When  our  round  of  the  works  was  concluded,  I  ven- 
tured to  say  to  Mr.  Maudslay  that  "I  had  brought  up 
with  me  from  Edinburgh  some  working  models  of  steam- 
engines  and  mechanical  drawings,  and  I  should  feel  truly 
obliged  if  he  would  allow  me  to  show  them  to  him."  "  By 


126  MY  HANDIWORK  EXHIBITED.  CHAP. 

all  means,"  said  he;  "bring  them  to  me  to-morrow  at 
twelve  o'clock."  I  need  not  say  how  much  pleased  I  waa 
at  this  permission  to  exhibit  my  handiwork,  and  how 
anxious  I  felt  as  to  the  result  of  Mr.  Maudslay's  inspection 
of  it. 

I  carefully  unpacked  my  working  model  of  the  steam- 
engine  at  the  carpenter's  shop,  and  had  it  conveyed, 
together  with  my  drawings,  on  a  hand-cart  to  Mr.  Maud- 
slay's  next  morning  at  the  appointed  hour.  I  was  allowed 
to  place  my  work  for  his  inspection  in  a  room  next  his 
office  and  counting-house.  I  then  called  at  his  residence 
close  by,  where  he  kindly  received  me  in  his  library.  He 
asked  me  to  wait  until  he  and  his  partner,  Joshua  Field, 
had  inspected  my  handiwork. 

I  waited  anxiously.  Twenty  long  minutes  passed.  At 
last  he  entered  the  room,  and  from  a  lively  expression  in 
his  countenance  I  observed  in  a  moment  that  the  great 
object  of  my  long  cherished  ambition  had  been  attained ! 
He  expressed,  in  good  round  terms,  his  satisfaction  at  my 
practical  ability  as  a  workman  engineer  and  mechanical 
draughtsman.  Then,  opening  the  door  which  led  from  his 
library  into  his  beautiful  private  workshop,  he  said,  "  This 
is  where  I  wish  you  to  work,  beside  me,  as  my  assistant 
workman.  From  what  I  have  seen  there  is  no  need  of  an 
apprenticeship  in  your  case." 

He  then  proceeded  to  show  me  the  collection  of  ex- 
quisite tools  of  all  sorts  with  which  his  private  workshop 
was  stored.  They  mostly  bore  the  impress  of  his  own  clear- 
headedness and  common-sense.  They  were  very  simple, 
and  quite  free  from  mere  traditional  forms  and  arrange- 
ments. At  the  same  time  they  were  perfect  for  the  special 
purposes  for  which  they  had  been  designed.  The  workshop 
was  surrounded  with  cabinets  and  drawers,  filled  with  evi- 
dences of  the  master's  skill  and  industry.  Every  tool  had 
a  purpose.  It  had  been  invented  for  some  special  reason. 
Sometimes  it  struck  the  keynote,  as  it  were,  to  many  of 
the  important  contrivances  which  enable  man  to  obtain  a 
complete  mastery  over  materials. 


vii.  MAUDSLAY'S  MAXIMS.  127 

There  were  also  hung  upon  the  walls,  or  placed  upon 
shelves,  many  treasured  relics  of  the  first  embodiments  of 
his  constructive  genius.  There  were  many  models  explain- 
ing, step  by  step,  the  gradual  progress  of  his  teeming 
inventions  and  contrivances.  The  workshop  was  thus 
quite  a  historical  museum  of  mechanism.  It  exhibited  his 
characteristic  qualities  in  construction.  I  afterwards  found 
out  that  many  of  the  contrivances  preserved  in  his  private 
workshop  were  treasured  as  suggestive  of  some  interesting 
early  passage  in  his  useful  and  active  life.  They  were 
kept  as  relics  of  his  progress  towards  mechanical  perfection. 
When  he  brought  them  out  from  time  to  time,  to  serve 
for  the  execution  of  some  job  in  hand,  he  was  sure  to 
dilate  upon  the  occasion  that  led  to  their  production,  as 
well  as  upon  the  happy  results  which  had  followed  their 
general  employment  in  mechanical  engineering. 

It  was  one  of  his  favourite  maxims,  "  First,  get  a  clear 
notion  of  what  you  desire  to  accomplish,  and  then  in  all 
probability  you  will  succeed  in  doing  it."  Another  was, 
"  Keep  a  sharp  look-out  upon  your  materials ;  get  rid  of 
every  pound  of  material  you  can  do  without;  put  to  yourself 
the  question,  '  What  business  has  it  to  be  there  V  avoid 
complexities,  and  make  everything  as  simple  as  possible." 
Mr.  Maudslay  was  full  of  quaint  maxims  and  remarks,  the 
result  of  much  shrewdness,  keen  observation,  and  great 
experience.  They  were  well  worthy  of  being  stored  up  in 
the  mind,  like  a  set  of  proverbs,  full  of  the  life  and 
experience  of  men.  His  thoughts  became  compressed  into 
pithy  expressions  exhibiting  his  force  of  character  and 
intellect.  His  quaint  remarks  on  my  first  visit  to  his 
•workshop,  and  on  subsequent  occasions,  proved  to  me  in- 
valuable guides  to  "right  thinking"  in  regard  to  all 
matters  connected  with  mechanical  structure. 

Mr.  Maudslay  seemed  at  once  to  take  me  into  his  con- 
fidence. He  treated  me  in  the  most  kindly  manner — not 
as  a  workman  or  an  apprentice,  but  as  a  friend.  I  was  an 
anxious  listener  to  everything  that  he  said ;  and  it  gave 
him  pleasure  to  observe  that  I  understood  and  valued  his 


12S  UNIFORMITY  OF  SCREWS.  CIIAP 

conversation.  The  greatest  treat  of  all  was  in  store  for 
me.  He  showed  me  his  exquisite  collection  of  taps  and 
dies  and  screw-tackle,  which  he  had  made  with  the  utmost 
care  for  his  own  service.  They  rested  in  a  succession  of 
drawers  near  to  the  bench  where  he  worked.  There  was 
a  place  for  every  one,  and  every  one  was  in  its  place. 
There  was  a  look  of  tidiness  about  the  collection  which 
was  very  characteristic  of  the  man.  Order  was  one  of  the 
rules  which  he  rigidly  observed,  and  he  endeavoured  to 
enforce  it  upon  all  who  were  in  his  employment. 

He  proceeded  to  dilate  upon  the  importance  of  the 
uniformity  of  screws.  Some  may  call  it  an  improvement, 
but  it  might  almost  be  called  a  revolution  in  mechanical 
engineering  which  Mr.  Maudslay  introduced.  Before  his 
time  no  system  had  been  followed  in  proportioning  the 
number  of  threads  of  screws  to  their  diameter.  Every 
bolt  and  nut  was  thus  a  speciality  in  itself,  and  neither 
possessed  nor  admitted  of  any  community  with  its 
neighbours.  To  such  an  extent  had  this  practice  been 
carried  that  all  bolts  and  their  corresponding  nuts  had  to 
be  specially  marked  as  belonging  to  each  other.  Any 
intermixture  that  occurred  between  them  led  to  endless 
trouble  and  expense,  as  well  as  inefficiency  and  confusion, 
— especially  when  parts  of  complex  machines  had  to  be 
taken  to  pieces  for  repairs. 

None  but  those  who  lived  in  the  comparatively  early 
days  of  machine  manufacture  can  form  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  annoyance,  delay,  and  cost  of  this  utter  want  of  system, 
or  can  appreciate  the  vast  services  rendered  to  mechanical 
engineering  by  Mr.  Maudslay,  who  was  the  first  to  intro- 
duce the  practical  measures  necessary  for  its  remedy.  In 
his  system  of  screw-cutting  machinery,  and  in  his  taps  and 
dies,  and  screw-tackle  generally,  he  set  the  example,  and  in 
fact  laid  the  foundation,  of  all  that  has  since  been  done  in 
this  most  essential  branch  of  machine  construction.  Those 
who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  work  under  him, 
and  have  experienced  the  benefits  of  his  practice,  have 
eagerly  and  ably  followed  him;  and  thus  his  admirable 


vii.  HENRY  BROUGHAM.  129 

system  has  become  established  throughout  the  entire  me- 
chanical world. 

Mr.  Maudslay  kept  me  with  him  for  about  three  hours, 
initiating  me  into  his  system.  It  was  with  the  greatest 
delight  that  I  listened  to  his  wise  instruction.  The  sight 
of  his  excellent  tools,  which  he  showed  me  one  by  one, 
filled  me  with  an  almost  painful  feeling  of  earnest  hope 
that  I  might  be  able  in  any  degree  to  practically  express 
how  thankful  I  was  to  be  admitted  to  so  invaluable  a 
privilege  as  to  be  in  close  communication  with  this  great 
master  in  all  that  was  most  perfect  in  practical  mechanics. 

When  he  concluded  his  exposition,  he  told  me  in  the 
most  kindly  manner  that  it  would  be  well  for  me  to  take 
advantage  of  my  father's  presence  in  London  to  obtain 
some  general  knowledge  of  the  metropolis,  to  see  the  most 
remarkable  buildings,  and  to  obtain  an  introduction  to 
some  of  my  father's  friends.  He  gave  me  a  week  for  this 
purpose,  and  said  he  should  be  glad  to  see  me  at  his 
workshop  on  the  following  Monday  week. 

It  singularly  happened  that  on  the  first  day  my  father 
went  out  with  me,  he  encountered  an  old  friend.  He  had 
first  known  him  at  Mr.  Miller's  of  Dalswinton,  when  the 
first  steamboat  was  tried,  and  afterwards  at  Edinburgh 
while  he  was  walking  the  courts  as  an  advocate,  or  writing 
articles  for  the  Edinburgh  Review.  This  was  no  other  than 
Henry  Brougham.  He  was  descending  the  steps  leading 
into  St.  James's  Park,  from  the  place  where  the  Duke  of 
York's  monument  now  stands.  Brougham  immediately 
recognised  my  father.  There  was  a  hearty  shaking  of 
hands,  and  many  inquiries  on  either  side.  "And  what 
brings  you  to  London  now  ?"  asked  Brougham.  My 
father  told  him  that  it  was  about  his  son  here,  who  had 
obtained  an  important  position  at  Maudslay's  the  engineer. 

"If  I  can  do  anything  for  you,"  said  Brougham, 
addressing  me,  "let  me  know.  It  will  afford  me  much 
pleasure  to  give  you  introductions  to  men  of  science  in 
London."  I  ventured  to  say  that  "  Of  all  the  men  of 
science  in  London  that  I  most  wished  to  see,  was  Mr. 


130  VISITS  IN  LONDON.  CHAP. 

Faraday  of  the  Royal  Institution."  "  Well,"  said  Brougham, 
"I  will  send  you  a  letter  of  introduction."  We  then 
parted. 

My  father  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  of  intro- 
ducing me  to  several  of  his  brother  artists.  We  first  went 
to  the  house  of  David  Wilkie,  in  Church  Street,  Kensington. 
We  found  him  at  home,  and  he  received  us  most  kindly. 
We  next  visited  Clarkson  Stanfield,  David  Roberts,  and 
some  other  artists.  They  were  much  attached  to  my 
father,  and  had,  in  the  early  part  of  their  career,  received 
much  kindness  from  him  while  living  in  Edinburgh.  They 
all  expressed  the  desire  that  I  should  visit  them  frequently. 
I  had  thus  the  privilege  of  entrde  to  a  number  of  pleasant 
and  happy  homes,  and  my  visits  to  them  while  in  London 
was  one  of  my  principal  sources  of  enjoyment. 

On  returning  home  to  our  lodgings  that  evening  we 
found  a  note  from  Brougham,  enclosing  letters  of  introduc- 
tion to  Faraday  and  other  scientific  men ;  and  stating  that 
if  at  any  time  he  could  be  of  service  to  me  he  hoped  that 
I  would  at  once  make  use  of  him.  My  father  was  truly 
gratified  with  the  substantial  evidence  of  Brougham's  kindly 
remembrance  of  him;  and  I1?  how  could  I  be  grateful 
enough  1  not  only  for  my  father's  never-failing  attention  to 
my  growth  in  knowledge  and  wisdom,  but  to  his  ever-willing 
readiness  to  help  me  onward  in  the  path  of  scientific  work- 
ing and  mechanical  engineering.  And  now  I  was  fortunate 
in  another  respect,  in  being  admitted  to  the  school,  and  I 
may  say  the  friendship,  of  the  admirable  Henry  Maudslay. 
Everything  now  depended  upon  myself,  and  whether  I  was 
worthy  of  all  these  advantages  or  not. 

One  of  the  days  of  this  most  interesting  and  memorable 
week  was  devoted  to  accompanying  Mr.  Maudslay  in  a  visit 
to  Somerset  House.  In  the  Admiralty  Museum,  tlu-n 
occupying  a  portion  of  the  building,  was  a  complete  set 
of  the  working  models  of  the  celebrated  block-making 
machinery.  Most  of  these  were  the  result  of  Maudslay 's 
own  skilful  handiwork  Ho  also  designed,  for  the  most 
part,  this  wonderful  and  complete  series  of  machines.  Sir 


vii.  BLOCK  MACHINERY  AND  MINT.  13] 

Samuel  Bentham  and  Mr.  Brunei  had  given  the  idea,  and 
Maudslay  realised  it  in  all  its  mechanical  details.  These 
working  models  contained  the  prototypes  of  nearly  all  the 
modern  engineer  tools  which  have  given  us  so  complete 
a  mastery  over  materials,  and  done  so  much  for  the  age  we 
live  in. 

It  added  no  little  to  the  enjoyment  of  this  visit  to  hear 
Mr.  Maudslay  narrate,  in  his  quaint  and  graphic  language, 
the  difficulties  he  had  to  encounter  in  solving  so  many 
mechanical  problems.  It  occupied  him  nearly  six  years 
to  design  and  complete  these  working  models.  They  were 
forty-four  in  number — all  masterly  pieces  of  workmanship. 
To  describe  them  was  to  him  like  living  over  again  the 
most  interesting  and  eventful  part  of  his  life.  And  no 
doubt  the  experience  which  he  had  thus  obtained  formed 
the  foundation  of  his  engineering  fortunes. 

Mr.  Maudslay  next  conducted  us  to  the  Eoyal  Mint  on 
Tower  Hill.  Here  we  saw  many  of  his  admirable  machines 
at  work.  He  had  a  happy  knack,  in  his  contrivances  and 
inventions,  of  making  "short  cuts"  to  the  object  in  view. 
He  avoided  complexities,  did  away  with  roundabout  pro- 
cesses, however  ingenious,  and  went  direct  to  his  point. 
"  Simplicity  "  was  his  maxim  in  every  mechanical  contriv- 
ance. His  master  mind  enabled  him  to  see  through  and 
attain  the  end  he  sought  by  the  simplest  possible  means. 
The  reputation  which  he  had  acquired  by  his  minting 
machinery  enabled  him  to  supply  it  in  its  improved  form 
to  the  principal  Governments  of  the  world. 

Some  of  the  other  days  of  the  week  were  occupied  by 
my  father  in  attending  to  his  own  professional  affairs,  more 
particularly  in  connection  with  the  Earl  of  Cassilis — whose 
noble  mansion  in  London,  and  whose  castle  at  Colzean,  on 
the  coast  of  Ayrshire,  contain  some  of  my  father's  finest 
works.  The  last  day  was  most  enjoyable.  Mr.  Maudslay 
invited  my  father,  my  brother  Patrick,  and  myself,  to  accom- 
pany him  in  his  beautiful  small  steam  yacht,  the  Endeav- 
our, from  Westminster  to  Eichmond  Bridge,  and  after- 
wards to  dine  with  him  at  the  Star  and  Garter.  I 


132  TRIP  IN  THE  "ENDEAVOUR."  CHAI-. 

must  first,  however,  say  something  of  the  origin  of  the 
Endeavour. 

Mr.  Maudslay's  son,  Joseph,  inherited  much  of  his  father's 
constructive  genius.  He  had  made  a  beautiful  arrangement 
of  William  Murdoch's  original  invention  of  the  vibrating 
cylinder  steam-engine,  and  adapted  it  for  the  working  of 
paddle-wheel  steamers.  He  first  tried  the  action  of  the 
arrangement  in  a  large  working  model,  and  its  use  was 
found  to  be  in  every  respect  satisfactory.  Mr.  Maudslay 
resolved  to  give  his  son's  design  a  full-sized  trial.  He  had. 
a  combined  pair  of  vibrating  engines  constructed,  of  upwards 
of  20  horse-power,  which  were  placed  in  a  beautiful  small 
steam  vessel,  appropriately  named  the  Endeavour.  The 
result  was  perfectly  successful.  The  steamer  became  a 
universal  favourite.  It  was  used  to  convey  passengers  and 
pleasure  parties  from  Blackfriars  Bridge  to  Richmond. 
Eventually  it  became  the  pioneer  of  a  vast  progeny  of 
vessels  propelled  by  similar  engines,  which  still  crowd  the 
Thames.  All  these  are  the  legitimate  descendants  of  the 
bright  and  active  little  Endeavour. 

To  return  to  my  trip  to  Richmond.  We  got  on  board 
the  boat  on  the  forenoon  of  May  the  29th.  It  was  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  days  of  the  year.  The  spring  was  at 
its  loveliest.  The  bright  fresh  green  of  the  trees  was 
delightful.  I  shall  never  forget  the  pleasure  with  which  I 
beheld,  for  the  first  time,  the  beautiful  banks  of  the  Thames. 
There  was  at  that  time  a  noble  avenue  of  elm  trees  extend- 
ing along  the  southern  bank  of  the  river,  from  Westminster 
Bridge  to  Lambeth  Palace;  while,  on  the  northern  side, 
many  equally  fine  trees  added  picturesque  grace  to  the  then 
Houses  of  Parliament,  while  behind  them  were  seen  the 
great  roof  of  Westminster  Hall  and  the  noble  towers  of 
Westminster  Abbey.  As  we  sped  along  we  admired  the 
ancient  cedars,  which  gave  dignity  to  the  Bishop's  grounds, 
on  the  one  side,  and  the  elms,  laburnums,  and  lilacs,  then 
in  full  l.lcnni,  which  partially  shaded  the  quaint  old  man- 
sions of  Cheyne  Row,  on  the  other.  Alas!  the  march  of 
improvement  and  the  inevitable  extension  of  the  metro- 


vii.  THE  THAMES— RICHMOND.  133 

polls  is  rapidly  destroying  these  vestiges  of  4he  olden 
time. 

The  beautiful  views  that  came  into  sight,  as  we  glided 
up  the  river,  kept  my  father  and  my  brother  in  a  state  of 
constant  excitement.  There  were  so  many  truly  picturesque 
and  paintable  objects.  Patrick's  deft  pencil  was  constantly 
at  work,  taking  graphic  notes  of  "  glorious  bits."  Dilapi- 
dated farm-buildings,  old  windmills,  pollarded  willows,  were 
rapidly  noted,  to  be  afterwards  revisited  and  made  immortal 
by  his  brush.  There  were  also  the  fine  mansions  and  cosy 
villas,  partially  shrouded  by  glorious  trees,  with  their  bright 
velvety  lawns  sloping  down  towards  the  river ;  not  forget- 
ting the  delicate  streams  of  thin  blue  smoke  rising  lazily 
through  the  trees  in  the  tranquil  summer  air,  and  remind- 
ing one  of  the  hospitable  preparations  then  in  progress. 

We  landed  at  Richmond  Bridge,  and  walked  up  past 
the  quaint  old-fashioned  mansions  which  gave  so  distinct  a 
character  to  Richmond  at  that  time.  We  then  passed  on 
to  the  celebrated  Richmond  Terrace,  at  the  top  of  the  hill, 
from  which  so  glorious  a  view  of  the  windings  of  the 
Thames  is  seen,  with  the  luxuriant  happy-looking  land- 
scape around.  The  enjoyment  of  this  glorious  day  now 
reached  its  climax.  We  dined  in  the  great  dining-room, 
from  the  large  windows  of  which  we  observed  a  view  almost 
unmatched  in  the  world,  with  the  great  tower  of  Windsor 
in  the  distance.  I  need  not  speak  of  the  entertainment, 
which  was  everything  that  the  kindest  and  most  genial 
hospitality  could  offer.  After  a  pleasant  stroll  in  the  Park, 
amidst  the  noble  and  venerable  oak  trees,  which  give  such 
a  dignity  to  the  place,  and  after  another  visit  to  the  Terrace, 
where  we  saw  the  sun  set  in  a  blaze  of  glory  beyond  the 
distant  scenery,  we  strolled  down  the  hill  to  the  steamer, 
and  descended  the  Thames  in  the  cool  of  the  summer 
evening. 

I  must  not,  however,  omit  to  mention  the  lodgings 
taken  for  me  by  my  father  before  he  left  London.  It  was 
necessary  that  they  should  be  near  Maudslay's  works  for 
the  convenience  of  going  and  coming.  We  therefore  looked 


134  "A  CLEAN  CROSSING!"  cnAi>.  VH. 

about  in  the  neighbourliood  of  Waterloo  Road.  One  of  the 
houses  we  visited  was  situated  immediately  behind  the 
Surrey  theatre.  It  seemed  a  very  nice  tidy  house,  and  my 
father  seemed  to  have  taken  a  liking  for  it.  But  when  we 
were  introduced  into  the  room  where  I  was  to  sleep,  he 
observed  au  ultra-gay  bonnet  lying  on  the  bed,  with  flashy 
bright  ribbons  hanging  from  it.  This  sight  seemed  to  alter 
his  ideas,  and  he  did  not  take  the  lodgings;  but  took 
another  where  there  was  no  such  bonnet. 

I  have  no  doubt  about  what  passed  through  his  mind  at 
the  time.  We  were  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  theatre. 
There  was  evidently  some  gay  young  woman  about  the 
house.  lie  thought  the  position  might  be  dangerous  for 
his  son.  I  afterwards  asked  him  why  we  had  not  taken 
that  nice  lodging.  "  Well,"  he  said,  "  did  not  you  see  that 
ultra-gay  bonnet  lying  on  the  bed1?  I  think  that  looks 
rather  suspicious  !"  Afterwards  he  added,  "At  all  events, 
James,  you  will  find  that  though  there  are  many  dirty  roads 
in  life,  if  you  use  your  judgment  you  may  always  be  able 
to  find  a  clean  crossing!"  And  so  the  good  man  left  me. 
After  an  affectionate  parting  he  returned  to  Edinburgh,  and 
I  remained  in  London  to  work  out  the  plan  of  my  life. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
MAUDSLAY'S  PRIVATE  ASSISTANT. 

ON  the  morning  of  Monday,  the  30th  of  May  1829,  I 
commenced  my  regular  attendance  at  Mr.  Maudslay's  work- 
shop. My  first  job  was  to  assist  him  in  making  some 
modifications  in  the  details  of  a  machine  which  he  had 
contrived  some  years  before  for  generating  original  screws. 
I  use  the  word  "  generating  "  as  being  most  appropriate  to 
express  the  objects  and  results  of  one  of  Mr.  Maudslay's 
most  original  inventions. 

It  consisted  in  the  employment  of  a  knife -edged 
hardened  steel  instrument,  so  arranged  as  to  be  set  at  any 
required  angle,  and  its  edge  caused  to  penetrate  the  surface 
of  a  cylindrical  bar  of  soft  steel  or  brass.  This  bar  being 
revolved  under  the  incisive  action  of  the  angularly  placed 
knife-edged  instrument,  it  thus  received  a  continuous  spiral 
groove  cut  into  its  surface.  It  was  then  in  the  condition 
of  a  rudimentary  screw  ;  the  pitch,  or  interval  between  the 
threads,  being  determined  by  the  greater  or  less  angle  of 
obliquity  at  which  the  knife-edged  instrument  was  set  with 
respect  to  the  axis  of  the  cylindrical  bars  revolving  under 
its  incisive  action. 

The. spiral  groove,  thus  generated,  was  deepened  to  the 
required  extent  by  a  suitable  and  pointed  hard  steel  tool 
firmly  held  in  the  jaws  of  an  adjustable  slide  made  for  the 
purpose,  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  bed  of  the  machine.  In 
the  case  of  square-threaded  screws  being  required,  a  square- 
pointed  tool  was  employed  in  place  of  the  y  or  angle- 
threaded  tool.  And  in  order  to  generate  or  produce  right 


136  THE  GUIDE  SCREW.  CHAP. 

hand  or  left  hand  screws,  all  that  was  necessary  was  to  set 
the  knife-edged  instrument  to  a  right  or  left  hand  inclina- 
tion in  respect  to  the  axis  of  the  cylindrical  bar  at  the 
outset  of  the  operation. 

This  beautiful  and  truly  original  contrivance  became,  in 
the  hands  of  its  inventor,  the  parent  of  a  vast  progeny  of 
perfect  screws,  whose  descendants,  whether  legitimate  or 
not,  are  to  be  found  in  every  workshop  throughout  the 
world,  wherever  first-class  machinery  is  constructed.  The 
production  of  perfect  screws  was  one  of  Maudslay's  highest 
ambitions  and  his  principal  technical  achievement.  It  was 
a  type  of  his  invaluable  faculty  of  solving  the  most  difficult 
problems  by  the  most  direct  and  simple  methods. 

It  was  by  the  same  method  that  he  produced  the  Guide 
screw.  His  screw-cutting  lathe  was  moved  by  combination 
wheels,  and  by  its  means  he  could,  by  the  one  Guide  screw, 
obtain  screws  of  every  variety  of  pitch  and  diameter.  As 
an  illustration  of  its  complete  accuracy  I  may  mention  that 
by  its  means  a  screw  of  five  feet  in  length  and  two  inches 
in  diameter  was  cut  with  fifty  threads  to  the  inch  ;  the  Nut 
to  fit  on  to  it  being  twelve  inches  long,  and  containing  six 
hundred  threads !  This  screw  was  principally  used  for 
dividing  scales  for  astronomical  and  other  metrical  purposes 
of  the  highest  class.  By  its  means  divisions  were  produced 
with  such  minuteness  that  they  could  only  be  made  visual 
by  a  microscope. 

This  screw  was  sent  for  exhibition  to  the  Society  of 
Arts.  It  is  still  preserved  with  the  utmost  care  at  the 
Lambeth  Works  amongst  the  many  admirable  specimens  of 
Henry  Maudslay's  inventive  genius  and  delicate  handiwork. 
Every  skilled  mechanic  must  thoroughly  enjoy  the  sight  of 
it,  especially  when  he  knows  that  it  was  not  produced  by 
an  exceptional  tool,  but  by  the  machine  that  was  daily 
employed  in  the  ordinary  work  of  the  factory. 

I  must  not,  however,  omit  to  say  that  I  took  an  early 
opportunity  of  presenting  Brougham's  letter  of  introduction 
to  Faraday  at  the  Royal  Institution.  I  was  received  most 
cordially  by  that  noble-minded  man,  whose  face  beamed 


vni.  MICHAEL  FARADAY.  137 

with  goodness  and  kindness.  After  some  pleasant  conver- 
sation he  said  he  would  call  upon  me  at  Maudslay's,  whom 
he  knew  very  well.  Not  long  after  Faraday  called,  and 
found  me  working  beside  Maudslay  in  his  beautiful  little 
workshop.  A  vice  had  been  fitted  up  for  me  at  the  bench 
where  he  himself  daily  worked.  Faraday  expressed  himself 
as  delighted  to  find  me  in  so  enviable  a  position.  He  con- 
gratulated me  on  my  special  good  fortune  in  having  the  in- 
estimable advantage  of  being  associated  as  assistant  workman 
with  one  of  the  greatest  mechanical  engineers  of  the  day. 

Mr.  Maudslay  offered  to  conduct  Faraday  through  his 
workshops,  and  I  was  permitted  to  accompany  them.  I 
was  much  impressed  with  the  intelligent  conversation  of 
Faraday,  as  well  as  with  the  quickness  he  exhibited  in 
appreciating  not  only  the  general  excellence  of  the  design 
and  execution  of  the  works  in  progress,  but  his  capacity  for 
entering  into  the  technical  details  of  the  composite  tools  and 
machinery  which  he  saw  during  his  progress  through  the 
place.  This  most  pleasant  and  memorable  meeting  with  the 
great  philosopher  initiated  a  friendship  which  I  had  the  good 
fortune  to  continue  until  the  close  of  his  life. 

It  was,  of  course,  an  immense  advantage  for  me  to  be  so 
intimately  associated  with  Mr.  Maudslay  in  carrying  on  his 
experimental  work.  I  was  not,  however,  his  apprentice,  but 
his  assistant  workman.  It  was  necessary,  therefore,  in  his 
opinion,  that  I  should  receive  some  remuneration  for  my 
services.  Accordingly,  at  the  conclusion  of  my  first  week 
in  his  service,  he  desired  me  to  go  to  his  chief  cashier  and 
arrange  with  him  for  receiving  whatever  amount  of  weekly 
wages  I  might  consider  satisfactory.  I  went  to  the  count- 
ing-house and  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Young  the  cashier, 
a  most  worthy  man.1  Knowing  as  I  did  the  great  advan- 
tages of  my  situation,  and  having  a  very  modest  notion  of 
my  own  worthiness  to  occupy  it,  I  said,  in  answer  to  Mr. 
Young's  question  as  to  the  amount  of  wages  I  desired,  that 

1  I  may  mention  that  lie  was  brother  to  Dr.  Thomas  Young,  the 
celebrated  natural  philosopher. 


138  WEEKLY  WAGES.  CIIAP. 

"  if  lie  did  not  think  ten  shillings  a  week  too  much  I  could 
do  well  enough  with  that."  "  Very  well,"  said  he,  "  let  it 
be  so."  And  he  handed  me  over  half  a  sovereign ! 

I  had  determined,  after  I  obtained  a  situation,  not  to 
cost  my  father  another  shilling.  I  knew  how  many  calls 
he  had  upon  him,  at  a  time  when  he  had  his  own  numerous 
household  to  maintain.  I  therefore  resolved,  now  that  I 
had  begun  life  on  my  own  resources,  to  maintain  myself, 
and  to  help  him  rather  than  be  helped  any  longer.  Thus 
the  first  half-sovereign  I  received  from  Mr.  Young  was  a 
great  event  in  my  life.  It  was  the  first  wages,  as  such, 
that  I  had  ever  received.  I  well  remember  the  high  satis- 
faction I  felt  as  I  carried  it  home  to  my  lodgings ;  and  all 
the  more  so  as  I  was  quite  certain  that  I  could,  by  strict 
economy  and  good  management,  contrive  to  make  this 
weekly  sum  of  ten  shillings  meet  all  my  current  expenses. 

I  had  already  saved  the  sum  of  £20,  which  I  placed  in 
the  bank  as  a  deposit  account.  It  was  the  residue  of  the 
sale  of  some  of  my  model  steam-engines  at  Edinburgh.  My 
readers  will  remember  that  I  brought  with  me  a  model 
steam-engine  to  show  to  Mr.  Maudslay  as  a  specimen  of 
my  handiwork.  It  had  gained  for  me  the  situation  that  I 
desired,  and  I  was  now  willing  to  dispose  of  it.  I  found  a 
purchaser  in  Mr.  Watkins,  optician  at  Charing  Cross,  who 
supplied  such  apparatus  to  lecturers  at  Mechanics'  Institu- 
tions. He  gave  me  £35  for  the  model,  and  I  added  the 
sum  to  my  deposit  account.  This  little  fund  was  quite 
sufficient  to  meet  any  expenses  beyond  those  of  a  current 
weekly  nature. 

But  I  was  resolved  that  my  wages  alone  should  maintain 
me  in  food  and  lodging.  I  therefore  directed  my  attention 
to  economical  living.  I  found  that  a  moderate  dinner  at 
an  eating-house  would  cost  more  than  I  could  aflbrd  to 
spend.  In  order  to  keep  within  my  weekly  income  I 
bought  the  raw  materials  and  cooked  them  in  my  own  way 
and  to  my  own  taste.  I  set  to  and  made  a  drawing  of  a 
very  simple,  compact,  and  handy  cooking  apparatus.  I 
took  the  drawing  to  a  tinsmith  near  at  hand,  and  in  two 


MY  COOKING  STOVE. 


139 


days  I  had  it  in  full  operation.  The  apparatus  cost  ten 
shillings,  including  the  lamp.  As  it  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  enable  me  to  carry  out  my  resolution,  and 
as  it  may  serve  as  a  lesson  to  others  who  have  an  earnest 
desire  to  live  economically,  I  think  it  may  be  useful  to  give 
a  drawing  and  a  description  of  my  cooking  stove. 

The  cooking  or  meat  pan  rested  on  the  upper  rim  of  the 
external  cylindrical  case,  and  was  easily  removable  in  order 
to  be  placed  handy 
for  service.  The  re- 
quisite heat  was  sup- 
plied by  an  oil  lamp 
with  three  small 
single  wicks,  though 
I  found  that  one 
wick  was  enough. 
I  put  the  meat  in 
the  pot,  with  the 
other  comestibles,  at 
nine  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  It  sim- 
mered away  all  clay, 
until  half-past  six  in 


the 


when 


evening, 
I  came  home  with 
a  healthy  appetite 
to  enjoy  my  dinner. 


COOKING   APPARATUS. 

A.  CYLINDRICAL  OUTER  CASE. 

B.  THE  MEAT  PAN,  MOVABLE. 

C.  OIL  LAMP. 

I  well  remember  the  first  day  that 


I  set  the  apparatus  to  work.  I  ran  to  my  lodging,  at 
about  four  P.M.,  to  see  how  it  was  going  on.  When  I 
lifted  the  cover  it  was  simmering  beautifully,  and  such  a 
savoury  gusto  came  forth  that  I  was  almost  tempted  to  fall 
to  and  discuss  the  contents.  But  the  time  had  not  yet 
come,  and  I  ran  back  to  my  work. 

The  meat  I  generally  cooked  in  it  was  leg  of  beef,  with 
sliced  potato,  bits  of  onion  chopped  down,  and  a  modicum 
of  white  pepper  and  salt,  with  just  enough  of  water  to 
cover  "the  elements."  When  stewed  slowly  the  meat 
became  very  tender,  and  the  whole  yielded  a  capital  dish, 


140  ECONOMICAL  LIVING.  CHAP. 

such  as  a  very  Soyer  might  envy.1  It  was  partaken  of 
with  a  zest  that,  no  doubt,  was  a  very  important  element 
in  its  savonriness.  The  whole  cost  of  this  capital  dinner 
was  about  4jd.  I  sometimes  varied  the  meat  with  rice 
boiled  with  a  few  raisins  and  a  pennyworth  of  milk.  My 
breakfast  and  tea,  with  bread,  cost  me  about  fourpeuce  each. 
My  lodgings  cost  3s.  Gd.  a  week.  A  little  multiplication  will 
satisfy  any  one  how  it  was  that  I  contrived  to  live  econo- 
mically and  comfortably  on  my  ten  shillings  a  week.  In 
the  following  year  my  wages  were  raised  to  fifteen  shillings 
a  week,  and  then  I  began  to  take  butter  to  my  bread. 

To  return  to  my  employment  under  Mr.  Maudslay. 
One  of  the  first  jobs  that  I  undertook  was  in  assisting  him 
to  make  a  beautiful  small  model  of  a  pair  of  200  horse- 
power marine  steam  engines.  The  engines  were  then  in 
course  of  construction  in  the  factory.  They  were  con- 
sidered a  bold  advance  on  the  marine  engines  then  in  use, 
not  only  in  regard  to  their  great  power,  but  in  carrying 
out  many  specialities  in  their  details  and  general  structure. 
Mr.  Maudslay  had  embodied  so  much  of  his  thought  in  the 
design  that  ho  desired  to  have  an  exact  model  of  them 
placed  in  his  library,  so  as  to  keep  a  visible  record  of  his 
ideas  constantly  before  him.  In  fact,  these  engines  might 
be  regarded  as  the  culmination  of  his  constructive  abilities. 

In  preparing  the  model  it  was  necessary  that  everything 
should  be  made  in  exact  conformity  with  the  original. 
There  were  about  three  hundred  minute  bolts  and  nuts  to 
bo  reduced  to  the  proportional  size.  I  esteemed  it  a  great 
compliment  to  bo  entrusted  with  their  execution.  They 
were  all  to  bo  made  of  cast-steel,  and  the  nuts  had  to  be 
cut  to  exact  hexagonal  form.  Many  of  them  had  collars. 
To  produce  them  by  tho  use  of  the  file  in  the  ordinary 
mode  would  not  only  have  been  difficult  and  tedious,  but 
in  some  cases  practically  impossible. 

1  I  have  tins  handy  apparatus  by  me  still;  and  to  prove  its  posses- 
sion of  its  full  original  cfliciency  I  recently  set  it  in  action  after  its  rest 
of  fifty  yi-urs,  and  found  that  it  yielded  results  quite  equal  to  my 
grateful  remembrance  of  its  past  services. 


NUT  CUTTING  MACHINE. 


141 


To  get  rid  of  the  difficulty  I  suggested  to  Mr.  Maudslay 
a  contrivance  of  my  own  by  means  of  which  the  most  rigid 
exactness  in  size  as  well  as  form  could  be  given  to  these 
hexagonal  nuts.  He  readily  granted  his  permission.  I 
constructed  a  special  apparatus,  consisting  of  a  hard  steel 
circular  cutter  to  act  as  a  circular  file.  When  brought 
into  operation  in  the  production  of  these  minute  six-sided 
collared  nuts,  held  firm  in  the  spindle  of  a  small  dividing 
plate  and  attached  to  the  slide-rest,  each  side  was  brought 
in  succession  under  the  action  of  the  circular  file  or  cutter 
with  the  most  exact  precision  A 

in  regard  to  the  division  of 
the  six  sides.  The  result 
was  absolutely  perfect  as  re- 
spects the  exactness  of  the 
six  equal  sides  of  the  hexa- 
gonal nut,  as  well  as  their 
precise  position  in  regard  to 
the  collar  that  was  of  one 
solid  piece  with  it. 

There  was  no  great 
amount  of  ingenuity  re- 
quired in  contriving  this 
special  tool,  or  in  adapting 
it  to  the  slide-rest  of  the 
lathe,  to  whose  spindle  end  the  file  or  cutter  /\  was 
fixed.  But  the  result  was  so  satisfactory,  both  as  regards 
the  accuracy  and  rapidity  of  execution  in  comparison 
with  the  usual  process  of  hand  filing,  that  Mr.  Maudslay 
was  greatly  pleased  with  the  arrangement  as  well  as  with 
my  zeal  in  contriving  and  executing  this  clever  little  tool. 
An  enlarged  edition  of  this  collar-nut  cutting  machine  was 
soon  after  introduced  into  the  factory.  It  was  one  of  the 
specialities  that  I  adopted  in  my  own  workshop  when  I 
commenced  business  for  myself,  and  it  was  eagerly  adopted 
by  mechanical  engineers,  whom  we  abundantly  supplied 
with  this  special  machine. 

It  was  an  inestimable   advantage  to  me  to  be  so  in- 


COLLAR-XUT  CUTTING  MACHINE. 


142 


MR.  MAUDSLAY'S  KINDNESS. 


CHAP. 


timately  associated  with  this  Great  Mechanic.  He  was 
so  invariably  kind,  pleasant,  and  congenial.  He  communi- 
cated an  infinite  number  of  what  he  humorously  called 
"  wrinkles,"  which  afterwards  proved  of  great  use  to  me. 
My  working  hours  usually  terminated  at  six  in  the  evening. 
But  as  many  of  the  departments  of  the  factory  were  often 
in  full  operation  during  busy  times  until  eight  o'clock,  I 
went  through  them  to  observe  the  work  while  in  progress. 
On  these  occasions  I  often  met  "  the  guv'nor,"  as  the  work- 
men called  Mr.  Maudslay.  He  was  going  his  round  of 


ARRANGEMENT  OF  THi:  M A<  HIM  . 


inspection,  and  when  there  was  any  special  work  in  hand 
lie  would  cill  me  up  to  him  and  explain  any  point  in 
connection  with  it  that  was  worthy  of  particular  notice.  I 
found  this  \aluable  privilege  most  instructive,  as  I  obtained 
from  the  chief  mechanic  himself  a  full  insight  into  the 
methods,  means,  and  processes  by  which  the  skilful  work- 
man advanced  the  various  classes  of  work.  I  was  also 
permitted  to  take  notes  and  make  rapid  sketches  of  any 
object  that  specially  interested  me.  The  entire  establish- 


VHI.  HIGH-CLASS  WORKMANSHIP,  143 

ment  thus  became  to  me  a  school  of  practical  engineering 
of  the  most  instructive  kind. 

Mr.  Maudslay  took  pleasure  in  showing  me  the  right 
system  and  method  of  treating  all  manner  of  materials 
employed  in  mechanical  structures.  He  showed  how  they 
might  be  made  to  obey  your  will,  by  changing  them  into 
the  desired  forms  with  the  least  expenditure  of  time  and 
labour.  This  in  fact  is  the  true  philosophy  of  construction. 
When  clear  ideas  have  been  acquired  upon  the  subject, 
after  careful  observation  and  practice,  the  comparative  ease 
and  certainty  with  which  complete  mastery  over  the  most 
obdurate  materials  is  obtained,  opens  up  the  most  direct 
road  to  the  attainment  of  commercial  as  well  as  of  pro- 
fessional success. 

To  be  permitted  to  stand  by  and  observe  the  systematic 
way  in  which  Mr.  Maudslay  would  first  mark  or  line  out 
his  work,  and  the  masterly  manner  in  which  he  would  deal 
with  his  materials,  and  cause  them  to  assume  the  desired 
forms,  was  a  treat  beyond  all  expression.  Every  stroke  of 
the  hammer,  chisel,  or  file,  told  as  an  effective  step  towards 
the  intended  result.  It  was  a  never-to-be-forgotten  prac- 
tical lesson  in  workmanship,  in  the  most  exalted  sense  of 
the  term.  In  conformity  with  his  often  repeated  maxim, 
"that  there  is  a  right  way  and  a  wrong  way  of  doing 
everything,"  he  took  the  shortest  and  most  direct  cuts  to 
accomplish  his  objects.  He  illustrated  this  by  telling  me, 
in  his  own  humorous  style,  "  When  you  want  to  go  from 
London  to  Greenwich,  don't  go  round  by  Inverness"  Another 
of  his  droll  sayings  was  that  he  "  considered  no  man  a 
thorough  mechanic  unless  he  could  cut  a  plank  with  a 
gimlet,  and  bore  a  hole  with  a  saw  !" 

The  grand  result  of  thoughtful  practice  is  what  we  call 
experience :  it  is  the  power  or  faculty  of  seeing  clearly, 
before  you  begin,  what  to ,  avoid  and  what  to  select — or 
rather  what  to  do  and  what  not  to  do.  High-class  work- 
manship, or  technical  knowledge,  was  in  his  hands  quite 
a  science.  Every  piece  of  work  was  made  subject  to  the 
soundest  philosophical  principles,  as  applied  to  the  use  and 


144  STANDARD  PLANES.  CHAP. 

treatment  of  materials.  It  was  this  that  gave  such  a 
charm  of  enjoyment  to  his  dealing  with  tools  and  materials. 
He  loved  this  sort  of  work  for  its  own  sake,  far  more 
than  for  its  pecuniary  results.  At  the  same  time  he  was 
not  without  regard  for  the  substantial  evidence  of  his 
supremacy  in  all  that  regarded  first-class  tools,  admirable 
management,  and  thorough  organisation  of  his  factory. 

The  innate  love  of  truth  and  accuracy  which  distin- 
guished Mr.  Maudslay,  led  him  to  value  highly  that  class  of 
technical  dexterity  in  engineering  workmen  which  enabled 
them  to  produce  those  details  of  mechanical  structures 
in  which  perfect  flat  or  true  plane  surfaces  were  required. 
This  was  an  essential  condition  for  the  effective  and 
durable  performance  of  their  functions.  Sometimes  this 
was  effected  by  the  aid  of  the  turning-lathe  and  slide-rest. 
But  in  most  cases  the  object  was  attained  by  the  dexterous 
use  of  the  file,  so  that  "  flat  filing  "  then  was,  as  it  still  is, 
one  of  the  highest  qualities  of  the  skilled  workman.  No 
one  that  I  ever  met  with  could  go  beyond  Henry  Maudslay 
himself  in  his  dexterous  use  of  the  file.  By  a  few  masterly 
strokes  he  could  produce  plane  surfaces  so  true  that  when 
their  accuracy  was  tested  by  a  standard  plane  surface  of 
absolute  truth,  they  were  never  found  defective ;  neither 
convex,  nor  concave,  nor  "  cross-winding," — that  is,  twisted. 

The  importance  of  having  such  Standard  Planes  caused 
him  to  have  many  of  them  placed  on  the  benches  beside 
his  workmen,  by  means  of  which  they  might  at  once 
conveniently  test  their  work.  Three  of  each  were  made 
at  a  time,  so  that  by  the  mutual  rubbing  of  each  on  each 
the  projecting  surfaces  were  effaced.  When  the  surfaces 
approached  very  near  to  the  true  plane,  the  still  projecting 
minute  points  were  carefully  reduced  by  hard  steel  scrapers, 
until  at  last  the  standard  piano  surface  was  secured.  When 
placed  over  each  other  they  would  float  upon  the  thin 
stratum  of  air  between  them  until  dislodged  by  time  and 
pressure.  When  they  adhered  closely  to  each  other,  they 
could  only  be  separated  by  sliding  each  off  each.  This 
art  of  producing  absolutely  plane  surfaces  is,  I  believe,  a 


vin.  THE  "LORD  CHANCELLOR."  145 

very  old  mechanical  "dodge."  But,  as  employed  by 
Maudslay's  men,  it  greatly  contributed  to  the  improvement 
of  the  work  turned  out.  It  was  used  for  the  surfaces  of 
slide  valves,  or  wherever  absolute  true  plane  surfaces  were 
essential  tojJie  attainment  of  the  best  results,  not  only  in 
the  machinery  turned  out,  but  in  educating  the  taste  of 
his  men  towards  first-class  workmanship. 

Maudslay's  love  of  accuracy  also  led  him  to  distrust  the 
verdicts  given  by  the  employment  of  the  ordinary  callipers 
and  compasses  in  determining  the  absolute  or  relative 
dimensions  of  the  refined  mechanism  which  he  delighted 
to  construct  with  his  own  hands.  So  much  depended  upon 


* 

€ 

i 

| 

,  T^                           p^  

P 

'-'    '    5    *-'--'  -'     ' 

MAUDSLAY'S    '  LORD  CHANCELLOR.  ' 

the  manner  in  which  the  ordinary  measuring  instruments 
were  handled  and  applied  that  they  sometimes  failed  to 
give  the  required  verdict  as  to  accuracy.  In  order,  there- 
fore, to  get  rid  of  all  difficulties  in  this  respect,  he  designed 
and  constructed  a  very  compact  and  handy  instrument 
which  he  always  had  on  his  bench  beside  his  vice.  Ho 
could  thus,  in  a  most  accurate  and  rapid  manner,  obtain 
the  most  reliable  evidence  as  to  the  relative  dimensions,  in 
length,  width,  or  diameter,  of  any  work  which  he  had  in 
hand.  In  consequence  of  the  absolute  truth  of  the  verdicts 
of  the  instrument,  he  considered  it  as  a  Court  of  Final 
Appeal,  and  humorously  called  it  "  The  Lord  Chancellor." 

This  trustworthy  "  Companion  of  the  Bench  "  consisted 
of  a  very  substantial  and  inflexible  bed  or  base  of  hard 
brass.  At  one  end  of  it  was  a  perfectly  hardened  steel 

L 


146      THE  SCREW  AS  A  MEASURING  INSTRUMENT.     CUAP. 

surface  plate,  having  an  absolutely  true  flat  or  plane  face, 
against  which  one  end  or  side  of  the  object  to  be  measured 
was  placed ;  whilst  a  similar  absolutely  true  plane  surface 
of  hardened  steel  was  advanced  by  means  of  a  suitable  fine 
thread  screw,  until  the  object  to  be  measured  was  just 
delicately  in  contact  with  it.  The  object  was,  as  it  were, 
between  the  jaws  of  a  vice,  but  without  any  squeeze — being 
just  free,  which  could  be  easily  ascertained  by  feeling. 
These  two  absolutely  plane  surfaces,  between  which  the 
object  lay,  had  their  distances  apart  easily  read  off  from 
the  scale  engraved  on  the  bed  of  the  instrument,  in  inches 
and  tenth  parts  of  an  inch,  while  the  disk-head  or  handle 
of  the  screw  was  divided  on  its  edge  rim  into  hundredth  or 
thousandth  parts,  as  these  bore  an  exact  metrical  relation 
to  the  pitch  of  the  screw  that  moved  the  parallel  steel 
faces  of  the  measuring  vice  (as  I  may  term  it)  nearer  or 
farther  apart. 

Not  only  absolute  measure  could  be  obtained  by  this 
means,  but  also  the  amount  of  minute  differences  could  be 
ascertained  with  a  degree  of  exactness  that  went  quite 
beyond  all  the  requirements  of  engineering  mechanism; 
such,  for  instance,  as  the  thousandth  part  of  an  inch !  It 
might  also  have  been  divided  so  far  as  a  millionth  part  of 
an  inch,  but  these  infinitesimal  fractions  have  really  nothing 
to  do  with  the  effective  machinery  that  comes  forth  from 
our  workshops,1  and  merely  show  the  mastery  we  possess 
over  materials  and  mechanical  forms.  The  original  of  this 
measuring  machine  of  Maudslay's  was  exhibited  at  thr 
Loan  Collection  at  South  Kensington  in  1878.  It  is  now 
treasured  up,  with  other  relics  of  his  handiwork,  in  a 
cabinet  at  the  Lambeth  works. 

While  writing  upon  this  subject  it  may  be  worthy  of 
remark,  that  the  employment  of  a  screw  as  the  means  of 

1  I  may  mention  another  saying  of  Mr.  Maudslay's.  Besides  his 
observation  that  "  in  going  from  London  to  Greenwich  we  must  not 
go  round  by  Inverness,"  ho  said,  "We  must  not  become  too  com- 
plicated with  our  nun  liincry.  Remember  the  get-at-ability  of  parts. 
If  we  go  on  as  some  mcrhunir.s  are  doing,  we  shall  soon  be  boiling 
our  eggs  with  a  chronometer  ! " 


vin.  MEN  OF  SCIENCE  VISITORS.  147 

adjusting  the  points  or  reference  marks  of  a  measuring 
instrument,  for  the  ascertainment  of  minute  distances 
between  objects,  was  first  effected  by  William  Gascoigne, 
about  the  year  1C 48.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  was 
the  inventor  of  the  Micrometer — an  instrument  that,  when 
applied  (as  he  first  did  so)  to  the  eye-piece  of  the  Telescope, 
has  been  the  means  of  advancing  the  science  of  astronomy 
to  its  present  high  position.1 

I  had  abundant  occupation  for  my  leisure  time  after 
my  regular  attendance  at  the  factory  was  over.  I  had  not 
only  the  opportunity  of  studying  mechanics,  but  of  study- 
ing men.  It  is  a  great  thing  to  know  the  character  of 
those  who  are  over  you  as  well  as  those  who  are  under 
you.  It  is  also  well  to  know  the  character  of  those  who 
are  associated  with  you  in  your  daily  work.  I  became 
intimate  with  the  foremen  and  with  many  of  the  skilled 
workmen.  From  them  I  learnt  a  great  deal.  Let  me 
first  speak  of  the  men  of  science  who  occasionally  fre- 
quented Maudslay's  private  workshop.  They  often  came 
to  consult  him  on  subjects  with  which  he  was  specially 
acquainted. 

Among  Mr.  Maudslay's  most  frequent  visitors  were 
General  Sir  Samuel  Bentham,  Mr.  Barton,  director  of  the 
Royal  Mint,  Mr.  Bryan  Donkin,  Mr.  Faraday,  and  Mr. 
Chantrey,  the  sculptor.  As  Mr.  Maudslay  wished  me  to 
be  at  hand  to  give  him  any  necessary  assistance,  I  had  the 
opportunity  of  listening  to  the  conversation  between  him 
and  these  distinguished  visitors.  Sir  Samuel  Bentham 
called  very  often.  He  had  been  associated  with  Maudslay 
during  the  contrivance  and  construction  of  the  block 
machinery.  He  was  brother  of  the  celebrated  Jeremy 
Bentham,  and  he  applied  the  same  clear  common-sense  to 
mechanical  subjects  which  the  other  had  done  to  legal, 
social,  and  political  questions. 

It  was  in  the  highest  degree  interesting  and  instructive 
to  hear  these  two  great  pioneers  in  the  history  and 

1  See  Grant's  History  of  Astronomy,  p.  453. 


148  CHANTKEY  THE  SCULPTOR.  CHAP. 

application  of  mechanics  discussing  the  events  connected 
with  the  block-making  machinery.  In  fact,  Maudslay's 
connection  with  the  subject  had  led  to  the  development  of 
most  of  our  modern  engineering  tools.  They  may  since 
have  been  somewhat  altered  in  arrangement,  but  not  in 
principle.  Scarcely  a  week  passed  without  a  visit  from 
the  General.  He  sat  in  the  beautiful  workshop,  where  he 
always  seemed  so  happy.  It  was  a  great  treat  to  hear 
him  and  Maudslay  "  fight  their  battles  o'er  again,"  in  re- 
counting the  difficulties,  both  official  and  mechanical,  over 
which  they  had  so  gloriously  triumphed. 

At  the  time  when  I  listened  to  their  conversation,  the 
great  work  in  hand  was  the  organisation  of  a  systematic 
series  of  experiments  on  the  hulls  of  steamships,  with  the 
view  of  determining  the  laws  of  resistance  on  their  being 
propelled  through  the  sea  by  a  power  other  than  those  of 
winds  and  sails.  The  subject  was  as  complex  as  it  was 
interesting  and  important.  But  it  had  to  be  put  to  the 
test  of  actual  experiment.  This  was  done  in  the  first 
place  by  large  models  of  hulls,  so  as  to  ascertain  at  what 
point  the  curves  of  least  resistance  could  be  applied.  Their 
practical  correctness  was  tested  by  careful  experiment  in 
passing  them  through  water  at  various  velocities,  to  record 
which  conditions  special  instruments  were  contrived  and 
executed.  These,  as  well  as  the  preparation  of  large 
models  of  hulls,  embodying  the  various  improved  "  lines," 
occupied  a  considerable  portion  of  the  time  that  I  had  the 
good  fortune  to  spend  in  Mr.  Maudslay's  private  workshop. 

Mr.  Barton  of  the  Royal  Mint  was  quite  a  "  crony  "  of 
Maudslay's.  He  called  upon  him  often  with  respect  to  the 
improvements  for  stamping  the  current  coin  of  the  realm. 
Mr.  Bryan  Donkin  was  also  associated  with  Maudslay  and 
Barton  on  the  subject  of  the  national  standard  of  the  yard 
measure.  But  perhaps  Mr.  Chantrey  was  the  most  attractive 
visitor  at  the  private  workshop.  He  had  many  a  long 
interview  with  Maudslay  with  respect  to  the  planning  and 
arranging  of  a  small  foundry  at  his  studio,  by  means  of 
which  he  might  cast  his  bronze  statues  under  his  own 


viii.  THE  CUNDELLS.  149 

superintendence.  Mr.  Maudslay  entered  con  amore  into  the 
subject,  and  placed  his  skill  and  experience  entirely  at 
Chantrey's  service.  He  constructed  the  requisite  furnaces, 
cranes,  and  other  apparatus,  at  Chantrey's  studio ;  and  it 
may  be  enough  to  state  that,  when  brought  into  operation, 
they  yielded  the  most  satisfactory  results. 

Among  my  most  intelligent  private  friends  in  London 
were  George  Cundell  and  his  two  brothers.  They  resided 
near  my  lodgings,  and  T  often  visited  them  on  Saturday 
evenings.  They  were  most  kind,  gentle,  and  genial.  The 
eldest  brother  was  in  Sir  William  Forbes's  bank.  George 
was  agent  for  Mr.  Patrick  Maxwell  Stuart  in  connection 
with  his  West  India  estates,  and  the  third  brother  was  his 
assistant.  The  elder  brother  was  an  admirable  performer 
on  the  violoncello,  and  he  treated  us  during  these  Saturday 
evenings  with  noble  music  from  Beethoven  and  Mozart. 
My  special  friend  George  was  known  amongst  us  as  "  the 
worthy  master."  He  was  thoroughly  versed  in  general 
science,  and  was  moreover  a  keen  politician.  He  had  the 
most  happy  faculty  of  treating  complex  subjects,  both  in 
science  and  politics,  in  a  thoroughly  common-sense  manner. 
His  two  brothers  had  a  fine  feeling  for  art,  and,  indeed,  pos- 
sessed no  small  skill  as  practical  artists.  With  companions 
such  as  these,  gifted  with  a  variety  of  tastes,  I  spent  many 
of  my  Saturday  evenings  most  pleasantly  and  profitably. 
They  were  generally  concluded  with  a  glass  of  beer  of  "  the 
worthy  master's  "  own  brewing. 

When  the  season  of  the  year  and  the  state  of  the  weather 
were  suitable  I  often  joined  this  happy  fraternity  in  long 
and  delightful  Sunday  walks  to  various  interesting  places 
round  London.  Our  walks  included  Waltham  Abbey, 
Waltham  Cross,  Eltham  Palace,  Hampton  Court,  Epping 
Forest,  and  many  other  interesting  places  of  resort.  When 
the  weather  was  unfavourable  my  principal  resort  was  West- 
minster Abbey,  where,  besides  the  beautifully-conducted 
service  and  the  noble  anthems,  I  could  admire  the  glory 
of  the  architecture,  and  the  venerable  tombs,  under  which 
lay  the  best  and  bravest.  I  used  generally  to  sit  at  a 


150  NORMAN  ARCHITECTURE.  CHAP.  vm. 

point  from  which  I  could  see  the  grand  tomb  of  Aylinrr 
de  Vallance  with  its  magnificent  surroundings  of  quaint  and 
glorious  architecture.  It  was  solemn,  and  serious  also,  to 
think  of  the  many  generations  who  had  filled  the  abbey,  and 
of  the  numbers  of  the  dead  who  lay  beneath  our  feet. 

I  was  so  great  an  admirer  of  Norman  and  Gothic  archi- 
tecture that  there  was  scarcely  a  specimen  of  it  in  London 
which  I  did  not  frequently  visit.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
examples  I  found  in  the  Norman  portion  of  St.  Saviour's 
Church,  near  London  Bridge,  though  some  of  it  has  since 
been  destroyed  by  the  so-called  "restoration"  in  1831. 
The  new  work  has  been  executed  in  the  worst  taste  and 
feeling.  I  also  greatly  admired  the  Norman  chapel  of  the 
Tower,  and  some  Norman  portions  of  the  Church  of  St. 
Bartholomew  the  Less,  near  Smithfield. 

No  style  of  architecture  that  I  have  ever  seen  has  so 
impressed  me  with  its  intrinsic  gravity,  and  I  may  say 
solemnity,  as  that  of  the  Norman.  There  is  a  serious 
earnestness  in  its  grave  simplicity  that  has  a  peculiar  in- 
fluence upon  the  mind ;  and  I  have  little  doubt  that  this 
was  felt  and  understood  by  those  true  architects  who 
designed  and  built  the  noble  cathedrals  at  Durham  and 
elsewhere.  But  there,  as  elsewhere,  some  of  our  modern 
so-called  "Architects"  have  made  sad  havoc  with  the 
earliest  and  most  impressive  portions  of  those  grand  and 
truly  interesting  remains,  by  their  "  Restorations,"  as  they 
term  it — but  which  I  call  Defamations. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

HOLIDAY   IN   THE   MANUFACTURING   DISTRICTS. 

IN  the  autumn  of  1830  Mr.  Maudslay  went  to  Berlin  for 
the  purpose  of  superintending  the  erection  of  machinery  at 
the  Royal  Mint  there.  He  intended  to  he  ahsent  from  Lon- 
don for  about  a  month ;  and  he  kindly  permitted  me  to 
take  my  holiday  during  that  period. 

I  had  been  greatly  interested  by  the  descriptions  in  the 
newspapers  of  the  locomotive  competition  at  Rainhill,  near 
Liverpool.  I  was,  therefore,  exceedingly  anxious  to  see 
Stephenson's  "  Rocket,"  the  engine  that  had  won  the  prize. 
Taking  with  me  letters  of  introduction  from  Mr.  Maudslay 
to  persons  of  influence  at  Liverpool,  I  left  London  for  the 
north  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday  the  9th  of  September 
1830.  I  took  my  place  on  the  outside  of  the  Liverpool 
coach,  which  set  out  from  "  The  Swan  with  Two  Necks,"  in 
Lad  Lane,  City,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  coach-offices  in 
those  days. 

The  first  part  of  the  journey  to  Liverpool  was  very  dis- 
mal. The  night  was  wet.  The  rain  came  pouring  down, 
and  no  sort  of  wrappings  could  keep  it  out.  The  outside 
passengers  became  thoroughly  soaked.  On  we  went,  how- 
ever, as  fast  as  four  horses  could  carry  us.  Next  morning 
we  reached  Coventry,  when  the  clouds  cleared  away,  and 
the  sun  at  last  burst  forth.  I  could  now  enjoy  this  charm- 
ing part  of  old  England.  Although  I  had  only  a  hasty 
glimpse  in  passing  of  the  quaint  streets  and  ancient  buildings 
of  the  town,  I  was  perfectly  delighted  with  the  specimens 
of  ancient  domestic  architecture  which  I  saw.  At  that 


152  THE  "ROCKET."  CHAP. 

time  Coventry  was  quite  a  museum  of  that  interesting  class 
of  buildings.  The  greater  part  of  them  have  since  been 
swept  away  in  the  so-called  improvement  of  modern  builders, 
none  of  whose  works  can  ever  so  attract  an  artistic  eye. 

During  the  rest  of  the  day  the  journey  was  delightful. 
Though  the  inside  passengers  had  had  the  best  of  it  during 
the  night,  the  outside  passengers  had  the  best  of  it  now. 
To  go  scampering  across  the  country  on  the  top  of  the  coach, 
passing  old  villages,  gentlemen's  parks,  under  old  trees, 
along  hedges  tinged  with  autumn  tints,  up  hill  and  down 
dale,  sometimes  getting  off  the  coach  to  lighten  the  load,  and 
walking  along  through  the  fields  by  a  short  cut  to  meet  it 
farther  on ;  all  this  was  most  enjoyable.  It  gave  me  a  new 
interest  in  the  happier  aspects  of-  English  scenery,  and  of 
rural  and  domestic  life  in  the  pretty  old-fashioned  farm 
buildings  that  we  passed  on  our  way.  Indeed,  there  was 
everything  to  delight  the  eye  of  the  lover  of  the  picturesque 
during  the  course  of  that  bright  autumnal  day. 

The  coach  reached  Liverpool  on  Sunday  night.  I  took 
up  my  quarters  at  a  commercial  inn  in  Dale  Street,  where 
I  found  every  comfort  which  I  desired  at  moderate  charges. 
Next  morning,  without  loss  of  time,  I  made  my  way  to  the 
then  terminus  of  the  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway ; 
and  there,  for  the  first  time,  I  saw  the  famous  "  Rocket." 
The  interest  with  which  I  beheld  this  distinguished  and 
celebrated  engine  was  much  enhanced  by  seeing  it  make 
several  short  trial  trips  under  the  personal  management  of 
George  Stephenson,  who  acted  as  engineman,  while  his  son 
Robert  acted  as  stoker.  During  their  trips  of  four  or  five 
miles  along  the  line  the  "  Rocket "  attained  the  speed  of 
thirty  miles  an  hour — a  speed  then  thought  almost  in- 
credible !  It  was  to  me  a  most  memorable  and  interesting 
sight,  especially  to  see  the  father  and  son  so  appropriately 
engaged  in  working  the  engine  that  was  to  effect  so  great  a 
change  in  the  communications  of  the  civilised  world. 

I  spent  the  entire  day  in  watching  the  trial  trips,  in 
r\;i  mining  the  railway  works,  and  such  portions  of  tlioir 
details  as  I  could  obtain  access  to.  About  mid-day  the 


ix.  WILLIAM  FAWCETT.  153 

"  Rocket "  was  at  rest  for  about  an  hour  near  where  I  stood; 
and  I  eagerly  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity  of  making 
a  careful  sketch  of  the  engine,  which  I  still  preserve.  The 
line  was  opened  on  the  1 5th  of  September,  when  the  famous 
"  Rocket "  led  the  way  in  conducting  the  first  train  of  pas- 
sengers from  Liverpool  to  Manchester.  There  were  present 
on  that  occasion  thousands  of  spectators,  many  of  whom  had 
come  from  distant  parts  of  the  kingdom  to  witness  this 
greatest  of  all  events  in  the  history  of  railway  locomotion. 

During  my  stay  in  Liverpool  I  visited  the  vast  range  of 
magnificent  docks  which  extend  along  the  north  bank  of  the 
Mersey,  all  of  which  were  crowded  with  noble  merchant 
ships,  some  taking  in  cargoes  of  British  manufactures,  and 
others  discharging  immense  stores  of  cotton,  sugar,  tobacco, 
and  foreign  produce.  The  sight  was  most  interesting,  and 
gave  me  an  impressive  idea  of  the  mighty  functions  of  a 
manufacturing  nation — energy  and  intelligence,  working 
through  machinery,  increasing  the  value  of  raw  materials  and 
enabling  them  to  be  transported  for  use  to  all  parts  of  the 
civilised  world. 

Mr.  Maudslay  having  given  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
his  old  friend  William  Fawcett,  head  of  the  firm  of  Fawcett, 
Preston,  and  Company,  engineers,  I  went  over  their  factory. 
They  were  engaged  in  producing  sugar  mills  for  the  West 
Indies,  and  also  in  manufacturing  the  steam-engines  for 
working  them.  The  firm  had  acquired  great  reputation  for 
their  workmanship ;  and  their  shops  were  crowded  with 
excellent  specimens  of  their  skill.  Everything  was  in  good 
order;  their  assortment  of  machine  tools  was  admirable. 
Mr.  Fawcett,  who  accompanied  me,  was  full  in  his  praises  of 
my  master,  whom  he  regarded  as  the  greatest  pioneer  in  the 
substitution  of  the  unerring  accuracy  of  machine  tools  for 
the  often  untrustworthy  results  of  mere  manual  labour. 

I  cannot  resist  referring  to  the  personal  appearance  and 
mariner  of  this  excellent  gentleman,  William  Fawcett.  His 
peculiar  courteous  manner,  both  in  speech  and  action,  re- 
minded me  of  the  "  grand  old  style  "  which  I  had  observed  in 
some  of  my  father's  oldest  noble  employers,  and  the  repre 


154  OUT-DOOR  SKETCHING.  CHAP, 

sentations  given  of  them  by  some  of  our  best  actors.  There 
was  also  a  dignified  kindliness  about  his  manner  that  was 
quite  peculiar  to  himself;  and  when  he  conducted  me 
through  his  busy  workshops,  the  courtly  yet  kindly  manner 
in  which  he  addressed  his  various  foremen  and  others,  was 
especially  cheering.  When  I  first  presented  my  letter  of 
introduction  from  Henry  Maudslay,  he  was  sitting  at  a 
beautiful  inlaid  escritoire  table  with  his  letters  arrayed 
before  him  in  the  most  neat  and  perfect  order.  The  writing- 
table  stood  on  a  small  Turkey  carpet  apart  from  the  clerks' 
desks  in  the  room,  but  so  near  to  them  that  he  could  readily 
communicate  with  them.  His  neat  old-fashioned  style  of 
dress  quite  harmonised  with  his  advanced  age,  and  the 
kindly  yet  dignified  grace  of  his  manner  left  a  lasting  im- 
pression on  me  as  a  most  interesting  specimen  of  "  the  fine 
old  English  gentleman,  quite  of  the  olden  time." 

I  spent  another  day  in  crossing  the  Mersey  to  Birken- 
head — then  a  very  small  collection  of  buildings — and  wan- 
dered about  the  neighbourhood.  I  had  my  sketch-book 
with  me,  and  made  a  drawing  of  Liverpool  from  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  Close  to  Birkenhead  were  some  excellent 
bits  of  scenery,  old  and  picturesque  farmhouses,  over- 
shadowed with  venerable  oaks,  with  juttings-out  of  the 
New  Red  Sandstone  rocks,  covered  with  heather,  furze,  and 
broom,  with  pools  of  water  edged  with  all  manner  of 
effective  water  plants.  They  formed  capital  subjects  for 
the  artistic  pencil,  especially  when  distant  peeps  of  the 
Welsh  hills  came  into  the  prospect.  I  made  several 
sketches,  and  they  kept  company  with  my  graphic  memor- 
anda of  architectural  and  mechanical  objects.  I  may  here 
mention  that  on  my  return  to  London  I  showed  them  to 
my  brother  Patrick,  and  some  of  them  so  much  met  his 
fancy  that  he  borrowed  my  sketch-book  and  painted  some 
pictures  from  them,  which  at  this  day  are  hanging  on  the 
walls  of  some  of  his  admirers. 

With  the  desire  of  seeing  as  much  as  possible  of  all  that 
intiM-osting  in  the  mechanical,  architectural,  and  pirtur- 
line,  on  my  return  journey  to  London,  I  determined 


IX.  EDWARD  TOOTAL.  155 

to  walk,  halting  here  and  there  by  the  way.  The  season 
of  the  year  and  the  state  of  the  weather  were  favourable 
for  my  purpose.  I  accordingly  commenced  my  pedestrian 
tour  on  Saturday  morning,  the  17th  September.  I  set  out 
for  Manchester.  It  was  a  long  but  pleasant  walk.  I  well 
remember,  when  nearing  Manchester,  that  I  sat  down  to 
rest  for  a  time  on  Patricroft  Bridge.  I  was  attracted  by 
the  rural  aspect  of  the  country,  and  the  antique  cottages  of 
the  neighbourhood.  The  Bridge-water  Canal  lay  before  me, 
and  as  I  was  told  that  it  was  the  first  mile  of  the  waterway 
that  the  great  Duke  had  made,  it  became  quite  classic 
ground  in  my  eyes.  I  little  thought  at  the  time  that  I  was 
so  close  to  a  piece  of  ground  that  should  afterwards  become 
my  own,  and  where  I  should  for  twenty  years  carry  on  the 
most  active  and  interesting  business  of  my  life. 

I  reached  Manchester  at  seven  in  the  evening,  and  took 
up  my  quarters  at  the  King's  Arms  Inn,  Dcansgate.  Next 
day  was  Sunday.  I  attended  service  in  the  Cathedral,  then 
called  the  Old  Church.  I  was  much  interested  by  the 
service,  as  well  as  by  the  architecture  of  the  building. 
Some  of  the  details  were  well  worthy  of  attention,  being 
very  original,  and  yet  the  whole  was  not  of  the  best  period 
of  Gothic  architecture.  Some  of  the  old  buildings  about  the 
Cathedral  were  very  interesting.  They  were  of  a  most 
quaint  character,  yet  bold  and  effective.  Much  finely  carved 
oak  timber  work  was  introduced  into  them ;  and  on  the 
whole  they  gave  a  very  striking  illustration  of  the  style  of 
domestic  architecture  which  prevailed  in  England  some 
three  or  four  centuries  ago. 

On  the  following  day  I  called  upon  Mr.  Edward  Tootal, 
of  York  Street.  He  was  a  well-known  man  in  Man  Chester. 
I  had  the  happiness  of  meeting  him  in  London  a  few 
months  before.  He  then  kindly  invited  me  to  call  upon 
him  should  I  ever  visit  Manchester,  when  he  would 
endeavour  to  obtain  for  me  a  sight  of  some  of  the  most 
remarkable  manufacturing  establishments.  Mr.  Tootal  was 
as  good  as  his  word.  He  received  me  most  cordially,  and 
at  once  proceeded  to  take  me  to  the  extensive  machine 


156  MANCHESTER.  OHAI-. 

factory  of  Messrs.  Sharp,  Roberts,  and  Co.  I  found  to  my 
delight  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  establishment 
was  devoted  to  the  production  of  machine  tools,  a 
department  of  mechanical  business  then  rising  into  the 
highest  importance.  Mr.  Roberts,  an  admirable  mechanic 
as  well  as  inventor,  had  derived  many  of  his  ideas  on  the 
subject  while  working  with  Mr.  Maudslay  in  London,  and 
he  had  carried  them  out  with  many  additions  and  improve- 
ments of  his  own  contrivance.  Indeed,  Roberts  was  one  of 
the  most  capable  men  of  his  time,  and  is  entitled  to  be 
regarded  as  one  of  the  true  pioneers  of  modern  mechanical 
mechanism. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Tootal  I  had  also  the 
opportunity  of  visiting  and  inspecting  some  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive cotton  mills  in  Manchester.  I  was  greatly  pleased 
with  the  beautiful  contrivances  displayed  in  the  machinery. 
They  were  perfect  examples  of  the  highest  order  of 
ingenuity,  combined  with  that  kind  of  common-sense  which 
casts  aside  all  mere  traditional  forms  and  arrangements  of 
parts,  such  as  do  not  essentially  contribute  to  the  efficiency 
of  the  machine  in  the  performance  of  its  special  and 
required  purpose.  I  found  much  to  admire  in  the  design 
as  well  as  in  the  execution  of  the  details  of  the  machines. 
The  arrangement  and  management  of  the  manufactories 
were  admirable.  The  whole  of  the  buildings,  howsoever 
extensive  and  apparently  complicated,  worked  like  one 
grand  and  perfectly  constructed  machine. 

I  was  also  much  impressed  by  the  keen  interest  which 
the  proprietors  of  these  vast  establishments  took  in  the 
minute  details  of  their  machinery,  as  well  as  by  their  intel- 
ligent and  practical  acquaintance  with  the  technical  minutiae 
of  their  business.  Although  many  of  them  were  men  of 
fortune,  they  continued  to  take  as  deep  an  interest  in  such 
matters  as  if  they  were  beginning  life  and  had  their  for- 
tunes still  to  make.  Their  chief  ambition  was  to  be  at  the 
head  of  a  thoroughly  well-managed  and  prosperous  cstablish- 
mi-nt.  No  detail,  be  it  ever  so  small,  was  beneath  their 
;m<l  attention.  To  a  young  man  like  myself,  then 


ix.  COALBROOKDALE.  157 


about  to  enter  upon  a  similar  career  of  industry,  these 
lessons  were  very  important.  They  were  encouraging 
examples  of  carefully  thought  out  designs,  carried  into 
admirable  results  by  close  attention  to  details,  ever  watch- 
ful carefulness,  and  indomitable  perseverance. 

I  brooded  over  these  circumstances.  They  filled  my 
mind  with  hope.  They  encouraged  me  to  go  on  in  the  path 
which  I  had  selected ;  and  I  believed  that  at  some  time  or 
other  I  might  be  enabled  to  imitate  the  examples  of  zeal 
and  industry  which  I  had  witnessed  during  my  stay  in 
Manchester.  It  was  then  that  I  bethought  me  of  settling 
down  in  this  busy  neighbourhood ;  and  as  I  plodded  my 
way  back  to  London  this  thought  continually  occupied  me. 
It  took  root  in  my  mind  and  grew,  and  at  length  the  idea 
became  a  reality. 

I  did  not  take  the  shortest  route  on  my  return  journey 
to  London.  I  desired  to  pass  through  the  most  interesting 
and  picturesque  places  without  unduly  diverging  from  the 
right  direction.  I  wished  to  see  the  venerable  buildings 
and  cathedrals  of  the  olden  time,  as  well  as  the  engineering 
establishments  of  the  new.  Notwithstanding  my  love  for 
mechanics  I  still  retained  a  spice  of  the  antiquarian  feeling. 
It  enabled  me  to  look  back  to  the  remote  past,  into  the 
material  records  of  man's  efforts  hundreds  of  years  ago,  and 
contrast  them  with  the  modern  progress  of  arts  and 
sciences.  I  was  especially  interested  in  the  architecture  of 
bygone  ages ;  but  here,  alas  !  arts  and  sciences  have  done 
nothing.  Modern  Gothic  architecture  is  merely  an  imitation 
of  the  old,  and  often  a  very  bad  imitation.  Even  ancient 
domestic  architecture  is  much  superior  to  the  modern.  We 
can  now  only  imitate  it ;  and  often  spoil  when  imitating. 

I  left  Manchester  and  turned  my  steps  in  the  direction 
of  Coalbrookdale.  I  passed  through  a  highly  picturesque 
country,  in  which  I  enjoyed  the  sight  of  many  old  timber 
houses,  most  attractive  subjects  for  my  pencil.  My  route 
lay  through  Whitchurch,  Wem,  and  Wellington  ;  then  past 
the  Wrekin  to  Coalbrookdale.  Before  arriving  there  I  saw 
the  first  iron  bridge  constructed  in  England,  an  object  of 


158  THE  BLACK  COUNTRY.  CUAP. 

historical  interest  in  that  class  of  structures.  It  was 
because  of  the  superb  quality  of  the  castings  produced  at 
Coalbrookdale  that  the  ironmasters  there  were  able  to 
accomplish  the  building  of  a  bridge  of  that  material,  which 
before  had  baffled  all  projectors  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

I  possessed  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the  manager,  and 
was  received  by  him  most  cordially.  He  permitted  me  to 
examine  the  works.  I  was  greatly  interested  at  the  sight 
of  the  processes  of  casting.  Many  beautiful  objects  were 
turned  out  for  architectural,  domestic,  and  other  purposes. 
I  saw  nothing  particularly  novel,  however,  in  the  methods 
and  processes  of  moulding  and  casting.  The  excellence 
of  the  work  depended  for  the  most  part  upon  the  great 
care  and  skill  exercised  by  the  workmen  of  the  foundry. 
They  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  turning  out  the  best 
castings,  and  their  models  or  patterns  were  made  with  the 
utmost  care.  I  was  particularly  impressed  with  the  cheerful 
zeal  and  activity  of  the  workmen  and  foremen  of  this  justly 
celebrated  establishment. 

On  leaving  Coalbrookdale  I  trudged  my  way  towards 
Wolverhampton,  I  rested  at  Shiffnal  for  the  night.  Next 
day  I  was  in  the  middle  of  the  Black  Country.  I  had  no 
letters  of  introduction  to  employers  in  Wolverhampton ;  so 
that,  without  stopping  there,  I  proceeded  at  once  to  Dudley. 
The  Black  Country  is  anything  but  picturesque.  The  earth 
seems  to  have  been  turned  inside  out.  Its  entrails  are 
strewn  about;  nearly  the  entire  surface  of  the  ground  is 
covered  with  cinder-heaps  and  mounds  of  scoriae.  The  coal 
which  has  been  drawn  from  below  ground  is  blazing  on  the 
.surface.  The  district  is  crowded  with  iron  furnaces,  pudd- 
ling furnaces,  and  coal-pit  engine  furnaces.  By  day  and 
by  night  the  country  is  glowing  with  fire,  and  the  smoke  of 
the  ironworks  hovers  over  it.  There  is  a  rumbling  and 
clanking  of  iron  forges  and  rolling  mills.  Workmen  covered 
with  smut,  and  with  fierce  white  eyes,  are  seen  moving 
about  amongst  the  glowing  iron  and  the  dull  thud  of 
forge-hammers. 

Amidst  these  flaming,  smoky,  clanging  works,  I  beheld 


/x,  THE  IRONWORKERS.  159 

the  remains  of  what  had  once  been  happy  farmhouses,  now 
ruined  and  deserted.  The  ground  underneath  them  had 
sunk  by  the  working  out  of  the  coal,  and  they  were  falling 
to  pieces.  They  had  in  former  times  been  surrounded  by 
clumps  of  trees ;  but  only  the  skeletons  of  them  remained, 
dead,  black,  and  leafless.  The  grass  had  been  parched 
and  killed  by  the  vapours  of  sulphurous  acid  thrown  out 
by  the  chimneys ;  and  every  herbaceous  object  was  of  a 
ghastly  gray — the  emblem  of  vegetable  death  in  its  saddest 
aspect.  Vulcan  had  driven  out  Ceres.  In  some  places  I 
heard  a  sort  of  chirruping  sound,  as  of  some  forlorn  bird 
haunting  the  ruins  of  the  old  farmsteads.  But  no  !  the 
chirrup  was  a  vile  delusion.  It  proceeded  from  the  shrill 
creaking  of  the  coal-winding  chains,  which  were  placed  in 
small  tunnels  beneath  the  hedgeless  road. 

I  went  into  some  of  the  forges  to  see  the  workmen  at 
their  labours.  There  was  no  need  of  introduction ;  the 
works  were  open  to  all,  for  they  were  unsurrounded  by 
walls.  I  saw  tlie  white-hot  iron  run  out  from  the  furnace ; 
I  saw  it  spun,  as  it  were,  into  bars  and  iron  ribbands,  with 
an  ease  and  rapidity  which  seemed  marvellous.  There  were 
also  the  ponderous  hammers  and  clanking  rolling-mills.  I 
wandered  from  one  to  another  without  restraint.  I  lingered 
among  the  blast  furnaces,  seeing  the  flood  of  molten  iron 
run  out  from  time  to  time,  and  remained  there  until  it  was 
late.  When  it  became  dark  the  scene  was  still  more  im- 
pressive. The  workmen  within  seemed  to  be  running  about 
amidst  the  flames  as  in  a  pandemonium ;  while  around  and 
outside  the  horizon  was  a  glowing  belt  of  fire,  making  even 
the  stars  look  pale  and  feeble.  At  last  I  came  away  with 
reluctance,  and  made  my  way  towards  Dudley.  I  reached 
the  town  at  a  late  hour.  I  was  exhausted  in  mind  and 
body,  yet  the  day  had  been  most  interesting  and  exciting. 
A  sound  sleep  refreshed  me,  and  I  was  up  in  the  morning 
early,  to  recommence  my  journey  of  inquiry. 

I  made  my  way  to  the  impressive  ruins  of  Dudley  Castle, 
the  remnant  of  a  very  ancient  stronghold,  originally  built 
by  Dud,  the  Saxon.  The  castle  is  situated  on  a  finely 


160  DUDLEY  CASTLE.  CHAP. 

wooded  hill ;  it  is  so  extensive  that  it  more  resembles  the 
ruins  of  a  town  than  of  a  single  building.  You  enter  through 
a  treble  gateway,  and  see  the  remnants  of  the  moat,  the 
court,  and  the  keep.  Here  are  the  central  hall,  the  guard- 
rooms, and  the  chapel.  It  must  have  been  a  magnificent 
structure.  In  the  Midlands  it  was  known  as  the  "  Castle 
of  the  Woods."  Now  it  is  abandoned  by  its  owners,  and 
surrounded  by  the  Black  Country.  It  is  undermined  by 
collieries,  and  even  penetrated  by  a  canal.  The  castle  walls 
sometimes  tremble  when  a  blast  occurs  in  the  bowels  of  the 
mountain  beneath.  The  town  of  Dudley  lies  quite  close  to 
the  castle,  and  was  doubtless  protected  by  it  in  ancient 
times. 

The  architectural  remains  are  of  various  degrees  of 
antiquity,  and  are  well  worthy  of  study,  as  embodying  the 
successive  periods  which  they  represent.  Their  melancholy 
grandeur  is  rendered  all  the  more  impressive  by  the  coal  and 
iron  works  with  which  they  are  surrounded — the  olden  type 
of  buildings  confronting  the  modern.  The  venerable  trees 
struggle  for  existence  under  the  destroying  influence  of 
sulphurous  acid ;  while  the  grass  is  withered  and  the  vegeta- 
tion everywhere  blighted.  I  sat  down  on  an  elevated  part 
of  the  ruins,  and  looked  down  upon  the  extensive  district, 
with  its  roaring  and  blazing  furnaces,  the  smoke  of  which 
blackened  the  country  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach ;  and 
as  I  watched  the  decaying  trees  I  thought  of  the  price  we 
had  to  pay  for  our  vaunted  supremacy  in  the  manufacture 
of  iron.  We  may  fill  our  purses,  but  we  pay  a  heavy  price 
for  it  in  the  loss  of  picturesqueness  and  beauty. 

I  left  the  castle  with  reluctance,  and  proceeded  to  inspect 
the  limestone  quarries  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  limestone 
has  long  been  worked  out  from  underneath  the  castle ;  but 
not  far  from  it  is  Wren's  Nest  Hill,  a  mountain  of  limestone. 
The  wrens  have  left,  but  the  quarries  are  there.  The 
walk  to  the  hill  is  along  green  lanes  and  over  quiet  fields. 
I  entered  one  of  the  quarries  opened  out  in  the  sloping 
precipice,  and  penetrated  as  far  as  the  glimmer  of  sunlight 
enabled  me  to  see  my  way.  But  the  sound  of  the  dripping 


ix.  BIRMINGHAM.  161 

of  water  from  the  roof  of  the  cave  warned  me  that  I  was 
approaching  some  deep  pool,  into  which  a  false  step  might 
plunge  me.  I  therefore  kept  within  the  light  of  day.  An 
occasional  ray  of  the  sun  lit  up  the  enormous  rock  pillars 
which  the  quarrymen  had  left  to  support  the  roof.  It  was 
a  most  impressive  sight. 

Having  emerged  from  the  subterranean  cave,  I  proceeded 
on  my  way  to  Birmingham.  I  reached  the  town  in  the 
evening,  and  found  most  comfortable  quarters.  On  the 
following  day  I  visited  some  of  the  factories  where  processes 
were  carried  on  in  connection  with  the  Birmingham  trade. 
I  saw  the  mills  where  sheet  brass  and  copper  were  rolled  for 
the  purpose  of  being  plated  with  silver.  There  was  nothing 
in  these  processes  of  novel  interest,  though  I  picked  up  many 
practical  hints.  I  could  not  fail  to  be  attracted  by  the  dex- 
terous and  rapid  manipulation  of  the  work  in  hand,  even  by 
boys  and  girls  whose  quick  sight  and  nimble  fingers  were 
educated  to  a  high  degree  of  perfection.  I  could  have  spent 
a  month  profitably  among  the  vast  variety  of  small  traders 
in  metal,  of  which  Birmingham  is  the  headquarters.  Even 
in  what  is  called  "  the  toy  trade,"  I  found  a  vast  amount  of 
skill  displayed  in  the  production  of  goldsmith  work,  in  ear- 
rings, brooches,  gold  chains,  rings,  beads,  and  glass  eyes  for 
stuffed  birds,  dolls,  and  men. 

I  was  especially  attracted  by  Soho,  once  the  famous 
manufacturing  establishment  of  Boulton  and  Watt.  Al- 
though this  was  not  the  birthplace  of  the  condensing 
steam-engine,1  it  was  the  place  where  it  attained  its  full 
manhood  of  efficiency,  and  became  the  source  and  origin  of 

1  The  birthplace  of  the  condensing  engine  of  Watt  was  the  workshop 
in  the  Glasgow  University,  where  he  first  contrived  and  used  a  separate 
condenser — the  true  and  vital  element  in  Watt's  invention.  The  con- 
denser afterwards  attained  its  true  effective  manhood!  at  Soho  The 
Newcomen  engine  was  in  fact  a  condensing  engine,  but  as  the  con- 
densation was  effected  inside  the  steam  cylinder  it  was  a  very  costly 
source  of  power  in  respect  to  steam.  Watt's  happy  idea  of  condensing 
in  a  separate  vessel  removed  the  defect.  This  was  first  done  in  his 
experimental  engine  in  the  Glasgow  University  workshop,  and  before 
he  had  made  the  one  at  Kinniel  for  Dr.  Roebuck. 

M 


162  BOULTON  AND  WATT.  CHAP. 

English  manufacturing  power.  Watt's  engine  has  had  a 
greater  influence  on  the  productive  arts  of  mankind  than  any 
other  that  can  be  named.  Boulton  'also  was  a  thorough 
man  of  business,  without  whom,  perhaps,  Watt  could  never 
have  made  his  way  against  the  world,  or  perfected  his 
magnificent  invention.  Not  less  interesting  to  my  mind  was 
the  memory  of  that  incomparable  mechanic,  William  Mur- 
doch, a  man  of  indomitable  energy,  and  Watt's  right-hand 
man  in  the  highest  practical  sense.  Murdoch  was  the 
inventor  of  the  first  model  locomotive,  and  the  inventor  of 
gas  for  lighting  purposes ;  and  yet  he  always  kept  himself 
in  the  background,  for  he  was  excessively  modest.  He  was 
happiest  when  he  could  best  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
great  house  of  Boulton  and  Watt.  Indeed  he  was  a  man 
whose  memory  ought  to  be  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all 
true  engineers  and  mechanics. 

The  sight  which  I  obtained  of  the  vast  series  of  work- 
shops of  this  celebrated  establishment — filled  with  evidences 
of  the  mechanical  genius  of  these  master  minds — made  me 
feel  that  I  was  indeed  on  classic  ground  in  regard  to  every- 
thing connected  with  steam-engine  machinery.  Some  of  the 
engines  designed  by  Watt — the  prototypes  of  the  powerful 
condensing  engines  of  the  present  day — were  still  performing 
their  daily  quota  of  work.  There  was  "Old  Bess,"  a  sort  of 
experimental  engine,  upon  which  Watt  had  tried  many 
adaptations  and  alterations,  for  the  purpose  of  suiting  it  for 
pumping  water  from  coal  mines.  There  was  also  the  engine 
with  the  sun-and-planet  motion,  an  invention  of  William 
Murdoch's.  Both  of  these  engines  were  still  at  work. 

I  went  through  the  workshops,  where  I  was  specially 
interested  by  seeing  the  action  of  the  machine  tools.  There 
I  observed  Murdoch's  admirable  system  of  transmitting 
power  from  one  central  engine  to  other  small  vacuum  engines 
attached  to  the  individual  machines  they  were  set  to  work. 
The  power  was  communicated  by  pipes  led  from  the  central 
air  or  exhaust  pump  to  small  vacuum  or  atmospheric  engines 
devoted  to  the  driving  of  each  separate  machine,  thus  doing 
away  with  all  shafting  and  leather  belts,  the  required 


rx.  WILLIAM  MURDOCH  AND  JOHN  DRAIN.  163 

being  kept  up  or  modified  at  pleasure  without  in  any  way 
interfering  with  the  other  machines.  This  vacuum  method 
of  transmitting  power  dates  from  the  time  of  Papin ;  but 
until  it  received  the  masterly  touch  of  Murdoch  it  remained 
a  dead  contrivance  for  more  than  a  century. 

I  concluded  my  visits  to  the  workshops  of  Birmingham 
by  calling  upon  a  little  known  but  very  ingenious  man, 
whose  work  I  had  seen  before  I  left  Edinburgh,  in  a  beauti- 
fully constructed  foot  turning-lathe  made  by  John  Drain.  I 
was  so  much  impressed  with  the  exquisite  design,  execution, 
and  completeness  of  the  lathe,  that  I  made  it  one  of  my 
chief  objects  to  find  out  John  Drain's  workshop.  It  was 
with  some  difficulty  that  I  found  him.  He  was  little 
known  in  Birmingham.  His  workshops  were  very  small ; 
they  consisted  of  only  one  or  two  rooms.  His  exquisite 
lathes  were  not  much  in  demand.  They  found  their  way 
chiefly  to  distant  parts  of  the  country,  where  they  were 
highly  esteemed. 

I  found  that  he  had  some  exquisitely -finished  lathes 
completed  and  in  hand  for  engraving  the  steel  plates  for 
printing  bank  notes.  They  were  provided  with  the  means 
of  producing  such  intricate  ornamental  patterns  as  to  defy 
the  utmost  skill  of  the  forger.  Perkins  had  done  a  good 
deal  in  the  same  way ;  but  Drain's  exquisite  mechanism 
enabled  his  engraving  lathes  to  surpass  anything  that  had 
before  been  attempted  in  the  same  line.  I  believe  that 
Drain's  earnest  attention  to  his  work,  in  which  he  had  little 
or  no  assistance,  undermined  his  health,  and  arrested  the 
career  of  one  who,  had  he  lived,  would  have  attained  the 
highest  position  in  his  profession.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
rare  treat  which  his  fine  mechanism  afforded  me.  Its 
prominent  quality  was  absolute  truth  and  accuracy  in 
every  part. 

Having  now  had  enough  of  the  Black  Country  and  of 
Birmingham  workshops,  I  proceeded  towards  London.  There 
were  no  more  manufacturing  districts  to  be  visited.  Every- 
thing now  was  to  be  green  lanes,  majestic  trees,  old  man- 
sions, venerable  castles,  and  picturesque  scenery.  There  is 


164  KENILWORTH.  CHAP. 

no  way  of  seeing  a  country  properly  except  on  foot.  By 
railway  you  whiz  past  and  see  nothing.  Even  by  coach 
the  best  parts  of  the  scenery  are  unseen.  "  Shank's  naig  " 
is  the  best  of  all  methods,  provided  you  have  time.  I  had 
still  some  days  to  spare  before  the  conclusion  of  my  holiday. 
I  therefore  desired  to  see  some  of  the  beautiful  scenery  and 
objects  of  antiquarian  interest  before  returning  to  work. 

I  made  my  way  across  country  to  Kenilworth.  The 
weather  was  fine,  and  the  walk  was  perfect.  The  wayside 
was  bordered  by  grassy  sward.  Wide  and  irregular  margins 
extended  on  each  side  of  the  road,  and  noble  trees  and 
untrimmed  hedges,  in  their  glowing  autumnal  tint,  extended 
far  and  wide.  Everything  was  in  the  most  gloriously 
neglected  and  therefore  highly  picturesque  condition.  Here 
and  there  old  farmhouses  and  labourers'  cottages  peeped  up 
from  amidst  the  trees  and  hedges — worthy  of  the  landscape 
painter's  highest  skill. 

I  reached  Kenilworth  about  half  an  hour  before  sunset. 
I  made  ray  way  direct  to  the  castle,  glorious  in  its  decay. 
The  fine  mellow  glow  of  the  setting  sun  lit  up  the  grand 
and  extensive  ruins.  The  massive  Norman  keep  stood  up 
with  melancholy  dignity,  and  attracted  my  attention  more 
than  any  other  part  of  the  ruined  building.  To  me  there 
is  an  impressiveness  in  the  simple  massive  dignity  of  the 
Norman  castles  and  cathedrals,  which  no  other  buildings 
possess.  There  is  an  expression  of  terrible  earnestness 
about  them.  The  last  look  I  had  of  the  Norman  keep  was 
grand.  The  elevated  part  was  richly  tinted  with  the  last 
glow  of  the  setting  sun,  while  the  outline  of  the  buildings 
beneath  was  shaded  by  a  dark  purply  gray.  It  was  indeed 
a  sight  never  to  be  forgotten.  I  waited  until  the  sun  had 
descended  beneath  the  horizon,  still  leaving  its  glimmer  of 
pink  and  crimson  and  gray,  and  then  I  betook  me  to  the 
little  inn  in  the  village,  where  I  obtained  comfortable 
quarters  for  the  night.  I  visited  the  ruins  again  in  the 
morning.  Although  the  glory  of  the  previous  evening 
had  departed,  I  was  much  interested  in  observing  the 
various  styles  of  architecture  adopted  in  diilereiit  parts  of 


ix.  WARWICK.  165 

the  buildings — some  old,  some  comparatively  new.  I  found 
the  older  more  grand  and  massive,  and  the  newer,  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  wanting  in  dignity  of  design,  and  the 
workmanship  very  inferior.  The  reign  of  Shoddy  had 
already  begun  before  Cromwell  laid  the  castle  in  ruins. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  I  proceeded  to  Warwick.  1 
passed  along  the  same  delightful  grass-bordered  roads,  shaded 
by  noble  trees.  I  reached  the  grand  old  town,  with  its  antique 
buildings  and  its  noble  castle — so  famous  in  English  history. 
Leaving  the  place  with  reluctance,  I  left  it  late  in  the  after- 
noon to  trudge  on  to  Oxford.  But  soon  after  I  started  the 
rain  began  to  fall.  It  was  the  first  interruption  to  my 
walking  journey  which  I  had  encountered  during  my  three 
weeks'  absence  from  London.  As  it  appeared  from  the 
dark  clouds  overhead  that  a  wet  night  had  set  in,  I  took 
shelter  in  a  wayside  inn  at  a  place  called  Steeple  Aston. 
My  clothes  were  dripping  wet ;  and  after  a  glass  of  very 
hot  rum  and  water  I  went  to  bed,  and  had  a  sound  sleep. 
Next  morning  it  was  fair  and  bright.  After  a  substantial 
homely  breakfast  I  set  out  again.  Nature  was  refreshed 
by  the  steady  rain  of  the  previous  night,  and  the  day  was 
beautiful.  I  reached  Deddington  and  stayed  there  for  the 
night,  and  early  next  morning  I  set  out  for  Oxford. 

I  was  greatly  excited  by  the  first  sight  I  had  of  the 
crowd  of  towers  and  spires  of  that  learned  and  illustrious 
city.  Nor  were  my  expectations  at  all  disappointed  by  a 
nearer  approach  to  the  colleges  of  Oxford.  After  a  most 
interesting  visit  to  the  best  of  the  buildings,  I  took  in  a 
fair  idea  of  the  admirable  details  of  this  noble  city,  and 
left  in  the  afternoon  of  next  day.  I  visited,  on  my  way  to 
Thame,  the  old  church  of  Iffley.  I  was  attracted  to  it  by 
the  fine  old  Norman  work  it  contains,  which  I  found  most 
quaint  and  picturesque. 

I  slept  at  Thame  for  the  night,  and  next  day  walked  to 
Windsor.  I  arrived  there  at  sunset,  and  had  a  fine  view  of 
the  exterior  of  the  castle  and  the  surrounding  buildings. 
I  was,  however,  much  disappointed  on  examining  the 
architectural  details.  In  sight  of  the  noble  trees  about  the 


166  WINDSOR  AND  HOME.  CHAP.  ix. 

castle,  and  the  magnificent  prospect  from  the  terrace,  I  saw 
much  that  tended  to  make  up  for  the  disgust  I  felt  at  the 
way  in  which  all  that  was  so  appropriate  and  characteristic 
in  so  historic  a  place  as  Windsor  Castle  should  have  been 
tampered  with  and  rubbed  out  by  the  wretched  conceit  of 
the  worst  architects  of  our  worst  architectural  period. 

I  left  Windsor  next  morning,  and  walked  direct  for 
London.  My  time  was  up,  but  not  my  money.  I  had 
taken  eight  sovereigns  on  setting  out  from  London  to 
Liverpool  by  coach,  and  I  brought  one  sovereign  back 
with  me.  Kather  than  break  into  it  I  walked  all  the  way 
from  Windsor  to  London  without  halting  for  refreshment. 
My  entire  expenditure  during  my  three  weeks'  journey  was 
thus  seven  pounds. 

When  I  look  back  upon  that  tour,  I  feel  that  I  was 
amply  rewarded.  It  was  throughout  delightful  and  in- 
structive. The  remembrance  of  it  is  as  clear  in  my  mind 
now  as  if  I  had  performed  the  journey  last  year  instead 
of  fifty  years  ago.  There  are  thousands  of  details  that 
pass  before  my  mind's  eye  that  would  take  a  volume  to 
enumerate.  I  brought  back  a  book  full  of  sketches ;  for 
graphic  memoranda  arc  much  better  fitted  than  written 
Avords  to  bring  up  a  host  of  pleasant  recollections  and 
associations.  I  came  back  refreshed  for  work,  and  pos- 
sessed by  an  anxious  desire  to  press  forward  in  the  career 
of  industry  which  I  had  set  before  me  to  accomplish. 


CHAPTER   X. 

BEGIN   BUSINESS   AT   MANCHESTER. 

MR.  MAUDSLAY  arrived  from  Berlin  two  days  after  my 
return  to  London.  He,  too,  had  enjoyed  his  holiday. 
During  his  stay  in  Berlin  he  had  made  the  friendship  of 
the  distinguished  Humboldt.  Shenkel,  the  architect,  had 
been  very  kind  to  him,  and  presented  him  with  a  set  of 
drawings  and  engravings  of  his  great  architectural  works, 
which  Mr.  Maudslay  exhibited  to  me  with  much  delight. 
What  he  most  admired  in  Shenkel  was  the  great  range  of 
his  talent  in  all  matters  of  design,  his  minute  attention  to 
detail,  and  his  fine  artistic  feeling. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Maudslay's  return,  a  very  interesting  job 
was  brought  to  him,  in  which  he  took  even  more  than  his 
usual  interest.  It  was  a  machine  which  his  friend  Mr. 
Barton,  of  the  Eoyal  Mint,  had  obtained  from  France.  It 
was  intended  to  cut  or  engrave  the  steel  dies  used  for 
stamping  coin.  It  was  a  remarkable  and  interesting 
specimen  of  inventive  ingenuity.  It  copied  any  object 
in  relief  which  had  been  cast  in  plaster  of  Paris  or  brass 
from  the  artist's  original  wax  model.  The  minutest  detail 
was  transferred  to  soft  steel  dies  with  absolute  accuracy. 
This  remarkable  machine  could  copy  and  cut  steel  dies 
either  in  intaglio  or  in  cameo  of  any  size,  and,  in  short, 
enabled  the  mechanic  who  managed  it  to  transfer  the  most 
minute  and  characteristic  touches  of  the  original  model  to  the 
steel  dies  for  any  variety  of  size  of  coin.  Nevertheless,  the 
execution  of  some  of  the  details  of  the  machine  were  so 
defective,  that  after  giving  the  most  tempting  proof  of  its 


168  LARGE  MARINE  ENGINES.  CHAP. 

capabilities  at  the  Royal  Mint,  Mr.  Barton  found  it 
absolutely  necessary  to  place  it  in  Maudslay's  hands,  in 
order  to  have  its  details  thoroughly  overhauled,  and  made 
as  mechanically  perfect  as  its  design  and  intention  merited. 

This  interesting  machine  was  accordingly  brought  to  the 
private  workshop,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  leading 
mechanic,  whom  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  associated 
with,  James  Sherriff,  one  of  our  most  skilled  workmen. 
We  were  both  put  to  our  mettle.  It  was  a  job  quite  to 
my  taste,  and  being  associated  with  so  skilled  a  workman 
as  Sherriff,  and  in  constant  communication  with  Mr.  Maud- 
slay,  I  had  every  opportunity  of  bringing  my  best  manipu- 
lative ability  into  action  and  use  while  perfecting  this 
beautiful  machine.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  by  our 
united  efforts,  by  the  technical  details  suggested 'by  Mr. 
Maudslay  and  carried  out  by  us,  and  by  the  practical  trials 
made  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Wyon  of  the  Mint, 
the  apparatus  was  at  length  made  perfect,  and  performed 
its  duty  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  one  concerned. 

Mr.  Maudslay  had  next  a  pair  of  200  horse-power 
marine  engines  put  in  hand.  His  sons  and  partners  were 
rather  opposed  to  so  expensive  a  piece  of  work  being 
undertaken  without  an  order.  At  that  time  such  a 
power  as  200  horse  nominal  was  scarcely  thought  of;  and 
the  Admiralty  Board  were  very  cautious  in  ordering 
marine  engines  of  any  sort.  Nevertheless,  the  engines 
were  proceeded  with  and  perfected.  They  formed  a  noble 
object  in  the  great  erecting  shop.  They  embodied  in 
every  detail  all  Mr.  Maudslay's  latest  improvements.  In 
fact  the  work  was  the  sum  total  of  the  great  master's 
inventions  and  adaptations  in  marine  engines.  The  Ad- 
miralty at  last  secured  them,  for  the  purpose  of  being 
placed  in  a  very  fine  vessel,  the  Dee,  then  in  course  of 
construction.  Mr.  Maudslay  was  so  much  pleased  with 
the  result  that  ho  had  a  very  beautiful  model  made  of  the 
engines;  and  finding  that  I  had  some  artistic  skill  as  a 
draughtsman,  he  set  me  to  work  to  make  a  complete  per- 
spective drawing  of  their  great  engines  as  they  stood  all 


x.  PROPOSED  TELESCOPE.  169 

perfect  in  the  erecting-shop.  This  was  a  work  entirely 
to  my  taste.  In  due  time  I  completed  a  graphic  portrait 
of  these  noble  engines,  treated,  I  hope,  in  an  artistic  spirit. 
Indeed,  such  a  class  of  drawing  was  rarely  to  be  had  from 
any  engineering  draughtsman.  Mere  geometrical  drawing 
could  not  give  a  proper  idea,  as  a  whole,  of  so  grand  a 
piece  of  mechanism.  It  required  something  of  the  artistic 
spirit  to  fairly  represent  it.  At  all  events  my  performance 
won  the  entire  approval  of  my  master. 

Mr.  Maud  slay  was  a  man  of  a  wide  range  of  mechanical 
abilities.  He  was  always  ready  to  enter  upon  any  new 
work  requiring  the  exercise  of  special  skill.  It  did  not 
matter  whether  it  was  machine  tools,  engraving  dies,  block 
machinery,  or  astronomical  instruments.  While  at  Berlin 
he  went  to  see  the  Royal  Observatory.  He  was  naturally 
much  interested  by  the  fine  instruments  there — the  works 
of  liepsoldt  and  Mertz,  the  pioneers  of  improved  astronom- 
ical workmanship.  The  continental  instrument  makers 
were  then  far  in  advance  of  those  of  England.  Mr. 
Maudslay  was  greatly  impressed  with  the  sight  of  the  fine 
instruments  in  the  Berlin  Observatory.  He  was  permitted 
to  observe  some  of  the  most  striking  and  remarkable  of 
the  heavenly  bodies — Jupiter,  Saturn,  and  the  Moon.  It 
was  almost  a  new  revelation  to  him ;  for  the  subject  was 
entirely  novel.  To  be  able  to  make  such  instruments 
seemed  to  him  to  be  a  glorious  achievement  of  refined 
mechanism  and  manipulative  skill.  He  returned  home 
full  of  the  wonderful  sights  he  had  seen.  It  was  a 
constant  source  of  pleasure  to  him  to  dwell  upon  the 
splendour  and  magnificence  of  the  heavenly  bodies. 

He  became  anxious  to  possess  a  powerful  telescope  of  his 
own.  His  principal  difficulty  was  in  procuring  a  lens  of 
considerable  diameter,  possessed  of  high  perfection  of  de- 
fining power.  I  suggested  to  him  the  employment  of  a 
reflecting  telescope,  by  means  of  which  the  difficulties 
connected  with  the  employment  of  glass  could  be  avoided. 
This  suggestion  was  based  upon  some  knowledge  I  had 
acquired  respecting  this  department  of  refined  mechanical 


170  THE  SPECULUM  PREPARED.  CHAP. 

art.  I  knew  that  the  elder  Herschel  had  by  this  means 
vastly  advanced  our  knowledge  of  the  heavenly  bodies, 
indeed  to  an  extent  far  beyond  what  had  been  achieved 
by  the  most  perfect  of  glass  lens  instruments.  Mr.  Maud- 
slay  was  interested  in  the  idea  I  suggested ;  and  ho 
requested  mo  to  show  him  what  I  knew  of  the  art  of 
compounding  the  alloy  called  speculum  metal.  He  wished 
to  know  how  so  brittle  a  material  could  be  cast  and 
ground  and  polished,  and  kept  free  from  flaws  or  defects 
of  every  kind. 

I  accordingly  cast  for  him  a  speculum  of  8  inches  dia- 
meter. I  ground  and  polished  it,  and  had  it  fitted  up  in 
a  temporary  manner  to  exhibit  its  optical  capabilities, 
which  were  really  of  no  mean  order.  But,  as  his  ambition 
was  to  have  a  grand  and  powerful  instrument  of  not  less 
than  24  inches  diameter,  the  preparation  for  such  a  specu- 
lum became  a  subject  to  him  of  the  highest  interest.  He 
began  to  look  out  for  a  proper  position  for  his  projected 
observatory.  He  made  inquiry  about  a  residence  at 
Norwood,  where  ho  thought  his  instrument  might  have 
fair  play.  It  would  there  be  free  from  the  smoke  and  dis- 
turbing elements  of  such  a  place  as  Lambeth.  His  mind 
was  full  of  this  idea  when  he  was  called  away  by  the 
claims  of  affection  to  visit  a  dear  old  friend  at  Boulogne. 
He  remained  there  for  more  than  a  week,  until  assured  of 
his  friend's  convalescence.  But  on  his  return  voyage 
across  the  Channel  he  caught  a  severe  cold.  On  reaching 
London  he  took  to  his  bed  and  never  left  it  alive.  After 
three  or  four  weeks'  suffering  he  died  on  the  14th  of 
February  1831. 

It  was  a  very  sad  thing  for  me  to  lose  my  dear  old 
master.  He  was  so  good  and  so  kind  to  me  in  all  ways. 
He  treated  me  like  a  friend  and  companion.  He  was 
always  generous,  manly,  and  upright  in  his  dealings  with 
everybody.  How  his  workmen  loved  him  ;  how  his  friends 
lamented  him !  He  directed,  before  his  death,  that  he 
should  be  buried  in  Woolwich  Churchyard,  where  a  cast- 
iron  tomb,  made  to  his  own  design,  was  erected  over  his 


x.  DEATH  OF  MAUDSLAY.  171 

remains.  He  had  ever  a  warm  heart  for  Woolwich,  where 
he  had  heen  born  and  brought  up.  He  began  his  life  as 
a  mechanic  there,  and  worked  his  way  steadily  upwards 
until  he  reached  the  highest  point  of  his  profession.  He 
often  returned  to  Woolwich  after  he  had  left  it;  some- 
times to  pay  a  share  of  his  week's  wages  to  his  mother, 
while  she  lived ;  sometimes  to  revisit  the  scenery  of  his 
youth.  He  liked  the  green  common,  with  the  soldiers 
about  it ;  Shooter's  Hill,  with  its  wide  look-out  over  Kent 
and  down  the  valley  of  the  Thames ;  the  river  busy  with 
shipping ;  the  Dockyard  wharf,  with  the  royal  craft  loading 
and  unloading  their  armaments.  He  liked  the  clangour  of 
the  arsenal  smithy,  where  he  had  first  learned  his  art; 
and  all  the  busy  industry  of  the  place.  It  was  natural, 
therefore,  that  being  so  proud  of  his  early  connection  with 
Woolwich  he  should  wish  his  remains  to  be  laid  there ; 
and  Woolwich,  on  its  part,  has  equal  reason  to  be  proud 
of  Henry  Maudslay. 

After  the  death  of  my  master  I  passed  over  to  the 
service  of  his  worthy  partner,  Joshua  Field.  I  had  an 
equal  pleasure  in  working  under  him.  His  kindness  in 
some  degree  mitigated  the  'sad  loss  I  had  sustained  by  the 
death  of  my  lamented  friend  and  employer.  The  first 
work  I  had  to  perform  for  Mr.  Field  was  to  assist  him  in 
making  the  working  drawings  of  a  200  horse-power  con- 
densing steam-engine,  ordered  by  the  Lambeth  Waterworks 
Company.  The  practical  acquaintance  which  I  had  by 
this  time  acquired  of  the  mechanism  of  steam-engines 
enabled  me  to  serve  Mr.  Field  in  a  satisfactory  manner. 
I  drew  out  in  full  practical  detail  the  rough  but  excellent 
hand  sketches  with  which  he  supplied  me.  They  were 
handed  out  for  execution  in  the  various  parts  of  the 
factory ;  and  I  communicated  with  the  foremen  as  to  the 
details  and  workmanship. 

While  I  was  occupied  beside  Mr.  Field  in  making  these 
working  drawings,  he  gave  me  many  most  valuable  hints  as 
to  the  designing  of  machinery  in  general.  In  after  years  I 
had  many  opportunities  of  making  good  use  of  them.  One 


172  "GET-AT-ABILITY"  OF  PARTS.  CHAP, 

point  he  often  impressed  upon  me.  It  was,  he  said,  most 
important  to  bear  in  mind  the  gd-at-alility  of  parts — that 
is,  when  any  part  of  a  machine  was  out  of  repair,  it  was 
requisite  to  get  at  it  easily  without  taking  the  machine  to 
pieces.  This  may  appear  a  very  simple  remark,  but  the 
neglect  of  such  an  arrangement  occasions  a  vast  amount  of 
trouble,  delay,  and  expense.  None  but  those  who  have  had  to 
do  with  the  repair  of  worn-out  or  damaged  parts  of  machinery 
can  adequately  valuo  the  importance  of  this  subject. 

I  found  Mr.  Field  to  be  a  most  systematic  man  in  all 
business  affairs.  I  may  specially  name  one  of  his  arrange- 
ments which  I  was  quick  to  take  up  and  appreciate.  I 
carried  it  out  with  great  advantage  in  my  after  life.  It 
was,  to  record  subjects  of  conversation  by  means  of  "graphic" 
memoranda.  Almost  daily,  persons  of  note  came  to  consult 
with  him  about  machinery.  On  these  occasions  the  con- 
sultations took  place  either  with  reference  to  proposed  new 
work,  or  as  to  the  progress  of  orders  then  in  hand.  Occa- 
sionally some  novel  scheme  of  applying  power  was  under 
discussion,  or  some  new  method  of  employing  mechanism. 
On  ordinary  occasions  rough  and  rapid  sketches  are  made 
on  any  stray  pieces  of  waste  paper  that  were  about,  and  after 
the  conversation  is  over  the  papers  are  swept  away  into  the 
waste  basket  and  destroyed.  And  yet  some  of  these  rapid 
drawings  involve  matters  of  great  interest  and  importance 
for  after  consultations. 

To  avoid  such  losses,  Mr.  Field  had  always  placed  upon 
his  table  a  "  talking  book  "  or  "  graphic  diary."  When  his 
visitors  called  and  entered  into  conversation  with  him  about 
mechanical  matters,  he  made  rapid  sketches  on  the  succes- 
sive pages  of  the  book,  and  entered  the  brief  particulars 
and  date  of  the  conversation,  together  with  the  name  and 
address  of  the  visitor.  So  that  a  conversation,  once  begun, 
might  again  be  referred  to,  and,  when  the  visitor  called, 
the  graphic  memoranda  might  be  recalled  without  loss  of 
time,  and  the  consultation  again  proceeded.  The  pages- of  Mr. 
Field's  "  talking  books  "  were  in  many  ways  most  interesting. 
They  confined  data  that,  in  future  years,  supplied  valuable 


TALKING  BOOKS.1  173 


evidence  in  respect  to  first  suggestions  of  mechanical  contriv- 
ances, and  which,  sometimes  were  developed  into  very  im- 
portant results.  I  may  add  that  Mr.  Field  kept  these  "  talk- 
ing books  "  on  a  shelf  in  front  of  his  drawing  table.  The 
back  of  each  volume  was  marked  with  the  year  to  which  the 
entries  referred,  and  an  index  was  appended  to  each.  A 
general  index  book  was  also  placed  at  the  end  of  the  goodly 
range  of  these  graphic  records  of  his  professional  life. 

The  completion  of  the  working  drawings  of  the  Lambeth 
pumping  engines  occupied  me  until  August  1831.  I  had 
then  arrived  at  my  twenty -third  year.  I  had  no  intention 
of  proceeding  further  as  an  assistant  or  a  journeyman.  I 
intended  to  begin  business  for  myself.  Of  course  I  could 
only  begin  in  a  very  small  way.  I  informed  Mr.  Field  of  my 
intention,  and  he  was  gratified  with  my  decision.  Not  only  so; 
but  he  kindly  permitted  me  to  obtain  castings  of  one  of  the 
best  turning-lathes  in  the  workshops.  I  knew  that  when  I 
had  fitted  it  up  it  would  become  the  parent  of  a  vast  progeny 
of  descendants — not  only  in  the  direct  line,  but  in  planing 
machines,  screw-cutting  lathes,  and  many  other  minor  tools. 

At  the  end  of  the  month,  after  taking  a  grateful  farewell 
of  Mr.  Field  and  his  partners,  I  set  sail  for  Leith  with  my 
stock  of  castings,  and  reached  Edinburgh  in  due  time.  In 
order  to  proceed  with  the  construction  of  my  machine  tools, 
I  rented  a  small  piece  of  land  at  Old  Broughton.  It  was 
at  the  rear  of  my  worthy  friend  George  Douglass's  small 
foundry,  and  was  only  about  five  minutes'  walk  from  my 
father's  house.  I  erected  a  temporary  workshop  24  feet 
long  by  16  feet  wide. 

I  removed  thither  my  father's  foot-lathe,  to  which  I  had 
previously  added  an  excellent  slide-rest  of  my  own  making. 
I  also  added  a  "  slow  motion,"  which  enabled  me  to  turn 
cast-iron  and  cast-steel  portions  of  my  great  Maudslay  lathe. 
I  soon  had  the  latter  complete  and  in  action.  Its  first  child 
was  a  planing  machine  capable  of  executing  surfaces  in  the 
most  perfect  style — of  3  feet  long  by  1  foot  8  inches 
wide.  Armed  with  these  two  most  important  and  generally 
useful  tools,  and  by  some  special  additions,  such  as  boring 


174 


SHOP  AT  OLD  BROUGHTON. 


CHAP. 


machines  and  drilling  machines,  I  soon  had  a  progeny  of 
legitimate  descendants  crowded  about  my  little  workshop,  so 
that  I  often  did  not  know  which  way  to  turn. 

I  had  one  labourer  to  drive  the  wheel  which  gave  motion 
to  my  big  lathe  ;  but  I  was  very  much  in  want  of  some  one 
else  to  help  me.  One  day  a  young  hearty  fellow  called 
upon  me.  He  had  come  from  the  Shotts  Iron  Company's 
Works  in  Edinburgh.  Having  heard  of  what  I  was  about, 


MY  TEMPORARY  WORKSHOP  AT  EDINBURGH. 


he  offered  his  services.  When  he  told  me  that  he  had  been 
bred  as  a  millwright,  and  that  he  could  handle  the  plane 
and  tho  s;iw  as  well  as  the  chisel  and  the  file,  I  closed  with 
hi  in  at  once.  He  was  to  have  fifteen  shillings  a  week.  I 
liked  the  young  man  very  much — he  was  so  hearty  and 
cheerful.  His  name  was  Archibald  Torry,  or  "  Archie,"  as 
he  was  generally  called  during  the  twenty  years  that  he 
remained  in  my  service. 

I  obtained  another  assistant  in  the  person  of  a  young 


x.  STEEN'S  ROTARY  ENGINE.  175 

man  whose  father  wished  him  to  get  an  insight  into  prac- 
tical engineering.  I  was  offered  a  premium  of  £50  for 
twelve  months'  experience  in  my  workshop.  I  arranged  to 
take  the  young  man,  and  to  initiate  him  in  the  general 
principles  and  practice  of  engineering.  The  £50  premium 
was  a  very  useful  help  to  me,  especially  as  I  had  engaged  the 
millwright.  It  enabled  me  to  pay  Tony's  wages  during  the 
time  that  he  remained  with  me  in  Edinburgh.  I  found  it 
necessary,  however,  to  take  in  some  work  in  the  regular  way 
of  business,  in  order  to  supply  me  with  the  means  of  com- 
pleting my  proper  supply  of  tools. 

The  chief  of  these  extraneous  and,  I  may  say,  disturbing 
jobs,  was  that  of  constructing  a  rotary  steam-engine.  Mr. 
Kobert  Steen  had  contrived  and  patented  an  engine  of  this 
sort.  He  was  a  dangerously  enthusiastic  man,  and  enter- 
tained the  most  visionary  ideas  as  to  steam  power.  He  was 
of  opinion  that  his  own  contrivance  was  more  compact  and 
simple,  and  possessed  of  more  capability  of  producing  power 
from  the  consumption  of  a  given  quantity  of  fuel,  than  the 
best  steam-engines  then  in  use.  I  warned  him  of  his  error ; 
but  nothing  but  an  actual  proof  would  satisfy  him.  He 
urgently  requested  me  to  execute  his  order.  He  made  mo 
a  liberal  and  tempting  offer  of  weekly  payments  for  my 
work  during  the  progress  of  his  engine.  He  only  required 
that  I  should  give  his  invention  the  benefit  of  my  careful 
workmanship.  He  considered  that  this  would  be  sufficient 
to  substantiate  all  his  enthusiastic  expectations.  I  was  thus 
seduced  to  accept  his  order. 

I  made  the  requisite  drawings,  and  proceeded  with  the 
work.  At  the  same  time  my  own  machine  tools  were  in 
progress,  though  at  a  retarded  pace.  The  weekly  payments 
were  regularly  made,  and  I  was  kept  in  a  sort  of  financial 
ease.  After  three  months  the  rotary  engine  was  finished 
to  the  inventor's  complete  satisfaction.  But  when  the 
power  it  gave  out  was  compared  with  that  of  a  good 
ordinary  steam-engine,  the  verdict  as  to  consumption  of 
fuel  was  against  the  new  rotary  engine.  Nevertheless,  the 
enthusiastic  projector,  "tho'  vanquished  he  would  argue 


176  LIVERPOOL  OR  MANCHESTER?  CHAP. 

still,"  insisted  that  the  merits  of  his  contrivance  would 
sooner  or  later  cause  it  to  be  a  most  formidable  rival  to 
the  crank  steam-engines.  As  he  was  pleased  with  its  per- 
formances, I  had  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied.  I  had  done 
my  part  in  the  matter,  and  Mr.  Steen  had  done  his.  His 
punctual  weekly  payments  had  assisted  me  in  the  com- 
pletion of  my  tools ;  and  after  a  few  months  more  labour 
I  had  everything  ready  for  starting  business  on  my  own 
account. 

My  choice  lay  between  Liverpool  and  Manchester.  I 
had  seen  both  of  these  cities  while  on  my  visit  to  Lanca- 
shire to  witness  the  opening  of  the  Liverpool  and  Man- 
chester Railway.  I  now  proceeded  to  visit  them  again. 
I  was  fortified  with  valuable  introductions  to  leading  men 
in  both  places.  I  was  received  by  them  with  great  kindness 
and  hospitality.  I  have  heard  a  great  deal  about  the 
ingratitude  and  selfishness  of  the  world.  It  may  have 
been  my  good  fortune,  but  I  have  never  experienced  either 
of  those  unfeeling  conditions.  On  the  whole  I  have  found 
a  great  deal  of  unselfish  kindness  among  my  fellow-beings. 
They  have  often  turned  out  of  their  way  to  do  me  a  service ; 
and  I  can  never  be  too  grateful  for  the  unwearied  kindness, 
civility,  and  generosity  of  the  friends  I  met  with  during 
my  stay  in  Lancashire. 

It  was  a  question  which  would  be  the  best  place  to 
settle  in — Liverpool  or  Manchester.  I  had  seen  striking 
evidences  of  the  natural  aptitude  of  Lancashire  workmen 
for  every  sort  of  mechanical  employment,  and  had  observed 
their  unsparing  energy  while  at  work.  I  compared  them 
with  the  workmen  whom  I  had  seen  in  London,  and  found 
them  superior.  They  were  men  of  greater  energy  of 
character ;  their  minds  were  more  capacious ;  their  in- 
genuity was  more  inventive.  I  felt  assured  that  in 
either  Liverpool  or  Manchester — the  centres  of  com- 
mercial and  manipulative  energy — I  could  settle  down 
with  my  litnitr.l  capital  and  tools,  and  in  course  of 
time  contrive  to  get  on,  helped  by  energy,  self-reliance, 
and  determination.  I  also  found  that  the  demand  for 


x.  JOHN  CRAGG,  LIVERPOOL.  177 

machine-making  tools  was  considerable,  and  that  their 
production  would  soon  become  an  important  department 
of  business.  It  might  be  carried  on  with  little  expenditure 
of  capital,  as  the  risks  were  small  and  the  returns  were 
quick.  I  resolved  to  cultivate  that  moderate  and  safe  class 
of  mechanical  business,  at  all  events  at  the  outset. 

I  first  went  to  Liverpool.  I  presented  my  letter  of 
introduction  to  Mr.  Koscoe,  head  of  the  Mersey  Steel  and 
Iron  Company.  He  received  me  with  great  kindness,  and 
gave  me  much  good  advice.  I  called  upon  Edward  Berry, 
engineer,  and  also  upon  William  Fawcett,  who  had  received 
me  with  so  much  kindness  on  my  former  visit.  I  cannot 
omit  mentioning  also  the  friendly  reception  which  I  received 
from  Dr.  Sillar.  He  had  been  a  medical  student  at  Edin- 
burgh, and  had  during  that  time  met  with  some  kindness 
from  my  father.  He  expressed  his  remembrance  of  it  with 
grateful  effusion ;  and  added  his  personal  introduction,  with 
that  of  my  letters,  to  some  of  the  leading  men  in  Liverpool. 
I  may  mention  that  Dr.  Sillar  was  the  son  of  Burns's 
"  Brother  Poet "  Davie,  to  whom  the  well-known  "  Epistle  " 
was  addressed. 

Among  the  other  well-known  men  to  whom  I  was 
introduced  at  Liverpool  was  John  Cragg,  an  intelligent 
and  enterprising  ironfounder.  He  was  an  extensive  manu- 
facturer of  the  large  sugar-boiling  pans  used  in  the  West 
Indies.  He  had  also  given  his  attention  to  the  introduction 
of  iron  into  buildings  of  different  sorts.  Being  a  man  of 
artistic  taste  he  had  even  introduced  cast-iron  into  Gothic 
architecture.  In  order  to  exhibit,  in  an  impressive  form, 
the  uses  of  his  favourite  metal,  he  erected  at  his  own  cost 
a  very  elegant  church  in  the  northern  part  of  Liverpool. 
Cast-iron  was  introduced,  not  only  in  the  material  parts  of 
the  structure,  but  into  the  Gothic  columns  and  Gothic 
tracery  of  the  windows,  as  well  as  into  the  lofty  and  elegant 
spire.  Iron  was  also  employed  in  the  external  ornamental 
details,  where  delicate  yet  effective  decoration  was  desirable. 
The  famous  architect,  Edward  Blore,  was  the  designer  of 
the  church;  and  the  whole  details  of  the  building — of 


178  SECOND  VISIT  TO  MANCHESTER.  CHAP. 

which  cast-iron  formed  the  principal  material — were  exe- 
cuted to  his  entire  satisfaction.1 

My  introduction  to  Mr.  Cragg  led  to  an  acquaintance, 
and  then  to  a  friendship.  When  the  ice  was  broken — 
which  was  very  soon — he  told  me  that  he  was  desirous  of 
retiring  from  the  more  active  part  of  his  business.  Whether 
he  liked  my  looks  or  not  I  do  not  know ;  but,  quite  unex- 
pectedly, he  made  me  a  very  tempting  offer  to  enter  his 
works  as  his  successor.  He  had  already  amassed  a  fortune, 
and  I  might  do  the  same.  I  could  only  thank  him  most 
sincerely  for  his  kindness.  But,  on  carefully  thinking  the 
matter  over,  I  declined  the  proposal.  My  principal  reason 
was,  that  the  special  nature  of  his  foundry  work  did  not 
quite  harmonise  with  my  desire  to  follow  the  more  strictly 
mechanical  part  of  the  iron  business.  Besides,  I  thought  I 
had  a  brighter  prospect  of  success  before  me ;  though  I 
knew  that  I  had  many  difficulties  to  contend  against.  Did 
I  throw  away  my  chances  in  declining  the  liberal  proposal 
of  Mr.  Cragg  1  The  reader  will  be  able  to  judge  from  the 
following  pages.  But  to  the  last  I  continued  a  most  friendly 
intercourse  with  my  intended  patron,  while  he  on  his  part 
took  an  almost  paternal  interest  in  my  progress.2 

After  my  visit  to  Liverpool  I  passed  on  to  Manchester. 
I  was  fortunate  in  having  introductions  to  some  of  the 
leading  men  there, — to  John  Kennedy,  William  Fairbairn, 
the  Grant  Brothers,  and  lastly,  to  that  most  admirable 
man,  Benjamin  Hick,  engineer,  Bolton.  To  narrate  in 
detail  all  the  instances  of  warm  and  hospitable  kindnesses 
which  I  received  from  men  in  Lancashire,  even  from  the 
outset  of  my  career  there,  would  fill  a  volume. 

I  first  went  to  see  my  friend  Edward  Tootal,  who  had 
given  me  so  kind  a  reception  in  1830.  I  was  again  cor- 
dially received ;  he  now  promised  to  befriend  me,  which 

1  So  far  ns  I  can  recollect,  the  name  of  the  church  was  St.  James's. 
It  exhibited  a  very  early  introduction  of  iron  as  an  important  element 
in  architectural  construction.     Iron  was  afterwards  largely  introduced 
into  mills,  mill  gearing,  and  buildings  generally. 

2  Mr.  Cragg  died  in  1853,  aged  84. 


x.  KENNEDY  AND  GRANT  BROTHERS.  179 

he  did  most  effectually.  I  next  visited  John  Chippendale, 
of  the  firm  of  Thomson,  Chippendale,  and  Company,  calico 
printers.  I  had  met  him  at  a  friend's  house  in  London, 
where  he  had  offered,  if  I  ever  visited  Manchester,  to 
introduce  me  to  some  of  the  best  men  there.  I  accordingly 
called  upon  him  at  his  counting-house.  It  happened  to  be 
Tuesday,  the  market  day,  when  all  the  heads  of  manufac- 
turing establishments  in  and  round  Manchester  met  together 
at  the  Exchange  between  1 2  and  1 ;  and  thus  all  were 
brought  to  a  focus  in  a  very  convenient  manner. 

Mr.  Chippendale  first  introduced  me  to  Mr.  John  Ken- 
nedy, one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  Manchester.  I 
had  a  special  letter  of  introduction  to  him  from  Buchanan 
of  Catrine,  and  his  partner  Smith  of  Deanstone.  I  explained 
to  him  the  object  of  my  visit  to  Manchester,  and  he  cordially 
entered  into  my  views.  He  left  his  occupation  at  the  time, 
and  went  with  me  to  see  a  place  which  he  thought  might 
be  suitable  for  my  workshop.  The  building  was  near  at 
hand — in  Dale  Street,  Piccadilly.  It  had  been  used  as  a 
cotton  mill,  but  was  abandoned  by  the  owner  in  favour  of 
more  suitable  and  extensive  premises.  It  was  now  let  out 
in  flats  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Power  was  supplied 
to  each  flat  from  a  shaft  connected  with  a  large  mill  up  the 
street,  the  owner  of  which  had  power  to  spare.  The  flat 
shown  to  me  was  130  feet  long  by  27  feet  wide,  and  the 
rent  was  only  £50  a  year.  I  thought  the  premises  very 
suitable,  but  I  took  a  night  to  sleep  over  it.  I  thanked  Mr. 
Kennedy  very  much  for  his  kindness,  and  for  the  trouble 
which  he  had  taken  on  behalf  of  an  unknown  stranger. 

On  this  memorable  day  I  had  another  introduction, 
through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Chippendale,  which  proved  of 
great  service  to  me.  It  was  to  the  Messrs.  Grant,  the  famous 
"  Brothers  Cheeryble  "  of  Dickens.  I  was  taken  to  their 
counting-house  in  Cannon  Street,  where  I  was  introduced 
to  Daniel  Grant.  Although  business  was  at  its  full  height, 
he  gave  me  a  cordial  reception.  But,  to  save  time,  he 
invited  me  to  come  after  the  Exchange  was  over  and  take 
"  tiffin  "  with  him  at  his  hospitable  mansion  in  Mosely  Street. 


180  WILLIAM  GRANT.  CHAP. 

There,  he  said,  I  should  meet  some  of  the  most  enterprising 
men  in  Lancashire.  I  was  most  happy,  of  course,  to  avail 
myself  of  his  invitation.  I  went  thither  accordingly,  and 
the  first  tiling  that  Daniel  did  was  to  present  me  in  the 
most  cordial  manner  to  "  his  noble  brother  William,"  as  he 
always  affectionately  called  him.  William  was  the  head  of 
the  firm,  and  he,  too,  gave  me  a  warm  and  hearty  welcome. 
He  asked  me  to  sit  beside  him  at  the  head  of  the  table. 

During  dinner — for  indeed  it  was  such,  being  the  survival 
of  the  old-fashioned  one  o'clock  dinner  of  a  departing  age — 
William  entered  into  conversation  with  me.  He  took  oc- 
casion to  inquire  into  the  object  of  my  visit  to  Manchester. 
I  told  him,  as  briefly  as  I  could,  that  I  intended  to  begin 
the  business  of  a  mechanical  engineer  on  a  very  moderate 
scale,  and  that  I  had  been  looking  out  for  premises  wherein 
to  commence  operations.  He  seemed  interested,  and  asked 
more  questions.  I  related  to  him  my  little  history,  and  told 
him  of  my  desires,  hopes,  and  aspirations.  "  What  was  my 
age  ?"  "  Twenty-six."  "  That  is  a  very  young  age  at  which 
to  begin  business  on  your  own  account."  "  Yes ;  but  I  have 
plenty  of  work  in  me,  and  I  am  very  economical."  Then 
he  pressed  his  questions  home.  "  But  what  is  your  capital  ?" 
I  told  him  that  my  capital  in  cash  was  £63.  "  What !"  he 
said,  "  that  will  do  very  little  for  you  when  Saturday  nights 
come  round."  "  That's  true,"  I  answered ;  "  but  as  there 
will  be  only  myself  and  Archy  Torry  to  provide  for,  I  think 
I  can  manage  to  get  along  very  well  until  profitable  work 
comes  in." 

He  whispered  to  me,  "Keep  your  heart  up!"  With 
such  views,  he  said,  I  was  sure  to  do  well.  And  if,  he 
added,  on  any  Saturday  night  I  wanted  money  to  pay  wages 
or  other  expenses,  I  would  find  a  credit  for  £500  at  3  per 
cent  at  his  office  in  Cannon  Street,  "  and  no  security"  These 
were  his  very  words.  What  could  have  been  more  generous  1 
I  could  only  whisper  my  earnest  thanks  for  his  warm- 
hearted kindness.  He  gave  me  a  kindly  squeeze  of  the  hand 
in  return,  which  set  me  in  a  glow  of  gladness.  He  also  gave 
mo  a  sort  of  wink  that  I  shall  never  forget — a  most  know- 


MY  FIRST  FACTORY. 


181 


ing  wink.  In  looking  at  me  he  seemed  to  turn  his  eye 
round  and  brought  his  eyebrows  down  upon  it  in  a  sudden 
and  extraordinary  manner.  I  thought  it  was  a  mere  con- 
firmation of  his  kind  advice  to  "keep  my  heart  up!"  It 
was  not  until  two  years  after  that  I  found,  from  a  mutual 
friend,  that  the  eye  in  question  was  made  of  glass  !  Some- 
times the  glass  eye  got  slightly  out  of  its  place,  and  Mr. 
Grant  had  to  force  it  in  again  by  this  odd  contortion  of  his 


MY  FACTORY  FLAT  AT  MANCHESTER. 

eyebrows,  which  I  had  translated  into  all  manner  of  kind 
intentions. 

As  soon  as  the  party  broke  up  I  went  to  Wren  and 
Bennett,  the  agents  for  the  flat  of  the  old  mill  which  I  had 
seen  in  Dale  Street.  I  inspected  it  again,  and  found  that 
it  was  in  all  respects  suitable  for  my  purpose.  I  may 
mention  in  passing  that  the  flat  below  mine  was  in  the 
occupation  of  a  glass-cutter,  whose  glass-cutting  lathes  and 
grindstones  were  supplied  with  power  from  the  same  upright 
shaft  that  was  to  serve  me  in  the  same  manner  on  the  flat 
above.  Encouraged  by  the  support  of  William  Grant,  I 


182  ARCHY  TORRY.  CHAP. 

immediately  entered  into  a  contract  for  the  premises  as  a 
yearly  tenant.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  happily 
arranged  for  my  entering  into  business  as  a  mechanical 
engineer  and  machine  tool  maker.  The  situation  of  the 
premises  was  excellent,  being  in  the  heart  of  Manchester. 
There  was  a  powerful  crab  crane,  or  hoisting  apparatus,  in 
the  upper  story,  and  the  main  chains  came  down  in  front  of 
the  wide  door  of  my  workshop,  so  that  heavy  castings  or 
cases  of  machinery  might  be  lifted  up  or  let  down  with  the 
utmost  ease  and  convenience.  At  the  same  time  I  was  re- 
lieved from  looking  after  the  moving  power  and  its  natural 
accompaniment  of  trouble  and  expense  in  the  way  of  fuel 
and  attendance. 

When  I  had  settled  the  contract  for  taking  the  place,  I 
wrote  down  to  Edinburgh  by  that  night's  post  to  tell  my 
father  of  the  happy  results  of  my  visit  to  Manchester,  and 
also  to  inform  my  right  hand  man,  Archy  Torry,  that  I 
should  soon  be  with  him.  He  was  to  prepare  for  packing 
up  my  lathes,  planing  machines,  drilling  machines,  and  other 
smaller  tools,  not  forgetting  my  father's  foot  lathe,  of  which 
I  had  made  such  effective  use.1  I  soon  followed  up  my 
letter.  I  was  in  Edinburgh  in  a  few  days'  time,  and  had 
all  my  tools  packed  up.  In  the  course  of  about  ten  days  I 
returned  to  Manchester,  and  was  followed  by  Archy  Torry 
and  the  ponderous  cases  of  machinery  and  engineer's  tools. 
They  were  all  duly  delivered,  hoisted  to  my  flat,  and  put  in 
their  proper  places.  I  was  then  ready  for  work. 

The  very  first  order  I  received  was  from  my  friend 
Edward  Tootal.  It  was  a  new  metallic  piston  for  the  small 
steam-engine  that  gave  motion  to  his  silk-winding  machinery. 
It  was  necessary  that  it  should  be  done  over  night,  in  order 
that  his  factory  should  be  at  work  as  usual  in  the  morning. 


1  I  have  still  this  foot-lathe  in  full  and  perfect  and  almost  daily 
action.  I  continue  to  work  with  it  now,  after  sixty-three  years  of 
sil  most  constant  use.  It  is  ;i  Lit  lie  that  I  duly  pri/e  and  venerate,  not 
only  because  it  was  my  father's,  but  also  because  it  was,  in  practical 
fact,  tin-  progenitor,  more  or  less  directly,  of  all  the  mechanical 
productions  of  my  long  and  active  life. 


x.  PLANING  MACHINE  AT  WORK.  183 

My  faithful  Archy  and  I  set  to  work  accordingly.  We 
removed  the  old  defective  piston,  and  replaced  it  by  a  new 
and  improved  one,  made  according  to  my  own  ideas  of  how 
so  important  a  part  of  a  steam-engine  should  be  constructed. 
We  conveyed  it  to  Mr.  Tootal's  factory  over  night,  and  by 
five  o'clock  in  the  morning  gave  it  a  preliminary  trial  to  see 
that  everything  was  in  order.  The  "  hands  "came  in  at  six, 
and  the  machine  was  set  to  work.  It  was  no  doubt  a  very 
small  order,  but  the  piston  was  executed  perfectly  and  satis- 
factorily. The  result  of  its  easier  action,  through  reduced 
friction,  was  soon  observable  in  the  smaller  consumption  of 
coal.  Mr.  Tootal  and  his  brother  were  highly  pleased  at 
my  prompt  and  careful  attention  to  their  little  order,  and  it 
was  the  forerunner  of  better  things  to  come. 

Orders  soon  came  in.  My  planing  machine  was  soon 
fully  occupied.  When  not  engaged  in  executing  other  work 
it  was  employed  in  planing  the  flat  cast-iron  inking  tables 
for  printing  machines.  These  were  made  in  considerable 
numbers  by  Messrs.  Wren  and  Bennett  (my  landlords)  under 
the  personal  superintendence  of  Ebenezer  Cowper,  brother  of 
the  inventor,  who,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Applegath,  was 
the  first  to  produce  a  really  effective  newspaper  printing 
machine.  I  had  many  small  subsidiary  jobs  sent  to  me  to 
execute.  They  not  only  served  to  keep  my  machine  tools 
properly  employed,  but  tended  in  the  most  effective  way  to 
make  my  work  known  to  some  of  the  best  firms  in  Man- 
chester, who  in  course  of  time  became  my  employers. 

In  order  to  keep  pace  with  the  influx  of  work  I  had  to 
take  on  fresh  hands.  I  established  a  smithy  down  in  the 
cellar  flat  of  the  old  mill  in  Dale  Street,  so  that  all  forge 
work  in  iron  and  steel  might  be  promptly  and  economically 
produced  on  the  premises.  There  was  a  small  iron  foundry 
belonging  to  a  Mr.  Heath,  about  three  minutes'  walk  from  my 
workshop,  where  I  had  all  my  castings  of  iron  and  brass  done 
with  promptness,  and  of  excellent  quality.  Mr.  Heath  very 
much  wanted  a  more  powerful  steam-engine  to  drive  his 
cupola  blowing  fan.  I  had  made  a  steam-engine  in  Edin- 
burgh and  brought  it  with  me.  There  it  lay  in  my  workshop, 


184  INFLUX  OF  ORDF.RS.  CHAP. 

where  it  remained  unused,  for  I  was  sufficiently  supplied 
with  power  from  the  rotating  shaft.  Mr.  Heath  offered  to 
buy  it.  The  engine  was  accordingly  removed  to  his  iron 
foundry,  and  I  received  my  full  quota  of  value  in  castings. 

Week  by  week  my  orders  grew,  and  the  flat  of  the  old 
mill  soon  assumed  a  very  busy  aspect.  By  occasionally 
adding  to  the  number  of  my  lathes,  drilling  machines,  and 
other  engineers'  tools,  I  attracted  the  attention  of  em- 
ployers. When  seen  in  action  they  not  only  facilitated  and 
economised  the  production  of  my  own  work,  but  became 
my  best  advertisements.  Each  new  tool  that  I  constructed 
had  some  feature  of  novelty  about  it.  I  always  endeavoured 
after  greater  simplicity  and  perfectness  of  workmanship. 
I  was  punctual  in  all  my  engagements.  The  business  proved 
safe  and  profitable.  The  returns  were  quick.  Sometimes 
one-third  of  the  money  was  paid  in  advance  on  receipt  of 
the  order,  and  the  balance  was  paid  on  delivery  at  my  own 
premises.  All  risk  of  bad  debts  was  avoided.  Thus  I  was 
enabled  to  carry  on  my  business  with  a  very  moderate 
amount  of  capital. 

My  crowded  workshop  and  the  active  scene  it  presented, 
together  with  the  satisfaction  my  work  gave  to  my  employers, 
induced  several  persons  to  offer  to  enter  into  partnership 
with  me.  Sometimes  it  was  on  their  own  account,  or  for 
a  son  or  relation  for  whom  they  desired  an  opening.  But  I 
fought  shy  of  such  proposals.  It  was  a  very  riskful  affair 
to  admit  as  partners  young  men  whose  character  for  ability 
might  be  very  doubtful.  I  was  therefore  satisfied  to  go  on 
as  before.  Besides,  I  had  the  kind  and  disinterested  offer 
of  the  Brothers  Grant,  which  was  always  available,  though, 
indeed,  I  did  not  need  to  make  use  of  it.  I  had  also  the 
good  fortune  to  be  honoured  by  the  friendship  of  Edward 
Lloyd,  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Jones,  Lloyd,  and  Co.  I  had 
some  moderate  financial  transactions  with  the  bank.  Mr. 
Lloyd  had,  no  doubt,  heard  something  of  my  industry  and 
economy.  I  never  asked  him  for  any  accommodation ;  but 
on  one  occasion  he  invited  me  into  his  parlour,  not  to  sweat 
me,  but  to  give  me  some  most  kindly  hints  and  advice  as 


x.  HISTORY  OF  THE  GRANTS.  185 

to  the  conduct  of  my  financial  affairs.  He  volunteered  an 
offer  which  I  could  not  but  feel  proud  of.  He  said  that  1 
should  have  a  credit  of  £1000  at  my  service,  at  the  usual 
bank  rate.  He  added,  "  As  soon  as  you  can,  lay  by  a  little 
capital  of  your  own,  and  baste  it  with  its  own  gravy  ! "  A 
receipt  which  I  have  carefully  followed  through  life,  and  I 
am  thankful  to  say  with  satisfactory  results. 

Before  I  conclude  this  chapter,  let  me  add  something 
more  about  my  kind  friends  the  Brothers  Grant.  It  is  well 
that  their  history  should  be  remembered,  as  the  men  who 
personally"  knew  them  will  soon  be  all  dead.  The  three 
brothers,  William,  Daniel,  and  John  Grant,  were  the  sons  of 
a  herdsman  or  cattle-dealer,  whose  occupation  consisted  in 
driving  cattle  from  the  far  north  of  Scotland  to  the  rich 
pastures  of  Cheshire  and  Lancashire.  The  father  was 
generally  accompanied  by  his  three  sons,  who  marched  bare- 
foot, as  was  the  custom  of  the  north  country  lads  in  those 
days.  Being  shrewd  fellows,  they  observed  with  interest  the 
thriving  looks  and  well-fed  condition  of  the  Lancashire  folks. 
They  were  attracted  by  the  print  works  and  cotton  mills 
which  lay  by  the  Irwell,  as  it  crept  along  in  its  bright 
and  rural  valley  towards  Manchester.  When  passing  the 
works  of  Sir  Robert  Peel  at  Nuttal,  near  Bury,  they  admired 
the  beauty  of  the  situation.  The  thought  possessed  them 
that  they  would  like  to  obtain  some  employment  in  the 
neighbourhood.  They  went  together  in  search  of  a  situa- 
tion. It  is  said  that  when  they  reached  the  crown  of  the 
hill  near  Walmsley,  from  which  a  beautiful  prospect  is  to 
be  seen,  they  were  in  doubt  as  to  the  line  of  road  which 
they  should  pursue.  To  decide  their  course,  a  stick  was  put 
up,  and  they  agreed  to  follow  the  direction  in  which  it  should 
fall.  The  stick  fell  in  the  direction  of  Ramsbottom,  then  a 
little  village  in  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  on  the  river  Irwell. 
There  they  went,  and  found  employment. 

They  were  thrifty,  economical,  and  hard-working ;  and 
they  soon  saved  money.  Their  savings  became  capital,  and 
they  invested  it  in  a  little  print  work.  Their  capital  grew, 
and  they  went  on  investing  it  in  print  works  and  cotton  mills. 


186  PROSPERITY  OF  THE  GRANTS.  CHAP. 

They  became  great  capitalists  and  manufacturers ;  and  by 
their  industry,  ability,  and  integrity,  were  regarded  as  among 
the  best  men  in  Lancashire.  As  a  memorial  of  the  event 
which  enabled  them  to  take  up  their  happy  home  at  Kams- 
bottom,  they  caused  to  be  erected  at  the  top  of  Walmsley 
Hill  a  lofty  tower,  overlooking  the  valley,  as  a  kind  of 
public  thank-offering  for  the  prosperity  and  success  which 
they  had  achieved  in  their  new  home.  Their  well-directed 
diligence  made  the  valley  teem  with  industry,  activity, 
health,  joy,  and  opulence.  They  never  forgot  the  working- 
class  from  which  they  had  sprung,  and  as  their  labours  had 
contributed  to  their  wealth,  they  spared  no  expense  in  pro- 
viding for  the  moral,  intellectual,  and  physical  interests  of 
their  work-people.  Whenever  a  worthy  object  was  to  be 
achieved,  the  Brothers  Grant  were  always  ready  with  their 
hearty  and  substantial  help.  They  contributed  to  found 
schools,  churches,  and  public  buildings,  and  many  a  deserving 
man  did  they  aid  with  their  magnanimous  bounty. 

I  may  also  mention  that  they  never  forgot  their  first  im- 
pression of  the  splendid  position  of  the  first  Sir  Robert  Peel's 
works  at  Nuttal.  In  course  of  time  Sir  Eobert  had,  by  his 
skill  and  enterprise,  acquired  a  large  fortune,  and  desired  to 
retire  from  business.  By  this  time  the  Grant  Brothers  had 
succeeded  so  well  that  they  were  enabled  to  purchase  the 
whole  of  his  works  and  property  in  the  neighbourhood. 
They  proceeded  to  introduce  every  improvement  in  the  way 
of  machinery  and  calico  printing,  and  thus  greatly  added  to 
the  quality  of  their  productions.  Their  name  became  asso- 
ciated with  everything  that  was  admirable.  They  abounded 
in  hospitality  and  generosity.  In  the,  course  of  many  long 
years  of  industry,  enterprise,  and  benevolence,  they  earned 
the  goodwill  of  thousands,  the  gratitude  of  many,  and  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  them.  I  was  only  one  of  many 
who  had  cause  to  remember  them  with  gratefulness.  How 
could  I  acknowledge  their  kindness  ?  There  was  one  way  \ 
it  was  a  very  small  way,  but  I  will  relate  it. 

Soon  after  my  introduction  to  the  Grants,  and  before  I 
had  brought  my  tools  to  Manchester,  William  invited  me  to 


x.  WILLIAM  GRANT'S  ORDER.  187 

join  a  gathering  of  his  friends  at  Eamshottom.  The  church 
built  at  his  cost  had  just  been  finished,  and  it  was  to  be 
opened  with  great  eclat  on  the  following  Sunday.  He 
asked  me  to  be  his  guest,  and  I  accepted  his  invitation  with 
pleasure.  As  it  was  a  very  fine  day  at  the  end  of  May,  I 
walked  out  to  Ramsbottom,  and  enjoyed  the  scenery  of  the 
district.  Here  was  the  scene  of  the  Grant  Brothers'  industry 
and  prosperity.  I  met  many  enterprising  and  intelligent 
men,  to  whom  William  Grant  introduced  me.  I  was  greatly 
pleased  with  the  ceremonies  connected  with  the  opening  of 
the  church. 

On  the  Monday  morning  William  Grant,  having  seen 
some  specimens  of  my  father's  artistic  skill  as  a  landscape 
painter,  requested  me  to  convey  to  him  his  desire  that  he 
should  paint  two  pictures — one  of  Castle  Grant,  the  resi- 
dence of  the  chief  of  the  Clan  Grant,  and  the  other  of  Elgin 
Cathedral.  These  places  were  intimately  associated  with 
his  early  recollections.  The  brothers  had  been  born  in  the 
village  adjoining  Castle  Grant ;  and  Elgin  Cathedral  was 
one  of  the  principal  old  buildings  of  the  north.  My  father 
replied,  saying  that  he  would  be  delighted  to  execute  the 
pictures  for  a  gentleman  who  had  given  me  so  kindly  a  recep- 
tion, but  that  he  had  no  authentic  data — no  drawings,  no 
engravings — from  which  to  paint  them ;  and  that  he  was 
now  too  old  to  visit  the  places.  I  therefore  resolved  to  do 
what  I  could  to  help  him  to  paint  the  pictures. 

As  it  was  necessary  that  I  should  go  to  London  before 
returning  to  Edinburgh  to  pack  up  my  machine  tools  there, 
I  went  thither,  and  after  doing  my  business,  I  embarked  for 
Dundee  by  the  usual  steamer.  I  made  my  way  from  there, 
via  Perth  and  Dunkeld,  to  Inverness,  and  from  thence  I 
proceeded  to  Elgin.  I  made  most  careful  drawings  of  the 
remains  of  that  noble  cathedral.  I  endeavoured  to  include 
all  that  was  most  beautiful  in  the  building  and  its  surround- 
ing scenery.  I  then  went  on  to  Castle  Grant,  through  a 
picturesque  and  romantic  country.  I  found  the  castle 
amidst  its  deep  forests  of  pine,  larch,  elm,  and  chestnut. 
The  building  consists  of  a  high  quadrangular  pile  of  many 


188 


THE  THUNDERSTORM  ! 


CHAP. 


stories,  projecting  backwards  at  each  end,  and  pierced  with 
windows  of  all  shapes  and  sizes.  I  did  my  test  to  carry 
away  a  graphic  sketch  of  the  old  castle  and  its  surround- 
ings:  and  then,  with  my  stock  of  drawings,  I  prepared  to 
return  to  Inverness  on  foot. 

The  scenery  was  grand  and  beautiful.     The  weather  was 
fine,  although  after  mid-day  it  became  very  hot.    A  thundcr- 


AN   EXTEMPORISED   BHOWKB-BATB. 


storm  was  evidently  approaching.  The  sun  was  obscured  by 
a  thunder-cloud ;  the  sky  flashed  with  lightning,  and  tho 
rain  began  to  pour  down.  I  was  then  high  up  on  a  wild- 
looking  moor,  covered  with  heather  and  vast  boulders. 
There  was  no  shelter  to  be  had,  for  not  a  house  was  in 
sight.  I  did  not  so  much  mind  for  my  clothes,  but  I 
feared  very  much  for  my  sketches.  Taking  advantage  of 
the  solitude,  I  stripped  myself,  put  my  sketches  under  my 


x.  THE  ORDER  EXECUTED.  189 

clothes,  and  thrust  them  into  a  hollow  underneath  a  huge 
boulder.  I  sat  myself  down  on  the  top  of  it,  and  there 
I  had  a  magnificent  shower-bath  of  warm  rain.  I  never 
enjoyed  a  bath  under  such  romantic  circumstances.  The 
thunder-clouds  soon  passed  over  my  head,  and  the  sun 
broke  out  again  cheerily.  When  the  rain  had  ceased  I 
took  out  my  clothes  and  drawings  from  the  hollow,  and 
found  them  perfectly  dry.  I  set  out  again  on  my  long 
walk  to  Inverness  ;  and  reached  it  just  in  time  to  catch  the 
Caledonian  Canal  steamer.  AVhile  passing  clown  Loch  Ness 
I  visited  the  romantic  Fall  of  Foyers ;  then  through  Loch 
Lochy,  past  Ben  Nevis  to  Loch  Linnhe,  Oban,  and  the  Kyles 
of  Bute,  to  Glasgow,  and  from  thence  to  Edinburgh. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  placing  in  my  father's  hands  the 
sketches  I  had  made.  He  was  greatly  delighted  with  them. 
They  enabled  him  to  set  to  work  with  his  usual  zeal,  and 
in  the  course  of  a  short  time  he  was  able  to  execute,  con 
amore,  the  commission  of  the  Brothers  Grant.  So  soon  as 
I  had  completed  my  sketches  I  wrote  to  Daniel  Grant  and 
informed  him  of  the  result  of  my  journey.  He  afterwards 
expressed  himself  most  warmly  as  to  my  prompt  zeal  in 
obtaining  for  him  authentic  pictures  of  places  so  dear  to 
the  brothers,  and  so  much  associated  with  their  earliest  and 
most  cherished  recollections. 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  Brothers  Cowper.  They 
were  among  my  most  attached  friends  at  Manchester. 
Many  of  my  most  pleasant  associations  are  connected  with 
them.  Edward  Cowper  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
mechanics  in  bringing  the  printing  machine  to  a  state  of 
practical  utility.  He  was  afterwards  connected  with  Mr. 
Applegath  of  London,  the  mechanical  engineer  of  the  Times 
newspaper.1  He  invented  for  the  proprietors  a  machine 
that  threw  off  from  4500  to  5000  impressions  in  the  hour. 

1  Mr.  Koenig's  machines,  first  used  at  the  Times  office,  were  patented 
in  1814.  They  were  too  complicated  and  expensive,  and  the  inking 
was  too  imperfect  for  general  adoption.  They  were  superseded  by  Mr. 
Edward  Cowper's  machine,  which  he  invented  and  patented  in  1816. 
He  afterwards  added  the  inking  roller  and  table  to  the  common  press. 


190  PRINTING  MACHINES.  CHAP. 

In  course  of  time  the  Brothers  Cowper  removed  the  manu- 
facture of  their  printing  machines  from  London  to  Man- 
chester. There  they  found  skilled  and  energetic  workmen, 
ready  to  carry  their  plans  into  effect.  They  secured  excel- 
lent premises,  supplied  with  the  hest  modern  machine  tools, 
in  the  buildings  of  Wren  and  Bennett,  about  two  minutes' 
walk  from  my  workshop,  which  I  rented  from  the  same 
landlords. 

I  had  much  friendly  intercourse  with  the  Cowpers, 
especially  with  Ebenezer  the  younger  brother,  who  took 
up  his  residence  at  Manchester  for  the  purpose  of  speci- 
ally superintending  the  manufacture  of  printing  machines. 
These  were  soon  in  large  demand,  not  only  for  the  printing 
of  books  but  of  newspapers.  One  of  the  first  booksellers 
who  availed  himself  of  the  benefits  of  the  machine  was  Mr. 
Charles  Knight,  who  projected  the  Penny  Magazine,  of  1832, 
and  sold  it  to  the  extent  of  about  180,000  copies  weekly. 
It  was  also  adopted  by  the  Messrs.  Chambers  of  Edinburgh, 
and  the  proprietors  of  the  Magasin  Pittoresque  of  Paris. 
The  Universities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  also  used  Cow- 
per's  machine  in  printing  vast  numbers  of  bibles  and  prayer- 
books,  thereby  reducing  their  price  to  one- third  of  the 
former  cost.  There  was  scarcely  a  newspaper  of  any  im- 
portance in  the  country  that  was  not  printed  with  a  Cowper's 
machine. 

As  I  possessed  some  self-acting  tools  that  were  specially 
suited  to  execute  some  of  the  most  refined  and  important 
parts  of  the  printing  machine,  the  Messrs.  Cowper  trans- 
ferred their  execution  to  me.  This  was  a  great  advantage 
to  both.  They  were  relieved  of  the  technical  workman- 
ship ;  while  I  kept  my  men  and  machine  tools  fully  em- 
ployed at  times  when  they  might  otherwise  have  been 
standing  idle.  Besides,  I  derived  another  advantage  from 
my  connection  with  the  Brothers  Cowper,  by  having  fre- 
quent orders  to  supply  my  small  steam-engines,  which  were 

The  effect  of  Mr.  Cowper's  invention  was  to  improve  the  quality  and 
speed  of  printing,  and  to  render  literature  accessible  to  millions  of 
readers. 


EDWARD  COWPER.  191 


found  to  be  so  suitable  for  giving  motion  to  the  printing 
machines.  At  first  the  machines  were  turned  by  hand, 
and  very  exhausting  work  it  was ;  but  the  small  steam- 
engine  soon  relieved  the  labourer  from  his  heavy  work. 

Edward  frequently  visited  Manchester  to  arrange  with 
his  brother  as  to  the  increasing  manufacture  of  the  printing 
machines,  and  also  to  introduce  such  improvements  in  the 
minor  details  as  the  experience  and  special  requirements 
of  the  printing  trade  suggested.  It  was  on  these  occa- 
sions that  I  had  the  happy  opportunity  of  becoming  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  him ;  and  this  resulted  in  a  firm 
friendship  which  continued  until  the  close  of  his  admir- 
able life.  The  clear  and  masterly  way  in  which,  by  some 
happy  special  faculty,  he  could  catch  up  the  essential 
principles  and  details  of  any  mechanical  combination,  how- 
ever novel  the  subject  might  be,  was  remarkable  ;  and  the 
quaint  and  humorous  manner  in  which  he  treated  all  such 
subjects,  in  no  small  degree  caused  his  shrewd  and  intelli- 
gent remarks  to  take  a  lasting  hold  of  the  memory. 

On  many  occasions  Edward  Cowper  gave  Friday  even- 
ing lectures  on  technical  subjects  at  the  Eoyal  Institution, 
London.  Next  to  Faraday,  no  one  held  the  attention  of 
a  delighted  audience  in  so  charming  a  manner  as  he  did. 
Like  Faraday,  he  possessed  the  power  of  clearly  unveiling 
his  subject,  and  stripping  it  of  all  its  complicated  perplexi- 
ties. His  illustrations  were  simple,  clear,  and  understand- 
able. Technical  words  were  avoided  as  much  as  possible. 
He  threw  the  ordinary  run  of  lecturers  far  into  the  shade. 
Intelligent  boys  and  girls  could  understand  him.  Next  to 
Faraday,  no  one  filled  the  theatre  of  the  Institution  with 
such  eager  and  crowded  audiences  as  he  did.  His  choice 
of  subjects,  as  well  as  his  masterly  treatment,  always 
rendered  his  lectures  instructive  and  attractive.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  kind-hearted  of  men,  and  the  cheerful  way 
in  which  he  laid  aside  his  ordinary  business  to  give  in- 
struction and  pleasure  to  others  endeared  him  to  a  very 
wide  circle  of  devoted  friends. 


CHAPTER   XL 

BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY — PARTNERSHIP. 

MY  business  went  on  prosperously.  I  had  plenty  of 
orders,  and  did  my  best  to  execute  them  satisfactorily. 
Shortly  after  the  opening  of  the  Liverpool  and  Man- 
chester Eailway  there  was  a  largely  increased  demand  for 
machine-making  tools.  The  success  of  that  line  led  to 
the  construction  of  other  lines,  concentrating  in  Man- 
chester ;  and  every  branch  of  manufacture  shared  in  the 
prosperity  of  the  time. 

There  was  a  great  demand  for  skilled,  and  even  for  un- 
skilled labour.  The  demand  was  greater  than  the  supply. 
Employers  were  subjected  to  exorbitant  demands  for  in- 
creased rates  of  wages..  The  workmen  struck,  and  their 
wages  were  raised.  But  the  results  were  not  always 
satisfactory.  Except  in  the  cases  of  the  old  skilled  hands, 
the  work  was  executed  more  carelessly  than  be-fore.  The 
workmen  attended  less  regularly ;  and  sometimes,  when 
they  ought  to  have  been  at  work  on  Monday  mornings, 
they  did  not  appear  until  Wednesday.  Their  higher 
wages  had  been  of  no  use  to  them,  but  the  reverse.  Their 
time  had  been  spent  for  the  most  part  in  two  days'  extra 
drinking. 

The  irregularity  and  carelessness  of  the  workmen  natu- 
rally proved  very  annoying  to  the  employers.  But  it  gave 
an  increased  stimulus  to  the  demand  for  self-acting  machine 
tools  by  which  the  untrustworthy  efforts  of  hand  labour 
might  be  avoided.  The  machines  never  got  drunk ;  their 
luu ids  never  shook  from  excess;  they  were  never  absent 


CHAP.  XL          DEMAND  FOR  MACHINE  TOOLS.  193 

from  work  ;  they  did  not  strike  for  wages ;  they  were  un- 
failing in  their  accuracy  and  regularity,  while  producing  the 
most  delicate  or  ponderous  portions  of  mechanical  structures. 

It  so  happened  that  the  demand  for  machine  tools,  con- 
sequent upon  the  increasing  difficulties  with  the  workmen, 
took  place  at  the  time  that  I  began  business  in  Manchester, 
and  I  had  my  fair  share  of  the  increased  demand.  Most 
of  my  own  machine  tools  were  self  -  acting  —  planing 
machines,  slide  lathes,  drilling,  boring,  slotting  machines, 
and  so  on.  When  set  up  in  my  workshop  they  distin- 
guished themselves  by  their  respective  merits  and  efficiency. 
They  were,  in  fact,  their  own  best  advertisements.  The 
consequence  was  that  orders  for  similar  machines  poured 
in  upon  me,  and  the  floor  of  my  flat  became  completely 
loaded  with  the  work  in  hand. 

The  tenant  below  me,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  a 
glass-cutter.  He  observed,  with  alarm,  the  bits  of  plaster 
from  the  roof  coming  down  among  his  cut  glasses  and 
decanters.  He  thought  that  the  rafters  overhead  were 
giving  way,  and  that  the  whole  of  my  machinery  and 
engines  would  come  tumbling  down  upon  him  some  day 
and  involve  him  in  ruin.  He  probably  exaggerated  the 
danger ;  still  there  was  some  cause  for  fear. 

When  the  massive  castings  on  my  floor  were  moved 
about  from  one  part  to  another,  the  floor  quivered  and 
trembled  under  the  pressure.  The  glass-cutter  complained 
to  the  landlord,  and  the  landlord  expostulated  with  me. 
I  did  all  that  I  could  to  equalise  the  pressure,  and  prevent 
vibration  as  much  as  possible.  But  at  length,  in  spite  of 
all  my  care,  an  accident  occurred  which  compelled  me  to 
take  measures  to  remove  my  machinery  to  other  premises. 
As  this  removal  was  followed  by  consequences  of  much 
importance  to  myself,  I  must  endeavour  to  state  the  circum- 
stances under  which  it  occurred. 

My  kind  friend,  John  Kennedy,  continued  to  take  the 
greatest  interest  in  my  welfare.  He  called  in  upon  me 
occasionally.  He  admired  the  quality  of  my  work,  and  the 
beauty  of  my  self-acting  machinery.  More  than  that,  he 

o 


194  A  PROPITIOUS  ACCIDENT !  CHAP. 

recommended  me  to  his  friends.  It  was  through  his  in- 
fluence that  I  obtained  an  order  for  a  high-pressure  steam- 
engine  of  twenty  horse-power  to  drive  the  machinery 
connected  with  a  distillery  at  Londonderry,  in  Ireland.  I 
was  afraid  at  first  that  I  could  not  undertake  the  job.  The 
size  of  the  engine  was  somewhat  above  the  height  of  my 
flat,  and  it  would  probably  occupy  too  much  space  in  my 
already  overcrowded  workshop.  At  the  same  time  I  was 
most  anxious  not  to  let  such  an  order  pass  me.  I  wished 
to  please  my  friend  Mr.  Kennedy ;  besides,  the  execution 
of  the  engine  might  lead  to  further  business. 

At  length,  after  consideration,  I  undertook  to  execute 
the  order.  Instead  of  constructing  the  engine  perpendic- 
ularly, I  constructed  it  lying  upon  its  side.  There  was  a 
little  extra  difficulty,  but  I  managed  to  complete  it  in  the 
best  style.  It  had  next  to  be  taken  to  pieces  for  the  pur- 
pose of  being  conveyed  to  Londonderry.  It  was  then  that 
the  accident  happened.  My  men  had  the  misfortune  to 
allow  the  end  of  the  engine  beam  to  crash  through  the 
floor !  There  was  a  terrible  scattering  of  lath  and  plaster 
and  dust.  The  glass-cutter  was  in  a  dreadful  state.  He 
rushed  forthwith  to  the  landlord,  and  called  upon  him  to 
come  at  once  and  judge  for  himself/ 

Mr.  Wren  did  come,  and  did  judge  for  himself.  He 
looked  in  at  the  glass  shop,  and  saw  the  damage  that  had 
been  done  amongst  the  tumblers  and  decanters.  There 
was  the  hole  in  the  roof,  through  Which  the  end  of  the 
engine  beam  had  come  and  scattered  the  lath  and  plaster. 
The  landlord  then  came  to  me.  The  whole  flat  was  filled 
with  machinery,  including  the  steam-engine  on  its  side,  now 
being  taken  to  pieces  for  the  purpose  of  shipment  to 
Ireland.  Mr.  Wren,  in  the  kindest  manner,  begged  me  to 
remove  from  the  premises  as  soon  as  I  could,  otherwise  the 
whole  building  might  be  brought  to  the  ground  with  the 
weight  of  my  machinery.  "Besides,"  he  argued,  "you 
must  have  more  convenient  premises  for  your  rapidly 
extending  business."  It  was  quite  true.  I  must  leave  the 
place  and  establish  myself  elsewhere. 


ti.  THE  LAND  AT  PATRICROFt.  195 

The  reader  may  remember  that  while  on  my  journey  on 
foot  from  Liverpool  to  Manchester  in  1830,  I  had  rested 
myself  for  a  little  on  the  parapet  of  the  bridge  overlooking 
the  canal  near  Patricroft,  and  gazed  longingly  upon  a  plot 
of  land  situated  along  the  canal  side.  On  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  on  which  the  engine  beam  crashed  through  the 
glass-cutter's  roof,  I  went  out  again  to  look  at  that  favour- 
ite piece  of  land.  There  it  was,  unoccupied,  just  as  I  had 
seen  it  some  years  before.  I  went  to  it  and  took  note  of 
its  dimensions.  It  consisted  of  about  six  acres.  It  was 
covered  with  turf,  and  as  flat  and  neat  as  a  bowling-green. 
It  was  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  Bridgewater  Canal, 
edged  by  a  neat  stone  margin  1050  feet  long,  on  another 
side  by  the  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway,  while  on  a 
third  side  it  was  bounded  by  a  good  road,  accessible  from 
all  sides.  The  plot  was  splendidly  situated.  I  wondered 
that  it  had  not  been  secured  before.  It  was  evidently 
waiting  for  me ! 

I  did  not  allow  the  grass  to  grow  beneath  my  feet. 
That  very  night  I  ascertained  that  the  proprietor  of  this 
most  beautiful  plot  was  Squire  Trafford,  one  of  the  largest 
landed  proprietors  in  the  district.  Next  morning  I  pro- 
ceeded to  Trafford  Hall  for  the  purpose  of  interviewing  the 
Squire.  He  received  me  most  cordially.  After  I  had 
stated  my  object  in  calling  upon  him,  he  said  he  would  be 
exceedingly  pleased  to  have  me  for  one  of  his  tenants.  He 
gave  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  his  agent,  Mr.  Thomas 
Lee,  of  Princes  Street,  Manchester,  with  whom  I  was  to 
arrange  as  to  the  terms.  I  was  offered  a  lease  of  the  six- 
acre  plot  for  999  years,  at  an  annual  rental  of  Ifd.  per 
square  yard.  This  proposal  was  most  favourable,  as  I 
obtained  the  advantage  of  a  fee-simple  purchase  without 
having  to  sink  capital  in  the  land.  All  that  I  had  to  pro- 
vide for  was  the  annual  rent. 

My  next  step  in  this  important  affair  was  to  submit  the 
proposal  to  the  judgment  of  my  excellent  friend  Edward 
Lloyd,  the  banker.  He  advised  me  to  close  the  matter  as 
soon  as  possible,  for  he  considered  the  terms  most  favour- 


156  A  LEASE  TAKEN. 


able.  He  personally  took  me  to  his  solicitors,  Dennison, 
Humphreys,  and  Cunliffe,  and  introduced  me  to  them.  Mr. 
Humphreys  took  the  matter  in  hand.  We  went  together 
to  Mr.  Lee,  and  within  a  few  days  the  lease  was  signed, 
and  I  was  put  into  possession  of  the  land  upon  which  the 
Bridge  water  Foundry  was  afterwards  erected.1 

I  may  mention  briefly  the  advantages  of  the  site.  The 
Bridgewater  Canal,  which  lay  along  one  side  of  the  foundry, 
communicated  with  every  waterway  and  port  in  England, 
whilst  the  railway  alongside  enabled  a  communication  to 
be  kept  up  by  rail  with  every  part  of  the  country.  The 
Worsley  coal-boats  came  alongside  the  wharf,  and  a  cheap 
and  abundant  supply  of  fuel  was  thus  insured.  The  rail- 
way station  was  near  at  hand,  and  afforded  every  oppor- 
tunity for  travelling  to  and  from  the  works,  while  I  was  at 
the  same  time  placed  within  twenty  minutes  of  Manchester. 

Another  important  point  has  to  be  mentioned.  A  fine 
bed  of  brick-clay  lay  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  which 
supplied  the  material  for  bricks.  Thus  the  entire  works 
may  be  truly  said  to  have  "risen  out  of  the  ground;"  for 
the  whole  of  the  buildings  rested  upon  the  land  from 
which  the  clay  below  was  dug  and  burned  into  bricks. 
Then,  below  the  clay  lay  a  bed  of  New  Red  Sandstone  rock, 
which  yielded  a  solid  foundation  for  any  superstructure, 
however  lofty  or  ponderous. 

As  soon  as  the  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  lease 
of  the  six-acre  plot  had  been  made,  I  proceeded  to  make 
working  drawings  of  a  temporary  timber  workshop ;  as  I 
was  anxious  to  unload  the  floor  of  my  flat  in  Dale  Street, 
and  to  get  as  much  of  my  machinery  as  possible  speedily 
removed  to  Patricroft.  For  the  purpose  of  providing  the 
temporary  accommodation,  I  went  to  Liverpool  and  pur- 
chased a  number  of  logs  of  New  Brunswick  pine.  The  logs 

1  I  called  the  place  the  Bridgewater  Foundry  as  an  appropriate  and 
humble  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  first  great  canal  maker  in  Britain 
— the  noble  Duke  of  Bridgewater.  My  ground  was  on  the  first  mile 
of  the  Bridgewater  Canal  which  the  Duke  had  constructed  under  the 
superintendence  of  BrSndlcy,  so  that  it  might  well  be  considered,  in  an 
Engineering  sense,  "classic  ground." 


xi.  THE  BUILDINGS  PROCEEDED  WITH.  197 

were  cut  up  into  planks,  battens,  and  roof-timbers,  and 
were  delivered  in  a  few  days  at  the  canal  wharf  in  front  of 
my  plot.  The  building  of  the  workshops  rapidly  pro- 
ceeded. By  the  aid  of  some  handy  active  carpenters, 
superintended  by  my  energetic  foreman,  Archy  Torry, 
several  convenient  well-lighted  workshops  were  soon  ready 
for  the  reception  of  my  machinery.  I  had  a  four  horse- 
power engine,  which  I  had  made  at  Edinburgh,  ready  to 
be  placed  in  position,  together  with  the  boiler.  This  was 
the  first  power  I  employed  in  starting  my  new  works. 

I  must  return  for  a  moment  to  the  twenty  horse-power 
engine,  which  had  been  the  proximate  cause  of  my  removal 
from  Dale  Street.  It  was  taken  to  pieces,  packed,  and 
sent  off  to  Londonderry.  When  I  was  informed  that  it 
was  erected  and  ready  for  work  I  proceeded  to  Ireland  to 
see  it  begin  its  operations. 

I  may  briefly  say  that  the  engine  gave  every  satisfaction, 
and  I  believe  that  it  continues  working  to  this  day.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  bringing  back  with  me  an  order  for  a  con- 
densing engine  of  forty  horse-power,  required  by  Mr.  John 
Munn  for  giving  motion  to  his  new  flax  mill,  then  under 
construction.  I  mention  this  order  because  the  engine  was 
the  first  important  piece  of  work  executed  at  the  Bridge- 
water  Foundry. 

This  was  my  first  visit  to  Ireland.  Being  so  near  the 
Giant's  Causeway,  I  took  the  opportunity,  on  my  way 
homewards,  of  visiting  that  object  of  high  geologic  interest, 
together  with  the  magnificent  basaltic  promontory  of  Fair- 
head.  I  spent  a  day  in  clambering  up  the  terrible-looking 
crags.  In  a  stratum  of  red  hematite  clay,  underneath  a 
solid  basaltic  crag  of  some  sixty  feet  or  more  in  thickness, 
I  found  the  charred  branches  of  trees — the  remains  of 
some  forest  that  had,  at  some  inconceivably  remote  period, 
been  destroyed  by  a  vast  out-belching  flow  of  molten  lava 
from  a  deep-seated  volcanic  store  underneath. 

1  returned  to  Patricroft,  and  found  the  wooden  work- 
shops nearly  finished.  The  machine  tools  were,  for  the 
most  part,  fixed  and  ready  for  use.  In  August  1836  the 


198 


BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY. 


CHAP. 


Bridgcwater  foundry  was  in  complete  and  efficient  action. 
The  engine  ordered  at  Londonderry  was  at  once  put  in 
hand,  and  the  concern  was  fairly  started  in  its  long  career 
of  prosperity.  The  wooden  workshops  had  been  erected 
upon  the  grass.  But  the  sward  soon  disappeared.  The 
hum  of  the  driving  belts,  the  whirl  of  the  machinery,  the 
sound  of  the  hammer  upon  the  anvil,  gave  the  place  an 
air  of  busy  activity.  As  work  increased,  workmen  in- 


BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY.      FROM  A  SKETCH  BY  ALEXANDER  NASMYTII. 

creased.  The  workshops  were  enlarged.  Wood  gave 
place  to  brick.  Cottages  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
work-people  sprang  up  in  the  neighbourhood ;  and  what 
had  once  been  quiet  grassy  fields  became  the  centre  of  a 
busy  population. 

It  was  a  source  of  vast  enjoyment  to  me,  while  engaged 
in  the  anxious  business  connected  with  the  establishment 
of  the  foundry,  to  be  surrounded  with  so  many  objects  of 
rural  beauty.  The  site  of  the  works  being  on  the  vvest 
side  of  Manchester,  we  had  the  benefit  of  breathing  pure 
air  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  The  scenery 
round  about  was  very  attractive.  Exercise  was  a  source 


xi.  BEAUTY  OF  THE  NEIGHBOURHOOD.  199 

of  health  to  the  mind  as  well  as  the  body.  As  it  was 
necessary  that  I  should  reside  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
works,  I  had  plenty  of  opportunities  for  enjoying  the  rural 
scenery  of  the  neighbourhood.  I  had  the  good  fortune  to 
become  the  tenant  of  a  small  cottage  in  the  ancient  village 
of  Barton ,  in  Cheshire,  at  the  very  moderate  rental  of  £15 
a  year.  The  cottage  was  situated  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  Irwell,  and  was  only  about  six  minutes'  walk  from 
the  works  at  Patricroft.  It  suited  my  moderate  domestic 
arrangements  admirably. 

The  village  was  surrounded  by  apple  orchards  and 
gardens,  and  situated  in  the  midst  of  tranquil  rural 
scenery.  It  was  a  great  treat  to  me,  after  a  long  and  busy 
day  at  the  foundry,  especially  in  summer  time,  to  take  my 
leisure  walks  through  the  green  lanes,  and  pass  the  many 
picturesque  old  farmhouses  and  cottages  which  at  that 
time  presented  subjects  of  the  most  tempting  kind  for  the 
pencil.  Such  quiet  summer  evening  strolls  afforded  me 
the  opportunity  for  tranquil  thought.  Each  day's  trans- 
actions furnished  abundant  subjects  for  consideration.  It 
was  a  happy  period  in  my  life.  I  was  hopeful  for  the 
future,  as  everything  had  so  far  prospered  with  me. 

When  I  had  got  comfortably  settled  in  my  cosy  little 
cottage,  my  dear  sister  Margaret  came  from  Edinburgh  to 
take  charge  of  my  domestic  arrangements.  By  her  bright 
and  cheerful  disposition  she  made  the  cottage  a  very  happy 
home.  Although  I  had  neither  the  means  nor  the  disposi- 
tion to  see  much  company,  I  frequently  had  visits  from 
some  of  my  kind  friends  in  Manchester.  I  valued  them 
all  the  more  for  my  sister's  sake,  inasmuch  as  she  had 
come  from  a  bright  household  in  Edinburgh,  full  of  cheer- 
fulness, part  of  which  she  transferred  to  my  cottage. 

At  the  same  time,  it  becomes  me  to  say  a  word  or  two 
about  the  great  kindness  which  I  received  from  my  friends 
and  well-wishers  at  Manchester  and  the  neighbourhood. 
Amongst  these  were  the  three  brothers  Grant,  Benjamin 
Hick  of  Bolton,  Edward  Lloyd  the  banker,  John  Kennedy, 
and  William  Fairbairn.  I  had  not  much  leisure  during 


200  LANCASHIRE  FRIENDS.  CHAP. 

the  week  days,  but  occasionally  on  Sunday  afternoons  my 
sister  and  myself  enjoyed  their  cordial  hospitality.  In  this 
way  I  was  brought  into  friendly  intercourse  with  the  most 
intelligent  and  cultivated  persons  in  Lancashire.  The  re- 
membrance of  the  delightful  evenings  I  spent  in  their 
society  will  ever  continue  one  of  the  most  cherished  recol- 
lections of  my  early  days  in  Manchester. 

I  may  mention  that  one  of  the  principal  advantages  of 
the  site  of  my  works  was  its  connection  with  the  Liverpool 
and  Manchester  Railway,  as  well  as  with  the  Bridgewater 
Canal.  There  was  a  stone-edged  roadway  along  the  latter, 
where  the  canal  barges  might  receive  and  deliver  traffic  in 
the  most  convenient  manner.  As  the  wharfage  boundary 
was  the  property  of  the  trustees  of  the  Bridgewater  Canal, 
it  was  necessary  to  agree  with  them  as  to  the  rates  to 
be  charged  for  the  requisite  accommodation.  Their  agent 
deferred  naming  the  rent  until  I  had  finally  settled  with 
Squire  Trafford  as  to  the  lease  of  his  land,  and  then,  after 
he  supposed  he  had  got  me  into  a  cleft  stick,  he  proposed 
so  extravagant  a  rate  that  I  refused  to  use  the  wharf 
upon  his  terms. 

It  happened,  fortunately  for  me,  that  this  agent  had 
involved  himself  in  a  Chancery  suit  with  the  trustees, 
which  eventually  led  to  his  retirement.  The  property  then 
merged  into  the  hands  of  Lord  Francis  Egerton,  heir  to  the 
Bridgewater  Estates.  The  canal  was  placed  under  the 
management  of  that  excellent  gentleman,  James  Loch, 
M.P.  Lord  Francis  Egerton,  on  his  next  visit  to  Worsley 
Hall,  called  upon  me  at  the  foundry.  He  expressed  his 
great  pleasure  at  having  us  as  his  near  neighbours,  and  as 
likely  to  prove  such  excellent  customers  of  the  canal 
trustees.  Because  of  this  latter  circumstance,  he  offered  mo 
the  use  of  the  wharf  free  of  rent.  This  was  quite  in 
accordance  with  his  generous  disposition  in  all  matters. 
But  as  I  desired  the  agreement  to  be  put  in  a  regular 
business-like  form,  I  arranged  with  Mr.  Loch  to  pay  5s.  per 
annum  as  a  formal  acknowledgment,  and  an  agreement  to  this 
effect  was  accordingly  drawn  up  and  signed  by  both  parties. 


xi.  LORD  FRANCIS  EGERTOK  201 

Lord  Francis  Egerton  was  soon  after  created  Earl  of 
Ellesmere.  He  became  one  of  the  most  constant  visitors  at 
the  foundry,  in  which  he  always  took  a  lively  interest. 
He  delighted  to  go  through  the  workshops,  and  enjoy  the 
sight  of  the  active  machinery  and  the  work  in  progress. 
When  he  had  any  specially  intelligent  visitors  at  Worsley 
Hall,  which  was  frequently  the  case,  he  was  sure  to  bring 
them  down  to  the  foundry  in  his  beautiful  private  barge, 
and  lead  them  through  the  various  departments  of  the 
establishment.  One  of  his  favourite  sights  was  the  pouring 
out  of  the  molten  iron  into  the  moulds  for  the  larger  class 
of  castings ;  when  some  twelve  or  sixteen  tons,  by  the  aid 
of  my  screw  safety  ladle,  were  decanted  with  as  much 
neatness  and  exactness  as  the  pouring  out  of  a  glass  of 
wine  from  a  decanter.  When  this  work  was  performed 
towards  dark,  Lord  Ellesmere's  poetic  fancy  and  artistic 
eye  enabled  him  to  enjoy  the  sight  exceedingly.1 

I  must  here  say  a  few  words  as  to  my  Screw  Safety 
Ladle.  I  had  observed  the  great  danger  occasioned  to 
workmen  by  the  method  of  emptying  the  molten  iron  into 
the  casting  moulds.  The  white-hot  fluid  was  run  from  the 
melting  furnace  into  a  large  ladle  with  one  or  two  cross 
handles  and  levers,  worked  by  a  dozen  or  fifteen  men. 
The  ladle  contained  many  tons  of  molten  iron,  and  was 
transferred  by  a  crane  to  the  moulds.  To  do  this  required 
the  greatest  caution  and  steadiness.  If  a  stumble  took 
place,  and  the  ladle  was  in  the  slightest  degree  upset,  there 
was  a  splash  of  hot  metal  on  the  floor,  which,  in  the  recoil, 
flew  against  the  men's  clothes,  set  them  on  fire,  or  occasioned 
frightful  scalds  and  burns. 

1  I^had  the  happiness  to  receive  the  kindest  and  most  hospitable 
attention  from  Lord  Ellesmere  and  his  family.  His  death,  which 
occurred  in  1857,  at  the  early  age  of  fifty-seven,  deprived  me  of  one 
of  my  warmest  friends.  The  Countess  of  Ellesmere  continued  the 
friendship  until  her  death,  which  occurred  several  years  later.  The 
same  kindly  feelings  still  exist  in  the  children  of  the  lamented  pair, 
all  of  whom  evince  the  admirable  qualities  which  so  peculiarly  dis- 
tinguished their  parents,  and  made  them  universally  beloved  by  all 
classes,  rich  and  poor. 


202 


OLD  FOUNDRY  LADLE. 


CHAP, 


To  prevent  these  accidents  I  invented  my  Safety  Foundry 
Ladle.  I  applied  a  screw  wheel,  keyed  to  the  trunnion  of 
the  ladle,  which  was  acted  on  by  an  endless  screw  attached 
to  the  sling  of  the  ladle  ;  and  by  this  means  one  man  could 
move  the  largest  ladle  on  its  axis,  and  pour  out  its  molten 
contents  with  the  most  perfect  ease  and  safety.  Not  only 
was  all  risk  of  accident  thus  removed,  but  the  perfection 


OLD  FOUNDRY  LADLE. 


of  the  casting  was  secured  by  the  steady  continuous  flow 
of  the  white-hot  metal  into  the  mould.  The  nervous 
anxiety  and  confusion  that  usually  attended  the  pouring 
of  the  metal  required  for  the  larger  class  of  castings  was 
thus  entirely  avoided. 

At  the  same  time  I  introduced  another  improvement 
in  connection  with  these  foundry  ladles  which,  although  of 
minor  importance,  has  in  no  small  degree  contributed  to 
the  perfection  of  large  castings.  This  consisted  in  hanging 
"  the  skimmer  "  to  the  edge  of  the  ladle,  so  as  to  keep  back 


XI. 


SAFETY  FOUNDRY  LADLE. 


203 


the  sconce  that  invariably  float  on  the  surface  of  the  melted 
metal.  This  was  formerly  done  by  hand,  and  many  acci- 
dents were  the  consequence.  But  now  the  clear  flow  of 
pure  metal  into  the  moulds  was  secured,  while  the  sconce 
were  mechanically  held  back.  All  that  the  attendant  has 
to  do  is  to  regulate  the  inclination  of  the  Skimmer  so  as 
to  keep  its  lower  edge  sufficiently  under  the  surface  of  the 


SAFETY  FOUNDRY  LADLE. 


outflowing  metal.  The  preceding  illustrations  will  enable 
the  reader  to  understand  these  simple  but  important  tech- 
nical improvements. 

These  inventions  were  made  in  1838.  I  might  have 
patented  them,  but  preferred  to  make  them  over  to  the 
public.  I  sent  drawings  and  descriptions  of  the  Safety 
Foundry  Ladle  to  all  the  principal  founders  both  at  home 
and  abroad ;  and  I  was  soon  after  much  gratified  by  their 
cordial  expression  of  its  practical  value.  The  ladle  is  now 
universally  adopted,  The  Society  of  Arts  of  Scotland,  to 


204  A  PARTNER  INTRODUCED.  CHAP. 

whom  I  sent  drawings  and  descriptions,  did  me  the  honour 
to  present  me  with  their  large  silver  medal  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  invention. 

In  order  to  carry  on  my  business  with  effectiveness  it 
was  necessary  that  I  should  have  some  special  personal 
assistance.  I  could  carry  on  the  whole  "  mechanical " 
department  as  regards  organisation,  designing,  and  construc- 
tion ;  but  there  was  the  "  financial "  business  to  be  attended 
to, — the  counting-house,  the  correspondence,  and  the 
arrangement  of  money  affairs.  I  wanted  some  help  with 
respect  to  these  outer  matters. 

When  I  proceeded  to  take  my  plot  of  land  at  Patricroft 
some  of  my  friends  thought  it  a  very  bold  stroke,  especially 
for  a  young  man  who  had  been  only  about  three  years  in 
business.  Nevertheless,  there  were  others  who  watched 
my  progress  with  special  interest,  and  were  willing  to  join 
in  my  adventure — though  adventure  it  was  not.  They 
were  ready  to  take  a  financial  interest  in  my  affairs.  They 
did  me  the  compliment  of  thinking  me  a  good  investment,  by 
offering  to  place  their  capital  in  my  concern  as  sleeping 
partners. 

But  I  was  already  beyond  the  "  sleeping  partner  "  state 
of  affairs.  Whoever  joined  me  must  work  as  energetically 
as  I  did,  and  must  give  the  faculties  of  his  mind  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  concern.  I  communicated  the  offers  I 
had  received  to  my  highly  judicious  friend  Edward  Lloyd. 
He  was  always  willing  to  advise  me,  though  I  took  care 
never  to  encroach  upon  his  kindness.  He  concurred  with 
my  views,  and  advised  me  to  fight  shy  of  sleeping  partners. 
I  therefore  continued  to  look  out  for  a  working  partner. 
In  the  end  I  was  fortunate.  My  friend,  Mr.  Thomas 
Jeavons,  of  Liverpool,  having  been  informed  of  my  desire, 
made  inquiries,  and  found  the  man  likely  to  suit  me.  He 
furnished  him  with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  me,  which  he 
presented  one  day  at  the  works. 

The  young  man  became  my  worthy  partner,  Holbrook 
Gaskell.  He  had  served  his  time  with  Yates  and  Cox, 
iron  merchants,  of  Liverpool.  Having  obtained  consider- 


XL  HOLBROOK  GASKELL.  205 

able  experience  in  the  commercial  details  of  that  business, 
and  being  possessed  of  a  moderate  amount  of  capital,  he 
was  desirous  of  joining  me,  and  embarking  his  fortune 
with  mine.  He  was  to  take  charge  of  the  counting-house 
department,  and  conduct  such  portion  of  the  correspond- 
ence as  did  not  require  any  special  technical  knowledge  of 
mechanical  engineering.  The  latter  must  necessarily  remain 
in  my  hands,  because  I  found  that  the  "  off-hand  "  sketches 
which  I  introduced  in  my  letters  as  explanatory  of 
mechanical  designs  and  suggestions  were  much  more  in- 
telligible than  any  amount  of  written  words. 

I  was  much  pleased  with  the  frank  and  friendly  manner 
of  Mr.  Gaskell,  and  I  believe  that  the  feeling  between  us 
was  mutual.  With  the  usual  straightforwardness  that 
prevails  in  Lancashire,  the  articles  of  partnership  were  at 
once  drawn  up  and  signed,  and  the  firm  of  Nasmyth  and 
Gaskell  began.  We  continued  working  together  with 
hearty  zeal  for  a  period  of  sixteen  successive  years ;  and  I 
believe  Mr.  Gaskell  had  no  reason  to  regret  his  connection 
with  the  Bridgewater  Foundry. 

The  reason  of  Mr.  Gaskell  leaving  the  concern  was  the 
state  of  his  health.  After  his  long  partnership  with  me,  he 
was  attacked  by  a  serious  illness,  when  his  medical  adviser 
earnestly  recommended  him  to  retire  from  all  business 
affairs.  This  was  the  cause  of  his  reluctant  retirement. 
In  course  of  time  the  alarming  symptoms  departed,  and  he 
recovered  his  former  health.  He  then  embarked  in  an 
extensive  soda  manufactory,  in  conjunction  with  one  of  our 
pupils,  whose  taste  for  chemistry  was  more  attractive  to 
him  than  engine -making.  A  prosperous  business  was 
established,  and  at  the  time  I  write  these  lines  Mr.  Gas- 
kell continues  a  hale  and  healthy  man,  the  possessor  of  a 
large  fortune,  accumulated  by  the  skilful  manner  in  which 
he  has  conducted  his  extensive  affairs. 


CHAPTER  XIL 

FREE  TRADE  IN  ABILITY — THE  STRIKE — DEATH  OF  MY 
FATHER. 

I  HAD  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  abundance  of  skilled  work- 
men in  South  Lancashire  and  Cheshire.  I  was  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Manchester,  which  forms  the  centre  of 
a  population  gifted  with  mechanical  instinct.  From  an 
early  period  the  finest  sort  of  mechanical  work  has  been 
turned  out  in  that  part  of  England.  Much  of  the  talent 
is  inherited.  It  descends  from  father  to  son,  and  develops 
itself  from  generation  to  generation.  I  may  mention  one 
curious  circumstance  connected  with  the  pedigree  of  Man- 
chester: that  much  of  the  mechanical  excellence  of  its 
workmen  descends  from  the  Norman  smiths  and  armourers 
introduced  into  the  neighbourhood  at  the  Norman  Con- 
quest by  Hugo  de  Lupus,  the  chief  armourer  of  William 
the  Conqueror,  after  the  battle  of  Hastings,  in  1066. 

I  was  first  informed  of  this  circumstance  by  William 
Stubbs  of  Warrington,  then  maker  of  the  celebrated  "  Lan- 
cashire files."  The  "P.  S.,M  or  Peter  Stubbs's  files,  were 
so  vastly  superior  to  other  files,  both  in  the  superiority  of 
the  steel  and  in  the  perfection  of  the  cutting,  which  long 
retained  its  efficiency,  that  every  workman  gloried  in  the 
possession  and  use  of  such  durable  tools.  Being  naturally 
interested  in  everything  connected  with  tools  and  mechanics, 
I  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  visit  the  factory  where  these 
admirable  files  were  made.  I  obtained  an  introduction  to 
William  Stubbs,  then  head  of  the  firm,  and  was  received 
by  him  with  much  cordiality  When  I  asked  him  if  I 


CHAP.  xii.  THE  LANCASHIRE  FILES.  207 

might  be  favoured  with  a  sight  of  his  factory,  he  replied 
that  he  had  no  factory,  as  such;  and  that  all  he  had  to  do 
in  supplying  his  large  warehouse  was  to  serve  out  the 
requisite  quantities  of  pure  cast  steel  as  rods  and  bars  to 
the  workmen;  and  that  they,  on  their  part,  forged  the 
metal  into  files  of  every  description  at  their  own  cottage 
workshops,  principally  situated  in  the  neighbouring  counties 
of  Cheshire  and  Lancashire. 

This  information  surprised  as  well  as  pleased  me.  Mr. 
Stubbs  proceeded  to  give  me  an  account  of  the  origin  of 
this  peculiar  system  of  cottage  manufacture  in  his  neigh- 
bourhood. It  appears  that  Hugo  de  Lupus,  William  the 
Conqueror's  Master  of  Arms,  the  first  Earl  of  Chester, 
settled  in  North  Cheshire  shortly  after  the  Conquest.  He 
occupied  Halton  Castle,  and  his  workmen  resided  in  War- 
rington  and  the  adjacent  villages  of  Appleton,  Widnes, 
Prescot,  and  Cuerdley.  There  they  produced  coats  of 
steel,  mail  armour,  and  steel  and  iron  weapons,  under  the 
direct  superintendence  of  their  chief. 

The  manufacture  thus  founded  continued  for  many  cen- 
turies. Although  the  use  of  armour  was  discontinued, 
the  workers  in  steel  and  iron  still  continued  famous. 
The  skill  that  had  formerly  been  employed  in  forging 
chain  armour  and  war  instruments  was  devoted  to  more 
peaceful  purposes.  The  cottage  workmen  made  the  best  of 
files  and  steel  tools  of  other  kinds.  Their^talents  became 
hereditary,  and  the  manufacture  of  wire  in  all  its  forms  is 
almost  peculiar  to  Warrington  and  the  neighbourhood. 
Mr.  Stubbs  also  informed  me  that  most  of  the  workmen's 
peculiar  names  for  tools  and  implements  were  traceable  to 
old  Norman-French  words.  He  also  stated  that  at  Prescot 
a  peculiar  class  of  workmen  has  long  been  established,  cele- 
brated for  their  great  skill  in  clock  and  watchmaking;  and 
that,  in  his  opinion,  they  were  the  direct  descendants  of  a 
swarm  of  workmen  from  Hugo  de  Lupus's  original  Norman 
hive  of  refined  metal-workers,  dating  from  the  time  of  the 
Conquest. 

To  return  to  my  narrative.     In  the  midst  of  such  a 


208  THE  FACTORY  COMPLETED.  CHAP. 

habitually  industrious  population,  it  will  be  obvious  that 
there  was  no  difficulty  in  finding  a  sufficient  supply  of  able 
workmen.  It  was  for  the  most  part  the  most  steady,  re- 
spectable, and  well-conducted  classes  of  mechanics  who 
sought  my  employment — not  only  for  the  good  wages  they 
received,  but  for  the  sake  of  their  own  health  and  that  of 
their  families ;  for  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  foundry 
and  the  workmen's  dwellings  were  surrounded  by  the  fresh, 
free,  open  country.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  the 
locality  became  a  thriving  colony  of  skilled  mechanics.  In 
order  to  add  to  the  accommodation  of  the  increasing  num- 
bers, an  additional  portion  of  land,  amounting  to  eight 
acres,  was  leased  from  Squire  Trafford  on  the  same  terms 
as  before.  On  this  land  suitable  houses  and  cottages  for  the 
foremen  and  workmen  were  erected.  At  the  same  time  sub- 
stantial brick  workshops  were  built  in  accordance  with  my 
original  general  plan,  to  meet  the  requirements  of  our  rapidly 
expanding  business,  until  at  length  a  large  and  commodious 
factory  was  erected,  as  shown  in  the  annexed  engraving. 

The  village  of  Worsley,  the  headquarters  of  the  Bridge- 
water  Canal,  supplied  us  with  a  valuable  set  of  workmen. 
They  were,  in  the  first  place,  labourers ;  but,  like  all  Lan- 
cashire men,  they  were  naturally  possessed  of  a  quick  apti- 
tude for  mechanical  occupations  connected  with  machinery. 
Our  chief  employment  of  these  so-called  labourers  was  in 
transporting  heavy  castings  and  parts  of  machinery  from 
one  place  to  another.  To  do  this  properly  required  great 
care  and  judgment,  in  order  that  the  parts  might  not  be 
disturbed,  and  that  the  mechanics  might  proceed  towards 
their  completion  without  any  unnecessary  delay.  None 
but  those  who  have  had  practical  acquaintance  with  the 
importance  of  having  skilful  labourers  to  perform  these 
apparently  humble,  but  in  reality  very  important  functions, 
can  form  an  adequate  idea  of  the  value  of  such  services. 

All  the  requisite  qualities  we  required  were  found  in 
the  Worsley  labourers.  They  had  been  accustomed  to  the 
heaviest  class  of  work  in  connection  with  the  Bridgewater 
Canal.  They  had  been  thoroughly  trained  in  the  handling 


xii.  THE  WORSLEY  LABOURERS.  209 

of  all  manner  of  ponderous  objects.  They  performed  their 
work  with  energy  and  willingness.  It  was  quite  a  treat 
to  me  to  look  on  and  observe  their  rapid  and  skilful 
operations  in  lifting  and  transporting  ponderous  portions 
of  machinery,  in  which  a  vast  amount  of  costly  work  had 
been  embodied.  After  the  machines  or  engines  had  been 
finished,  it  was  the  business  of  the  same  workmen  to 
remove  them  from  the  workshops  to  the  railway  siding 
alongside  the  foundry,  or  to  the  boats  at  the  canal  wharf. 
In  all  these  matters  the  Worsley  men  could  be  thoroughly 
depended  upon. 

Where  they  showed  the  possession,  in  any  special 
degree,  of  a  true  mechanical  faculty,  I  was  enabled  to 
select  from  the  working  labourers  the  most  effective  men 
to  take  charge  of  the  largest  and  most  powerful  machine 
tools  —  such  as  planing  machines,  lathes,  and  boring 
machines.  The  ease  and  rapidity  with  which  they 
caught  up  all  the  technical  arts  and  manipulations  con- 
nected with  the  effective  working  of  these  machines  was 
extraordinary.  The  results  were  entirely  satisfactory  to 
myself,  as  well  as  to  the  men  themselves,  by  the  substan- 
tial rise  in  their  wages  which  followed  their  advancement 
to  higher  grades  of  labour.  Thus  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
manning  my  machine  tools  by  drawing  my  recruits  from 
this  zealous  and  energetic  class  of  Worsley  labourers.  It 
is  by  this  "  selection  of  the  fittest "  that  the  true  source  of 
the  prosperity  of  every  large  manufacturing  establishment 
depends.  I  believe  that  Free  Trade  in  Ability  has  a  much 
closer  relation  to  national  prosperity  than  even  Free  Trade 
in  Commodities. 

But  here  I  came  into  collision  with  another  class  of 
workmen  —  those  who  are  of  opinion  that  employers 
should  select  for  ~  promotion,  not  those  who  are  the  fittest 
and  most  skilful,  but  those  who  have  served  a  seven  years' 
apprenticeship  and  are  members  of  a  Trades'  Union.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  this  interference  with  the  free  selection 
and  promotion  of  the  fittest  was  at  variance  with  free 
choice  of  the  best  men,  and  that  it  was  calculated,  if 


210  MY  CHIEF  FOREMAN.  CHAP. 

carried  out,  to  strike  at  the  root  of  the  chief  source  of  our 
prosperity.  If  every  workman  of  the  same  class  went  in 
the  same  rut,  and  were  paid  the  same  uniform  rate  of 
wages,  irrespective  of  his  natural  or  acquired  ability,  such 
a  system  would  destroy  the  emulative  spirit  which  forms 
the  chief  basis  of  manipulative  efficiency  and  practical 
skill,  and  on  which,  in  my  opinion,  the  prosperity  of  our 
manufacturing  establishments  mainly  depends.  But  before 
I  proceed  to  refer  to  the  strike  of  Unionists,  which  for  a 
time  threatened  to  destroy,  or  at  all  events  to  impede  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  the  free  choice  of  skilful  workmen, 
in  which  I  desired  to  conduct  the  Bridgewater  Foundry, 
I  desire  to  say  a  few  words  about  those  excellent  helpers, 
the  foremen  engineers,  who  zealously  helped  me  in  my 
undertaking  from  beginning  to  end. 

I  must  place  my  most  worthy,  zealous,  and  faithful 
Archy  Torry  at  the  top  of  the  list.  He  rose  from  being 
my  only  workman  when  I  first  started  in  Manchester,  to 
be  my  chief  general  foreman.  The  energy  and  devotion 
which  he  brought  to  bear  upon  my  interests  set  a  high 
example  to  all  in  my  employment.  Although  he  was  in 
some  respects  deficient  in  his  knowledge  of  the  higher 
principles  of  engineering  and  mechanical  construction,  I 
was  always  ready  to  supply  that  defect.  His  hearty  zeal 
and  cheerful  temper,  and  his  energetic  movement  when 
among  the  men,  had  a  sympathetic  influence  upon  all 
about  him.  His  voice  had  the  same  sort  of  influence 
upon  them  as  the  drum  and  fife  on  a  soldier's  march :  it 
quickened  their  movements.  We  were  often  called  in  by 
our  neighbour  manufacturers  to  repair  a  breakdown  of 
their  engines.  That  was  always  a  sad  disaster,  as  all 
hands  were  idle  until  the  repair  was  effected.  Archy  was 
in  his  glory  on  such  occasions.  By  his  ready  zeal  and 
energy  he  soon  got  over  the  difficulty,  repaired  the  engines, 
and  set  the  people  to  work  again.  He  became  quite 
famous  in  these  cases  of  extreme  urgency.  He  never 
spared  liimself,  and  his  example  had  an  excellent  effect 
upon  every  workman  under  him. 


xii.  WORKSHOP  LIEUTENANTS.  211 

Another  of  my  favourite  workshop  lieutenants  was 
James  Hutton.  He  had  been  leading  foreman  to  my 
worthy  friend  George  Douglass,  of  Old  Broughton,  Edin- 
burgh. He  was  fully  ten  years  my  senior,  and  when 
working  at  Douglass's  I  looked  up  to  him  as  a  man  of 
authority.  I  had  obtained  from  him  many  a  valuable 
wrinkle  in  mechanical  and  technical  construction.  After 
I  left  Edinburgh  he  had  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
for  the  purpose  of  bettering  his  condition.  But  he  pro- 
mised me  that  if  disappointed  in  his  hopes  of  settling 
there,  he  should  be  glad  to  come  into  my  service  if  I  was 
ever  in  a  position  to  give  him  employment.  Shortly  after 
my  removal  to  Patricroft,  and  when  everything  had  been 
got  into  full  working  order,  I  received  a  letter  from  him  in 
which  he  said  that  he  was  anxious  to  return  to  England, 
and  asking  if  there  was  any  vacancy  in  our  establishment 
that  he  might  be  employed  to  fill  up.  It  so  happened  that 
the  foremanship  of  turners  was  then  vacant.  I  informed 
Hutton  of  the  post ;  and  on  his  return  to  England  he  was 
duly  enrolled  in  our  staff. 

The  situation  was  a  very  important  one,  and  Hutton 
filled  it  admirably.  He  was  a  sound  practical  man,  and 
thoroughly  knew  every  department  of  engineering  mechan- 
ism. As  I  had  provided  small  separate  rooms  or  offices 
for  every  department  of  the  establishment  for  the  use  of 
the  foremen,  where  they  kept  their  memoranda  and  special 
tools,  I  had  often  the  pleasure  of  conferring  with  Hutton 
as  to  some  point  of  interest,  or  when  I  wished  to  pass  my 
ideas  and  designs  through  the  ordeal  of  his  judgment,  in 
order  that  I  might  find  out  any  lurking  defect  in  some 
proposed  mechanical  arrangement.  Before  he  gave  an 
opinion,  Hutton  always  took  a  pinch  of  snuff  to  stimulate 
his  intellect,  or  rather  to  give  him  a  little  time  for  con- 
sideration. He  would  turn  the  subject  over  in  his  mind. 
But  I  knew  that  I  could  trust  his  keenness  of  insight. 
He  would  give  his  verdict  carefully,  shrewdly,  and  truth- 
fully. Hutton  remained  a  faithful  and  valued  servant 
in  the  concern  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  died  at  a  ripe 


212  HUTTON  AND  CLERK.  CIIAP. 

old  age.  Notwithstanding  his  mechanical  intelligence, 
Hutton  was  of  too  cautious  a  temperament  to  have  acted 
as  a  general  foreman  or  manager,  otherwise  he  would  have 
been  elevated  to  that  position.  A  man  may  be  admirable 
in  details,  but  be  wanting  in  width,  breadth,  and  largeness 
of  temperament  and  intellect.  The  man  who  possesses 
the  latter  gifts  becomes  great  in  organisation;  he  soon 
ceases  to  be  a  "  hand,"  and  becomes  a  "  head,"  and  such 
men  generally  rise  from  the  employed  to  be  the  em- 
ployer. 

Another  of  my  excellent  assistants  was  John  Clerk. 
He  had  been  for  a  long  time  in  the  service  of  Fairbairn 
and  Lillie ;  but  having  had  a  serious  difference  with  one 
of  the  foremen,  he  left  their  service  with  excellent  recom- 
mendations. I  soon  after  engaged  him  as  foreman  of  the 
pattern-making  department.  He  was  a  most  able  man  in 
some  of  the  more  important  branches  of  mechanical 
engineering.  He  had,  besides,  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
building  operations.  I  found  him  of  great  use  in  superin- 
tending the  erection  of  the  additional  workshops  which 
were  required  in  proportion  as  our  business  extended. 
He  made  out  full -sized  chalk -line  drawings  from  my 
original  pencil  sketches,  on  the  large  floor  of  the  pattern 
store,  and  from  these  were  formed  the  working  drawings 
for  the  new  buildings.  He  had  a  wonderful  power  of 
rapidity  and  clearness  in  apprehending  new  subjects,  and 
the  way  in  which  he  depicted  them  in  large  drawings  was 
quite  masterly.  John  Clerk  and  I  spent  many  an  hour  on 
our  knees  together  on  the  pattern  store  floor,  and  the 
result  of  our  deliberations  usually  was  some  substantial 
addition  to  the  workshops  of  the  foundry,  or  some  extra 
large  and  powerful  machine  tool.  This  worthy  man  left 
our  service  to  become  a  partner  in  an  engineering  concern 
in  Ireland ;  and  though  he  richly  deserved  his  promotion, 
he  left  us  to  our  very  great  regret. 

The  last  of  our  foremen  to  whom  I  shall  refer  was 
worthy  Thomas  Crewdson.  He  entered  our  service  as  a 
smith,  in  which  pursuit  he  displayed  great  skill.  We  soon 


xil.  THOMAS  CREWDSON.  213 

noted  the  high  order  of  his  natural  ability ;  promoted  him 
from  the  ranks,  and  made  him  foreman  of  the  smith's  and 
forge-work  department.  In  this  he  displayed  every  quality 
of  excellence,  not  only  in  seeing  to  the  turning  out  of  the 
forge  work  in  the  highest  state  of  perfection,  but  in  manag- 
ing the  men  under  his  charge  with  such  kind  discretion  as 
to  maintain  the  most  perfect  harmony  in  the  workshops. 
This  is  always  a  matter  of  great  importance — that  the  fore- 
man should  inspire  the  workmen  with  his  own  spirit,  and 
keep  up  their  harmony  and  activity  to  the  most  productive 
point.  Crewdson  was  so  systematic  in  his  use  of  time 
that  we  found  that  he  was  able  also  to  undertake  the  fore- 
manship  of  the  boiler- making  department,  in  addition 
to  that  of  the  smith  work ;  and  to  this  he  was  afterwards 
appointed,  with  highly  satisfactory  results  to  all  concerned. 

So  strongly  and  clearly  impressed  is  my  mind  with  the 
recollection  of  the  valuable  assistance  which  I  received 
during  my  engineering  life  from  those  vicegerents  of 
practical  management  at  Patricroft,  that  I  feel  that  I 
cannot  proceed  further  in  my  narrative  without  thus 
placing  the  merits  of  these  worthy  men  upon  record.  It 
was  a  source  of  great  good  fortune  to  me  to  be  associated 
with  them,  and  I  consider  them  to  have  been  among  the 
most  important  elements  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Bridge- 
water  Foundry.  There  were  many  others,  in  compara- 
tively humble  positions,  whom  I  have  also  reason  to 
remember  with  gratitude.  In  all  well-conducted  concerns 
the  law  of  "  selection  of  the  fittest "  sooner  or  later  comes 
into  happy  action,  when  a  loyal  and  attached  set  of  men 
work  together  harmoniously  for  their  own  advantage  as 
well  as  for  that  of  their  employers. 

It  was  not,  however,  without  some  difficulty  that  we 
were  allowed  to  carry  out  our  views  as  to  Free  Trade  in 
Ability.  As  the  buildings  were  increased,  more  men  were 
taken  on — from  Manchester,  Bolton,  Liverpool,  as  well  as 
from  more  distant  places.  We  were  soon  made  to  feel  that 
our  idea  of  promoting  workmen  according  to  their  merits, 
and  advancing  them  to  improved  positions  and  higher  wages 


214  THE  TRADES'  UNION.  CIIAP. 

in  proportion  to  their  skill,  ability,  industry,  and  natural 
intelligence,  was  quite  contrary  to  the  views  of  many  of 
our  new  employees.  They  took  advantage  of  a  large  access 
of  orders  for  machinery,  which  they  knew  had  come  into 
the  foundry,  to  wait  upon  us  suddenly,  and  to  lay  down 
their  Trade  Union  law  for  our  observance. 

The  men  who  waited  upon  us  were  deputed  by  the 
Engineer  Mechanics'  Trades'  Union  to  inform  us  that  there 
were  men  in  our  employment  who  were  not,  as  they  termed 
it,  "legally  entitled  to  the  trade;"  that  is,  they  had  never 
served  a  regular  seven  years'  apprenticeship.  "  These 
men,"  said  the  delegates,  "  are  filling  up  the  places,  and 
keeping  out  of  work,  the  legal  hands."  We  were  accord- 
ingly requested  to  discharge  the  workmen  whom  we  had 
promoted,  in  order  to  make  room  for  members  of  the 
Trades'  Union. 

To  have  complied  with  this  request  would  have  altered 
the  whole  principles  and  practice  on  which  we  desired  to 
conduct  our  business.  I  wished,  and  my  partner  agreed 
with  me,  to  stimulate  men  to  steadfast  and  skilful  work  by 
the  hope  of  promotion.  It  was  thus  that  I  had  taken 
several  of  the  Worsley  men  from  the  rank  of  labourers,  and 
raised  them  to  the  class  of  mechanics  with  correspondingly 
higher  wages.  We  were  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  con- 
duct of  these  workmen,  and  with  the  productive  results 
of  their  labour.  We  thought  it  fair  to  them  as  well  as  to 
ourselves  to  resist  the  order  to  discharge  them,  and  we 
consequently  firmly  refused  to  submit  to  the  dictation  of 
the  Unionists. 

The  delegates  left  us  with  a  distinct  intimation  that  if 
we  continued  to  retain  the  illegal  men  in  our  employment 
they  would  call  out  the  Union  men,  and  strike  until  "  the 
grievance  "  was  redressed.  The  Unionists,  no  doubt,  fixed 
upon  the  right  time  to  place  their  case  before  us.  We 
wanted  more  workmen  to  execute  the  advantageous  orders 
which  had  come  in;  and  they  thought  that  the  strike 
would  put  an  entire  stop  to  our  operations.  On  engaging 
the  workmen  we  had  never  up  to  this  time  concerned  our- 


xii.  THE  STRIKE.  215 

selves  with  the  question  of  whether  they  belonged  to  the 
Trades'  Union  or  not.  The  only  proof  we  required  of  a 
man  was  Ability.  If,  after  a  week's  experience,  he  proved 
himself  an  efficient  workman,  we  engaged  him. 

The  strike  took  place.  All  the  Union  men  were  "  called 
out,"  and  left  the  works.  Many  of  them  expressed  their 
great  regret  at  leaving  us,  as  they  were  perfectly  satisfied 
with  their  employment  as  well  as  with  their  remuneration. 
But  they  were  nevertheless  compelled  to  obey  the  mandate 
of  the  Council.  The  result  was  that  more  than  half  of  our 
men  left  us.  Those  who  remained  were  very  zealous. 
Nothing  could  exceed  their  activity  and  workfulness.  We 
appealed  to  our  employers.  They  were  most  considerate 
in  not  pressing  us  for  the  speedy  execution  of  the  work  we 
had  in  hand.  We  made  applications  in  the  neighbourhood 
for  other  mechanics  in  lieu  of  those  who  had  left  us.  But 
the  men  on  strike,  under  orders  from  the  Union,  established 
pickets  round  the  works,  who  were  only  too  efficient  in 
preventing  those  desirous  of  obtaining  employment  from 
getting  access  to  the  foundry. 

Our  position  for  a  time  seemed  to  be  hopeless.  We 
could  not  find  workmen  enough  to  fill  our  shops  or  to 
execute  our  orders.  What  were  we  to  do  under  the  cir- 
cumstances 1  We  could  not  find  mechanics  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood ;  but  might  they  not  be  found  elsewhere  ?  Why 
not  bring  them  from  a  distance  ]  We  determined  to  try. 
Advertisements  were  inserted  in  the  Scotch  newspapers, 
announcing  our  want  of  mechanics,  smiths,  and  foundry- 
men.  We  appointed  an  agent  in  Edinburgh,  to  whom 
applications  were  to  be  made.  We  were  soon  in  receipt 
of  the  welcome  intelligence  that  numbers  of  the  best  class 
of  mechanics  had  applied,  and  that  our  agent's  principal 
difficulty  consisted  in  making  the  proper  selection  from 
amongst  them. 

A  selection  was,  however,  made  of  over  sixty  men,  who 
appeared  in  every  respect  likely  to  suit  us.  With  true 
Scotch  caution  they  deputed  two  of  their  number  to  visit 
our  works  and  satisfy  themselves  as  to  the  real  state  of  the 


216  THE  STRIKE  SCOTCHED.  cHAi?. 

case.  We  had  great  pleasure  in  receiving  these  two  clear- 
headed cautious  pioneers.  We  showed  them  over  the 
workshops,  and  pointed  out  the  habitations  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood with  their  attractive  surroundings.  The  men 
returned  to  their  constituents,  and  gave  such  a  glowing 
account  of  their  mission  that  we  had  no  difficulty  in  obtain- 
ing the  men  we  required.  Indeed,  we  might  easily  have 
obtained  three  times  the  number  of  efficient  mechanics. 
Sixty-four  of  the  most  likely  men  were  eventually  selected, 
men  in  the  zenith  of  their  physical  powers.  We  made 
arrangements  for  their  conveyance  to  Glasgow,  from  whence 
they  started  for  Liverpool  by  steamer.  They  landed  in  a 
body  at  the  latter  port,  many  of  them  accompanied  by 
their  wives  and  children,  and  eight-day  clocks !  A  special 
train  was  engaged  for  the  conveyance  of  the  whole — men, 
women,  and  children,  bag  and  baggage — from  Liverpool  to 
Patricroft,  where  suitable  accommodation  had  been  pro- 
vided for  them. 

The  arrival  of  so  powerful  a  body  of  men  made  a  great 
sensation  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  men  were  strong, 
respectable  looking,  and  well  dressed.  The  pickets  were 
"  dumfoundered."  They  were  brushed  to  one  side  by  the 
fresh  arrivals.  They  felt  that  their  game  was  up,  and  they 
suddenly  departed.  The  men  were  taken  over  the  work- 
shops, with  which  they  appeared  quite  delighted.  They 
were  told  to  be  ready  to  start  next  morning  at  six,  after 
which  they  departed  to  their  lodgings.  The  morning 
arrived  and  the  gallant  sixty-four  were  all  present.  After 
allotting  to  each  his  special  work,  they  gave  three  hearty 
cheers,  and  dispersed  throughout  the  workshops. 

We  had  no  reason  to  regret  the  results  which  were 
effected  through  the  Strike  ordered  by  the  Trades'  Union. 
The  new  men  worked  with  a  will.  They  were  energetic, 
zealous,  and  skilful.  They  soon  gave  evidence  of  their 
general  hamliness  and  efficiency  in  all  the  departments  of 
work  in  which  they  were  engaged.  We  were  thus  enabled 
to  carry  out  our  practice  of  Free  Trade  in  Ability  in  our 
own  way,  and  we  were  no  longer  interfered  with  in  our 


xii.  GENERAL  HAND1NESS.  217 

promotion  of  workmen  who  served  us  best.  In  short,  we 
had  scotched  the  strike ;  we  conquered  the  Union  in  theif 
wily  attempt  to  get  us  under  their  withering  control ;  and 
the  Bridgewater  Foundry  resumed  its  wonted  activity  in 
every  department. 

It  was  afterwards  a  great  source  of  happiness  to  me  to 
walk  through  the  various  workshops  and  observe  the 
cheerful  and  intelligent  countenances  of  the  new  men,  and 
to  note  the  energetic  skill  with  which  they  used  their  tools 
in  the  advancement  of  their  work.  General  handiness  is 
one  of  the  many  valuable  results  that  issues  from  the 
practice  of  handling  the  variety  of  materials  which  are 
more  or  less  employed  in  mechanical  structures.  At  the 
time  that  I  refer  to,  the  skilful  workmen  employed  in  the 
engineering  establishments  of  Scotland  (which  were  then 
comparatively  small  in  size)  were  accustomed  to  use  all 
manner  of  mechanical  tools.  They  could  handle  with 
equally  good  effect  the  saw,  the  plane,  the  file,  and  the 
chisel ;  and,  as  occasion  required,  they  could  exhibit  their 
skill  at  the  smith's  forge  with  the  hammer  and  the  anvil. 
This  was  the  kind  of  workmen  with  which  I  had  rein- 
forced the  foundry.  The  men  had  been  bred  to  various 
branches  of  mechanics.  Some  had  been  blacksmiths,  others 
carpenters,  stone  masons,  brass  or  iron  founders ;  but  all 
of  them  were  handy  men.  They  merely  adopted  the 
occupation  of  machine  and  steam-engine  makers  because  it 
offered  a  wider  field  for  the  exercise  of  their  skill  and 
energy. 

I  may  here  be  allowed  to  remark  that  we  owe  the 
greatest  advances  in  mechanical  invention  to  Free  Trade 
in  Ability.  If  we  look  carefully  into  the  narratives  of  the 
lives  of  the  most  remarkable  engineers,  we  shall  find  that 
they  owed  very  little  to  the  seven  years'  rut  in  which  they 
were  trained.  They  owed  everything  to  innate  industry, 
energy,  skill,  and  opportunity.  Thus,  Brindley  advanced 
from  the  position  of  a  millwright  to  that  of  a  canal 
engineer;  Smeaton  and  Watt,  from  being  mathematical 
instrument  makers,  advanced  to  higher  positions, — the  one 


218  INDENTURE  APPRENTICES.  CIIAP. 

to  bo  the  inventor  of  the  modern  lighthouse,  the  other  to 
be  the  inventor  of  the  condensing  steam-engine.  Some  of 
the  most  celebrated  mechanical  and  civil  engineers — such 
as  Eennie,  Cubitt,  and  Fairbairn — were  originally  mill- 
wrights. All  these  men  were  many-handed.  They  had 
many  sides  to  their  intellect.  They  were  resourceful  men. 
They  afford  the  best  illustrations  of  the  result  of  Free 
Trade  in  Ability. 

i  The  persistent  aim  at  an  indolent  equality  which  Union 
men  aim  at,  is  one  of  the  greatest  hindrances  to  industrial 
progress.  When  the  Union  Delegates  called  upon  me  to 
insist  that  none  but  men  who  had  served  seven  years' 
apprenticeship  should  be  employed  in  the  works,  I  told 
them  that  I  preferred  employing  a  man  who  had  acquired 
the  requisite  mechanical  skill  in  two  years  rather  than 
another  who  was  so  stupid  as  to  require  seven  years' 
teaching.  The  delegates  regarded  this  statement  as  pre- 
posterous and  heretical  In  fact,  it  was  utter  high  treason. 
But  in  the  long  run  we  carried  our  point. 

It  is  true,  we  had  some  indenture-bound  apprentices. 
These  were  pupils  who  paid  premiums.  In  certain  cases 
we  could  not  very  well  refuse  to  take  them.  Some  of  them 
caused  a  great  deal  of  annoyance  and  disturbanca  They 
were  irregular  in  their  attendance,  consequently  they  could 
not  be  depended  upon  for  the  regular  operations  of  the 
foundry.  They  were  careless  in  their  work,  and  set  a  bad 
example  to  the  others.  We  endeavoured  to  check  this 
disturbing  element  by  stipulating  that  the  premium  should 
be  payable  in  six  months'  portions,  and  that  each  party 
should  be  free  to  terminate  the  connection  at  the  end  of 
each  succeeding  six  months.  By  this  system  we  secured 
more  care  and  regularity  on  the  part  of  the  pupil  appren- 
tices ;  as,  while  it  checked  inattention  and  irregularity,  it 
offered  a  direct  and  substantial  encouragement  to  zeal  and 
industry. 

But  the  arrangement  which  we  greatly  preferred  was 
to  employ  intelligent  well-conducted  young  lads,  the  sons 
of  labourers  or  mechanics,  and  advance  them  by  degrees 


xii.  VISITS  OF  MY  FATHER.  219 

according  to  their  merits.  They  took  charge  of  the  smaller 
machine  tools,  by  which  the  minor  details  of  the  machines 
in  progress  were  brought  into  exact  form  without  having 
recourse  to  the  untrustworthy  and  costly  process  of  chipping 
and  filing.  A  spirit  of  emulation  was  excited  amongst  the 
lads.  They  vied  with  each  other  in  executing  their  work 
with  precision.  Those  who  excelled  were  paid  an  extra 
weekly  wage.  In  course  of  time  they  took  pride,  not  only 
in  the  quantity  but  in  the  quality  of  their  work ;  and  in 
the  long  run  they  became  skilful  mechanics.  We  were 
always  most  prompt  to  recognise  their  progress  in  a  sub- 
stantial manner.  There  was  the  most  perfect  freedom 
between  employer  and  employed.  Every  one  of  these  lads 
was  at  liberty  to  leave  at  the  end  of  each  day's  work. 
This  arrangement  acted  as  an  ever-present  check  upon 
master  and  apprentice.  The  only  bond  of  union  between 
us  was  mutual  interest.  The  best  of  the  lads  remained  in 
our  service  because  they  knew  our  work  and  were  pleased 
with  the  surroundings ;  while  we  on  our  part  were  always 
desirous  of  retaining  the  men  we  had  trained,  because  we 
knew  we  could  depend  upon  them.  Nothing  could  have 
been  more  satisfactory  than  the  manner  in  which  this 
system  worked. 

In  May  1835  I  had  the  great  happiness  of  receiving  a 
visit  from  my  dear  father.  I  was  then  in  Dale  Street, 
Manchester,  where  my  floor  was  overloaded  with  the  work 
in  progress.  My  father  continued  to  take  a  great  interest 
in  mechanical  undertakings,  and  he  was  pleased  with  the 
prosperity  which  had  followed  my  settlement  in  this  great 
manufacturing  centre.  He  could  still  see  his  own  lathe, 
driven  by  steam  power,  in  full  operation  for  the  benefit  of 
his  son.  His  fame  as  an  artist  was  well  known  in  Man- 
chester, for  many  of  his  works  were  possessed  by  the  best 
men  of  the  town.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  introducing  him 
to  the  Brothers  Grant,  John  Kennedy,  Edward  Lloyd, 
George  Murray,  James  Frazer,  William  Fairbairn,  and  Hugh 
and  Joseph  Birley,  all  of  whom  gave  him  a  most  cordial 
welcome,  and  invited  him  to  enjoy  their  hospitality. 


220 


ALEXANDER  NASMYTH. 


CHAP. 


In  1838  he  visited  me  again.  I  had  removed  to  Patri- 
croft,  and  the  Bridgewater  Foundry  was  in  full  operation. 
My  father  was  then  in  his  eightieth  year.  He  was  still 
full  of  life  and  intellect.  He  was  vastly  delighted  in  wit- 


ALEXANDEK  NASMYTH.      AFTER  A  CAMEO  BY  SAMUEL  JOSEPH. 

nessing  the  rapid  progress  which  I  had  made  since  his 
first  visit.  He  took  his  daily  walk  through  the  work- 
shops, where  many  processes  were  going  on  which  greatly 
interested  him.  He  was  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the 
technical  details  of  mechanical  work  to  enjoy  the  sight, 


xii.  A  TRIUMPHANT  DEMONSTRATION.  221 

especially  when  self-acting  tools  were  employed.  It  was  a 
great  source  of  pleasure  to  him  to  have  "  a  crack  "  with 
the  most  intelligent  foremen  and  mechanics.  These,  on 
their  part,  treated  him  with  the  most  kind  and  respectful 
attention.  The  Scotch  workmen  regarded  him  with  special 
veneration.  They  knew  that  he  had  been  an  intimate  friend 
of  Robert  Burns,  their  own  best-beloved  poet,  whose  verses 
shed  a  charm  upon  their  homes,  and  were  recited  by  the 
fireside,  in  the  fields,  or  at  the  workman's  bench. 

They  also  knew  that  he  had  painted  the  only  authentic 
portrait  of  their  national  bard.  This  fact  invested  my 
father  with  additional  interest  in  their  eyes.  Their  respect 
for  him  culminated  in  a  rather  extraordinary  demonstra- 
tion. On  the  last  day  of  his  visit  the  leading  Scotch  work- 
men procured  "on  the  sly"  an  arm-chair,  which  they 
fastened  to  two  strong  bearing  poles.  When  my  father 
left  the  works  at  the  bell-ringing  at  mid-day,  he  was 
approached  by  the  workmen,  and  respectfully  requested  to 
"take  the  chair."  He  refused;  but  it  was  of  no  use.  He 
was  led  to  the  chair,  and  took  it.  He  was  then  raised  and 
carried  in  triumph  to  my  house.  He  was  carefully  set 
down  at  the  little  garden-gate,  where  the  men  affection- 
ately took  leave  of  him,  and  ended  their  cordial  good 
wishes  for  his  safe  return  home  with  three  hearty  cheers. 
I  need  scarcely  say  that  my  father  was  greatly  affected  by 
this  kind  demonstration  on  the  part  of  the  workmen. 

His  life  was  fast  drawing  to  a  close.  He  had  borne  the 
heat  and  burden  of  the  day ;  and  was  about  to  be  taken 
home  like  a  shock  of  corn  in  full  season.  After  a  long  and 
happy  life,  blessed  and  cheered  by  a  most  affectionate  wife, 
he  laid  down  his  brushes  and  went  to  rest.  In  his  later 
years  he  rejoiced  in  the  prosperity  of  his  children,  which 
was  all  the  more  agreeable  as  it  was  the  result  of  the 
example  of  industry  and  perseverance  which  he  had  ever 
set  before  them.  My  father  untiringly  continued  his  pro- 
fessional occupations  until  1840,  when  he  had  attained  the 
age  of  eighty-two.  His  later  works  may  be  found  wanting 
in  that  degree  of  minute  finish  which  characterised  his 


222  ALEXANDER  NASMYTH'S  LAST  PICTURE.       CHAP. 

earlier  productions ;  but  in  regard  to  tlieir  quality  there 
was  no  falling  off,  even  to  the  last  picture  which  lie 
painted.  The  delicate  finish  was  amply  compensated  by 
the  increase  in  general  breadth  and  effectiveness,  so  that  his 
later  works  were  even  more  esteemed  by  his  brother-artists. 
The  last  picture  he  painted  was  finished  eight  days 

before  his  death. 
It  was  a  small 
work.  The  subject 
was  a  landscape 
with  an  autumnal 
evening  effect. 
There  was  a  pic- 
turesque cottage  in 
the  middle  dis- 
tance, a  rustic 
bridge  over  a  brook 
in  the  foreground, 
and  an  old  labour- 
ing man,  followed 
by  his  dog,  wearily 
passing  over  it  on 
his  way  towards  his 
home.  From  the 
chimney  of  his  cot- 
tage a  thin  streak 
of  blue  smoke 
passed  upward* 
*.  through  the  tranquil 
evening  air.  All 

MONUMENT  TO  ALEXANDER  NASMYTIT.  tllCSC    incidents   SUg- 

gested     the      ido, 

which  no  doubt  he  desired  to  convey,  of  the  tranquil 
conclusion  of  his  own  long  and  active  life,  which  was  then, 
too  evidently,  drawing  to  a  close.  The  shades  of  evening 
hud  come  on  when  he  could  no  longer  see  to  work,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  lay  down  his  pencil.  My  mother  was  at 
work  with  her  needle  close  by  him;  and  when  he  hud 


xii.  DEATH  OF  ALEXANDER  NASMYTH.  223 

finished  he  asked  her  what  he  should  call  the  picture. 
Not  being  ready  with  an  answer,  he  leant  back  in  his 
chair,  feeling  rather  faint,  and  said,  "  Well,  I  think  I  had 
better  call  it  Going  Home."  And  so  it  was  called. 

Next  morning  his  strength  had  so  failed  him  that  he 
could  not  get  up.  He  remained  there  for  eight  days,  and 
then  he  painlessly  and  tranquilly  passed  away.  While  on 
his  deathbed  he  expressed  the  desire  that  his  remains 
should  be  placed  beside  those  of  a  favourite  son  who  had 
died  in  early  youth.  "  Let  me  lie,"  he  said,  "  beside  my 
dear  Alick."  His  desire  was  gratified.  He  was  buried 
beside  his  son  in  St.  Cuthbert's  churchyard,  under  the 
grandest  portion  of  the  great  basaltic  rock  on  which  Edin- 
burgh Castle  stands.  His  grave  is  marked  by  a  fine  Eunic 
Cross,  admirably  sculptured  by  Ehind  of  Edinburgh. 

One  of  the  kindest  letters  my  mother  received  after  her 
great  loss  was  one  from  Sir  David  Wilkie.  It  was  dated 
18th  April  1840.  "I  hasten,"  he  said,  " to  assure  you  of 
my  most  sincere  condolence  on  your  severe  affliction,  feel- 
ing that  I  can  sympathise  in  the  privation  you  suffer  from 
losing  one  who  was  my  earliest  professional  friend,  whose 
art  I  at  all  times  admired,  and  whose  society  and  conver- 
sation was  perhaps  the  most  agreeable  that  I  ever  met 
with. 

"  He  was  the  founder  of  the  Landscape  Painting  School 
of  Scotland,  and  by  his  taste  and  talent  has  for  many  years 
taken  a  lead  in  the  patriotic  aim  of  enriching  his  native 
land  with  the  representations  of  her  romantic  scenery; 
and,  as  the  friend  and  contemporary  of  Eamsay,  of  Gavin 
Hamilton,  and  the  Euncimans,  may  be  said  to  have  been 
the  last  remaining  link  that  unites  the  present  with  the 
early  dawn  of  the  Scottish  School  of  Art." 

I  may  add  that  my  mother  died  six  years  later,  in  1846, 
at  the  same  age  as  my  father,  namely  eighty-two. 


CHAPTER  XIII, 

MY  MARRIAGE — THE  STEAM  HAMMER. 

BEFORE  I  proceed  to  narrate  the  later  events  of  my 
industrial  life,  it  is  necessary  to  mention,  incidentally,  an 
important  subject.  As  it  has  been  the  source  of  my 
greatest  happiness  in  life,  I  cannot  avoid  referring  to  it. 

I  may  first  mention  that  my  earnest  and  unremitting 
pursuit  of  all  subjects  and  occupations,  such  as  I  conceived 
were  essential  to  the  acquirement  of  a  sound  practical 
knowledge  of  my  profession,  rendered  me  averse  to  mixing 
much  in  general  society.  I  had  accordingly  few  oppor- 
tunities of  enjoying  the  society  of  young  ladies.  Never- 
theless, occasions  now  and  then  occurred  when  bright 
beings  passed  before  me  like  meteors.  They  left  impressions 
on  my  memory,  which  in  no  small  degree  increased  the 
earnestness  of  my  exertions  to  press  forward  in  my 
endeavours  to  establish  myself  in  business,  and  thereby 
acquire  the  means  of  forming  a  Home  of  my  own. 

Many  circumstances,  however,  conspired  to  delay  the 
ardently  longed  for  condition  of  my  means,  such  as  should 
induce  me  to  solicit  some  dear  one  to  complete  my  existence 
by  her  sweet  companionship,  and  enter  with  me  into  the 
most  sacred  of  all  the  partnerships  of  life.  In  course  of 
time  I  was  rewarded  with  that  success  which,  for  the  most 
part,  ensues  upon  all  honourable  and  unremitting  business 
efforts.  This  cheered  me  on;  although  there  were  still 
many  causes  for  anxiety,  which  made  me  feel  that  I  must 
not  yet  solicit  some  dear  heart  to  forsake  the  comforts  of 
an  affluent  home  to  share  with  me  what  I  knew  must  for 


CHAP.  xiii.  AN  IMPORTANT  STEP.  223 

some  years  to  come  be  an  anxious  and  trying  struggle  for 
comfort  and  comparative  independence.  I  had  reached 
my  thirtieth  year  before  I  could  venture  to  think  that  I 
had  securely  entered  upon  such  a  course  of  prosperity  as 
would  justify  me  in  taking  this  the  most  important  step 
in  life. 

It  may  be  a  trite  but  not  the  less  true  remark  that 
some  of  the  most  important  events  originate  in  apparently 
chance  occurrences  and  circumstances,  which  lead  up  to 
results  that  materially  influence  and  even  determine  the 
subsequent  course  of  our  lives.  I  had  occasion  to  make  a 
business  journey  to  Sheffield  on  the  2d  of  March  1838, 
and  also  to  attend  to  some  affairs  of  a  similar  character  at 
York.  As  soon  as  I  had  completed  my  engagement  at 
Sheffield,  I  had  to  wait  for  more  than  two  dreary  hours 
in  momentary  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  the  coach  that 
was  to  take  me  on  to  York.  The  coach  had  been  delayed 
by  a  deep  fall  of  snow,  and  was  consequently  late.  When 
it  arrived,  I  found  that  there  was  only  one  outside  place 
vacant ;  so  I  mounted  to  my  seat.  It  was  a  very  dreary 
afternoon,  and  the  snow  was  constantly  falling. 

As  we  approached  Barnsley  I  observed,  in  the  remaining 
murky  light  of  the  evening,  the  blaze  of  some  ironwork 
furnaces  near  at  hand.  On  inquiring  whose  works  they 
were,  I  was  informed  that  they  belonged  to  Earl  Fitzwilliam, 
and  that  they  were  under  the  management  of  a  Mr.  Hartop. 
The  mention  of  this  name,  coupled  with  the  sight  of  the 
ironworks,  brought  to  my  recollection  a  kind  invitation 
which  Mr.  Hartop  had  given  me  while  visiting  my  work- 
shop in  Manchester  to  order  some  machine  tools,  that  if  I 
ever  happened  to  be  in  his  neighbourhood,  he  would  be  most 
happy  to  show  me  anything  that  was  interesting  about  the 
ironworks  and  colliery  machinery  under  his  management. 

I  at  once  decided  to  terminate  my  dreary  ride  on  the 
top  of  the  coach.  I  descended,  and  with  my  small  valise 
in  hand  I  trudged  over  some  trackless  snow-covered  fields, 
and  made  my  way  by  the  shortest  cut  towards  the  blazing 
iron  furnaces.  On  reaching  them  I  was  informed  that  Mr. 

Q 


226  VISIT  TO  MR.  HARTOP.  CHAP. 

Hartop  had  just  gone  to  his  house,  which  was  about  a 
mile  distant.  I  accordingly  made  my  way  thither  the  best 
that  I  could  through  the  deep  snow.  I  met  with  a  cordial 
welcome,  and  with  the  hospitable  request  that  I  should 
take  up  my  quarters  there  for  the  night,  and  have  a  round 
of  the  ironworks  and  the  machinery  on  the  following  day. 
I  cheerfully  acceded  to  the  kind  invitation.  I  was  then 
introduced  to  his  wife  and  daughter  in  a  cosy  room,  where 
I  spent  a  most  pleasant  evening.  As  Mr.  Hartop  was  an 
enthusiast  in  all  matters  relating  to  mechanism  and 
mechanical  engineering  subjects  generally,  we  found  plenty 
to  converse  about;  while  his  wife  and  daughter,  at  their 
needlework,  listened  to  our  discussions  with  earnest  and 
intelligent  attention. 

On  the  following  day  I  was  taken  a  round  of  the  iron- 
works, and  inspected  their  machinery,  as  well  as  that  of 
the  collieries,  in  the  details  of  which  Mr.  Hartop  had 
introduced  many  common-sense  and  most  effective  improve- 
ments. All  of  these  interested  me,  and  gave  me  much 
pleasure.  In  the  evening  we  resumed  our  "  cracks  "  on 
many  subjects  of  mutual  interest.  The  daughter  joined  in 
our  conversation  with  the  most  intelligent  remarks ;  for, 
although  only  in  her  twenty-first  year,  she  had  evidently 
made  good  use  of  her  time,  aided  by  her  clear  natural 
faculties  of  shrewd  observation.  Mr.  Hartop  having  met 
with  some  serious  reverse  of  fortune,  owing  to  the  very 
unsatisfactory  conduct  of  a  partner,  had  in  a  manner  to 
begin  business  life  again  on  his  own  account ;  and  although 
he  had  to  reduce  his  domestic  establishment  considerably 
in  consequence,  there  was  in  all  its  arrangements  a  degree 
of  neatness  and  perfect  systematic  order,  combined  with 
many  evidences  of  elegant  taste  and  good  sense  which 
pervaded  the  whole,  that  enhanced  in  no  small  degree  the 
attractiveness  of  the  household.  The  chief  of  these,  how- 
ever, was  to  me  their  daughter  Anne !  I  soon  perceived 
in  her,  most  happily  and  attractively  combined,  all  the 
conditions  that  I  could  hope  for  and  desire  to  meet  with 
in  the  dear  partner  of  my  existence. 


xiii.  MY  MARRIAGE.  227 

As  I  had  soon  to  proceed  on  my  journey,  I  took  the 
opportunity  of  telling  her  what  I  felt  and  thought,  and  so 
ardently  desired  in  regard  to  our  future  intercourse. 
What  little  I  did  say  was  to  this  great  purpose;  and,  so  far 
as  I  could  judge,  all  that  I  said  was  received  in  the  best 
spirit  that  I  could  desire.  I  then  communicated  my  hopes 
and  wishes  to  the  parents.  I  explained  to  them  my 
circumstances,  which  happily  were  then  beginning  to 
assume  an  encouraging  prospect,  and  realising,  in  a  sub- 
stantial form,  a  return  for  the  earnest  exertions  that  I  had 
made  towards  establishing  a  home  of  my  own.  They 
expressed  their  concurrence  in  the  kindest  manner;  and 
it  was  arranged  that  if  business  continued  to  progress  as 
favourably  as  I  hoped,  our  union  should  take  place  in  about 
two  years  from  that  time. 

Everything  went  on  hopefully  and  prosperously.  The 
two  years  that  intervened  looked  very  long  in  some  respects, 
and  very  short  in  others  ;  for  I  was  always  fully  occupied, 
and  labour  shortens  time.  At  length  the  two  years  came 
to  an  end.  My  betrothed  and  myself  continued  of  the 
same  mind.  The  happy  "  chance  "  event  of  our  meeting  on 
the  evening  of  the  2d  of  March  1838  culminated  in  our 
marriage  at  the  village  church  of  Wentworth  on  the  16th 
of  June  1840 — a  day  of  happy  memory  !  From  that  day 
to  this  the  course  of  our  united  hearts  and  lives  has  con- 
tinued to  run  on  with  steady  uninterrupted  harmony  and 
mutual  happiness.  Forty-two  years  of  our  married  life  finds 
us  the  same  affectionate  and  devoted  "  cronies "  that  we 
were  at  the  beginning ;  and  there  is  every  prospect  that, 
under  God's  blessing,  we  shall  continue  to  be  so  to  the  end. 

I  was  present  at  the  opening  of  the  Liverpool  and  Man- 
chester Railway,  on  the  1 5th  of  September  1830.  Every  one 
knows  the  success  of  the  undertaking.  Railways  became 
the  rage.  They  were  projected  in  every  possible  direction. 

They  were  first  made  between  all  the  large  towns,  after 
which  branches  were  constructed  to  place  the  whole  country 
in  connection  with  the  main  lines.  Coaches  were  driven 


228  THE  FIRST  RAILWAYS.  CHAP. 

off  the  road,  and  everything  appeared  to  be  thrown  into  a 
state  of  confusion.  People  wondered  greatly  at  the  new 
conditions  of  travelling ;  and  they  flocked  from  all  quarters 
to  see  the  railway  at  work. 

When  the  line  was  opened  from  Edinburgh  to  Glasgow, 
a  shepherd  and  his  wife  came  from  beyond  the  Pentlands 
to  see  the  train  pass.  On  it  came,  and  flashed  out  of  sight 
in  a  minute.  "How  wonderful  are  the  works  o'  man!" 
exclaimed  the  shepherd.  "But  wliaf s  a'  the  hurry  for?" 
rejoined  his  wife.  Still  more  marvellous,  however,  was  the 
first  adventure  by  train  of  an  old  woman  from  Newtyle  to 
Dundee.  In  those  days  the  train  was  let  down  part  of  the 
railway  by  a  rope.  The  woman  was  on  her  way  down  hill, 
with  a  basket  of  eggs  by  her  side.  Suddenly  the  rope 
broke,  and  the  train  dashed  into  the  Dundee  Station, 
scattering  the  carriages,  and  throwing  out  the  old  woman 
and  her  basket  of  broken  eggs.  A  porter  ran  to  her  help, 
when,  gathering  herself  together,  she  exclaimed,  "Odd  sake, 
sirs,  d'ye  aye  whummil1  us  oot  this  way  ?"  She  thought  it 
was  only  the  ordinary  way  of  delivering  railway  passengers. 

Ropes,  however,  were  merely  exceptional  methods  of 
working  railway  trains.  Eventually  locomotives  were 
invariably  adopted.  When  railways  were  extended  in  so 
many  directions,  more  and  more  locomotives  were  required 
to  work  them. 

When  George  Stephenson  was  engaged  in  building  his 
first  locomotive  at  Killingworth,  he  was  greatly  hampered, 
not  only  by  the  want  of  handy  mechanics,  but  by  the  want 
of  efficient  tools.  But  he  did  the  best  that  he  could.  His 
genius  overcame  difficulties.  It  was  immensely  to  his 
credit  that  he  should  have  so  successfully  completed  his 
engines  for  the  Stockton  and  Darlington,  and  afterwards 
for  the  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway. 

Only  a  few  years  had  passed,  and  self-acting  tools  were 
now  enabled  to  complete,  with  precision  and  uniformity, 
machines  that  before  had  been  deemed  almost  impracticable. 

1  WHUMMIL,  to  turn  upside  down.—  Jamieson's  Scottish  Dictionary. 


xnr.  ORDER  FOR  LOCOMOTIVES.  229 

In  proportion  to  the  rapid  extension  of  railways  the  demand 
for  locomotives  became  very  great.  As  our  machine  tools 
were  peculiarly  adapted  for  turning  out  a  large  amount  of 
first-class  work,  we  directed  our  attention  to  this  class  of 
business.  In  the  course  of  about  ten  years  after  the  open- 
ing of  the  Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway,  we  executed 
considerable  orders  for  locomotives  for  the  London  and 
Southampton,  the  Manchester  and  Leeds,  and  the  Gloucester 
railway  companies. 

The  Great  Western  Railway  Company  invited  us  to 
tender  for  twenty  of  their  very  ponderous  engines.  They 
proposed  a  very  tempting  condition  of  the  contract.  It 
was,  that  if,  after  a  month's  trial  of  the  locomotives,  their 
working  proved  satisfactory,  a  premium  of  £100  was  to  be 
added  to  the  price  of  each  engine  and  tender.  The  loco- 
motives were  made  and  delivered ;  they  ran  the  stipulated 
number  of  test  miles  between  London  and  Bristol  in  a 
perfectly  satisfactory  manner ;  and  we  not  only  received 
the  premium,  but,  what  was  much  more  encouraging,  we 
received  a  special  letter  from  the  Board  of  Directors,  stat- 
ing their  entire  satisfaction  with  the  performance  of  our 
engines,  and  desiring  us  to  refer  other  contractors  to  them 
with  respect  to  the  excellence  of  our  workmanship.  This 
testimonial  was  altogether  spontaneous,  and  proved  ex- 
tremely valuable  in  other  quarters. 

I  may  mention  that,  in  order  to  effect  the  prompt  and 
perfect  execution  of  this  order,  I  contrived  several  special 
machine  tools,  which  assisted  us  most  materially.  These 
tools  for  the  most  part  rendered  us  more  independent  of 
mere  manual  strength  and  dexterity,  while  at  the  same 
time  they  increased  the  accuracy  and  perfection  of  the  work. 
They  afterwards  assisted  us  in  the  means  of  perfecting  the 
production  of  other  classes  of  work.  At  the  same  time  they 
had  the  important  effect  of  diminishing  the  cost  of  produc- 
tion, as  was  made  sufficiently  apparent  by  the  balance-sheet 
prepared  at  the  end  of  each  year. 

My  connection  with  the  Great  Western  Company  shortly 
led  to  a  most  important  event  in  connection  with  my  own 


230  "GREAT  BRITAIN"  PADDLE-SHAFT.  CHAP. 

personal  history.  It  appears  that  their  famous  steam-ship 
the  Great  Western  had  been  very  successful  in  her  voyages 
between  Bristol  and  New  York ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that 
the  directors  of  the  Company  ordered  the  construction  of 
another  vessel  of  much  greater  magnitude — the  Great 
Britain.  Mr.  Francis  Humphries,  their  engineer,  came  to 
Patricroft  to  consult  with  me  as  to  the  machine  tools,  of 
unusual  size  and  power,  which  were  required  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  immense  engines  of  the  proposed  ship, 
which  were  to  be  made  on  the  vertical  trunk  principle. 
Very  complete  works  were  erected  at  Bristol  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  requisite  machinery.  The  tools  were 
made  according  to  Mr.  Humphries'  order;  they  were 
delivered  and  fitted  to  his  entire  approval,  and  the  con- 
struction of  the  gigantic  engines  was  soon  in  full  progress. 

An  unexpected  difficulty,  however,  was  encountered  with 
respect  to  the  enormous  wrought-iron  intermediate  paddle- 
shaft.  It  was  required  to  be  of  a  size  and  diameter  the  like 
of  which  had  never  been  forged.  Mr.  Humphries  applied 
to  the  largest  Forges  throughout  the  country  for  tenders  of 
the  price  at  which  they  would  execute  this  important  part 
of  the  work,  but  to  his  surprise  and  dismay  he  found  that 
not  one  of  them  could  undertake  so  large  a  forging.  In 
this  dilemma  he  wrote  a  letter  to  me,  which  I  received  on 
the  24th  of  November  1839,  informing  me  of  the  unlooked- 
for  difficulty.  "  I  find,"  he  said,  "  that  there  is  not  a  forge 
hammer  in  England  or  Scotland  powerful  enough  to  forge 
the  intermediate  paddle-shaft  of  the  engines  for  the  Great 
Britain  !  What  am  I  to  do  1  Do  you  think  I  might  dare 
to  use  cast-iron  ?" 

This  letter  immediately  set  me  a-thinking.  How  was 
it  that  the  existing  hammers  were  incapable  of  forging  a 
wrought-iron  shaft  of  thirty  inches  diameter  ?  Simply 
because  of  their  want  of  compass,  of  range  and  fall,  as  well 
as  of  their  want  of  power  of  blow.  A  few  moments'  raj -id 
thought  satisfied  me  that  it  was  by  our  rigidly  adhering 
to  the  old  traditional  form  of  a  smith's  hand  hammer — of 
which  the  forge  and  tilt  hammer,  although  driven  by  water  or 


xiu.  MY  "SCHEME  BOOK."  231 

steam  power,  were  merely  enlarged  modifications — that  the 
difficulty  had  arisen;  as,  whenever  the  largest  forge  hammer 
was  tilted  up  to  its  full  height,  its  range  was  so  small  that 
when  a  piece  of  work  of  considerable  size  was  placed  on 
the  anvil,  the  hammer  became  "gagged;"  so  that,  when 
the  forging  required  the  most  powerful  blow,  it  received 
next  to  no  blow  at  all,  as  the  clear  space  for  the  fall  of 
the  hammer  was  almost  entirely  occupied  by  the  work  on 
the  anvil. 

The  obvious  remedy  was  to  contrive  some  method  by 
which  a  ponderous  block  of  iron  should  be  lifted  to  a 
sufficient  height  above  the  object  on  which  it  was  desired 
to  strike  a  blow,  and  then  to  let  the  block  full  down  upon 
the  forging,  guiding  it  in  its  descent  by  such  simple  means 
as  should  give  the  required  precision  in  the  percussive  action 
of  the  falling  mass.  Following  up  this  idea,  I  got  out  my 
"  Scheme  Book,"  on  the  pages  of  which  I  generally  tJwught 
out,  with  the  aid  of  pen  and  pencil,  such  mechanical  adap- 
tations as  I  had  conceived  in  my  mind,  and  was  thereby 
enabled  to  render  them  visible.  I  then  rapidly  sketched 
out  my  Steam  Hammer,  having  it  all  clearly  before  me  in 
my  mind's  eye.  In  little  more  than  half  an  hour  after 
receiving  Mr.  Humphries'  letter  narrating  his  unlooked- 
for  difficulty,  I  had  the  whole  contrivance  in  all  its  ex- 
ecutant details,  before  me  in  a  page  of  my  Scheme  Book, 
a  reduced  photographed  copy  of  which  I  append  to  this 
description.  The  date  of  this  first  drawing  was  the  24th 
November,  1839. 

My  Steam  Hammer  as  thus  first  sketched,  consisted  of, 
first,  a  massive  anvil  on  which  to  rest  the  work ;  second, 
a  block  of  iron  constituting  the  hammer  or  blow-giving 
portion ;  and,  third,  an  inverted  steam  cylinder  to  whose 
piston-rod  the  hammer-block  was  attached.  All  that  was 
then  required  to  produce  a  most  effective  hammer  was  simply 
to  admit  steam  of  sufficient  pressure  into  the  cylinder, 
so  as  to  act  on  the  under-side  of  the  piston,  and  thus  to 
raise  the  hammer-block  attached  to  the  end  of  the  piston- 
rod.  By  a  very  simple  arrangement  of  a  slide  valve,  under 


232 


FIRST  SKETCH  OF  STEAM  HAMMER.    ,        CHAP. 


the  control  of  an  attendant,  the  steam  was  allowed  to  escape 


FIRST  DRAWING  OK  STEAM   HAMMER,   24th  NOV.   1830. 

and  thus  permit  the  massive  Mock  of  iron  rapidly  to  descend 
l>y  its  own  gravity  upon  the  work  then  upon  the  anvil. 


xni.  THE  SKETCH  APPROVED.  233 

Tims,  by  the  more  or  less  rapid  manner  in  which  the 
attendant  allowed  the  steam  to  enter  or  escape  from  the 
cylinder,  any  required  number  or  any  intensity  of  blows 
could  be  delivered.  Their  succession  might  be  modified  in 
an  instant.  The  hammer  might  be  arrested  and  suspended 
according  to  the  requirements  of  the  work.  The  workman 
might  thus,  as  it  were,  think  in  blows.  He  might  deal 
them  out  on  to  the  ponderous  glowing  mass,  and  mould  or 
knead  it  into  the  desired  form  as  if  it  were  a  lump  of  clay; 
or  pat  it  with  gentle  taps  according  to  his  will,  or  at  the 
desire  of  the  forgeman. 

Rude  and  rapidly  sketched  out  as  it  was,  this,  my 
first  delineation  of  the  steam  hammer,  will  be  found  to 
comprise  all  the  essential  elements  of  the  invention.  Every 
detail  of  the  drawing  retains  to  this  day  the  form  and 
arrangement  which  I  gave  to  it  forty-three  years  ago.  I 
believed  that  the  steam  hammer  would  prove  practically 
successful;  and  I  looked  forward  to  its  general  employment 
in  the  forging  of  heavy  masses  of  iron.  It  is  no  small 
gratification  to  me  now,  when  I  look  over  my  rude  and 
hasty  first  sketch,  to  find  that  I  hit  the  mark  so  exactly, 
not  only  in  the  general  structure  but  in  the  details ;  and 
that  the  invention  as  I  then  conceived  it  and  put  it  into 
shape,  still  retains  its  form  and  arrangements  intact  in 
the  thousands  of  steam  hammers  that  are  now  doing 
good  service  in  the  mechanical  arts  throughout  the  civilised 
world. 

But  to  return  to  my  correspondence  with  the  Great 
Western  Steamship  Company.  I  wrote  at  once  to  Mr. 
Humphries,  and  sent  him  a  sketch  of  my  proposed  steam 
hammer.  I  told  him  that  I  felt  assured  he  would  now  be 
able  to  overcome  his  difficulty,  and  that  the  paddle-shaft 
of  the  Great  Britain  might  now  be  forged.  Mr.  Humphries 
was  delighted  with  my  design.  He  submitted  it  to  Mr. 
Brunei,  engineer-in-chief  of  the  steamship  :  to  Mr.  Guppy, 
the  managing  director;  and  to  other  persons  interested 
in  the  undertaking, — by  all  of  whom  it  was  heartily 
approved.  I  accordingly  gave  the  Company  permission 


234  THE  PADDLE-SHAFT  ABANDONED.  CHAP. 

to  communicate  my  design  to  such  forge  proprietors  as 
might  feel  disposed  to  erect  the  steam  hammer,  the  only 
condition  that  I  made  being,  that  in  the  event  of  its  being 
adopted  I  was  to  be  allowed  to  supply  it  in  accordance 
with  my  design. 

But  the  paddle-shaft  of  the  Great  Britain  was  never 
forged.  About  that  time  the  substitution  of  the  Screw 
for  the  paddle-wheel  as  a  means  of  propulsion  was  attract- 
ing much  attention.  The  performances  of  the  Archimedes, 
as  arranged  by  Mr.  Francis  P.  Smith,  were  so  satisfactory 
that  Mr.  Brunei,  after  he  had  made  an  excursion  in  that 
vessel,  recommended  the  directors  to  adopt  the  new  pro- 
pelling power.  After  much  discussion,  they  yielded  to  his 
strongly-urged  advice.  The  consequence  was,  that  the 
great  engines  which  Mr.  Humphries  had  so  elaborately 
designed,  and  which  were  far  advanced  in  construction, 
were  given  up,  to  his  inexpressible  regret  and  mortification, 
as  he  had  pinned  his  highest  hopes  as  a  practical  engineer 
on  the  results  of  their  performance.  And,  to  crown  his 
distress,  he  was  ordered  to  produce  fresh  designs  of  engines 
specially  suited  for  screw  propulsion.  Mr.  Humphries  was 
a  man  of  the  most  sensitive  and  sanguine  constitution  of 
mind.  The  labour  and  the  anxiety  which  he  had  already 
undergone,  and  perhaps  the  disappointment  of  his  hopes, 
proved  too  much  for  him ;  and  a  brain  fever  carried  him 
off  after  a  few  days'  illness.  There  was  thus,  for  a  time, 
an  end  of  the  steam  hammer  required  for  forging  the 
paddle-shaft  of  the  Great  Britain. 

Very  bad  times  for  the  iron-trade,  and  for  all  mechanical 
undertakings,  set  in  about  this  time.  A  wide-spread  de- 
pression affected  all  conditions  of  industry  Although  I 
wrote  to  the  heads  of  all  the  great  firms,  urging  the 
importance  of  my  invention,  and  forwarding  designs  of 
my  steam  hammer,  I  was  unable  to  obtain  a  single  order. 
It  is  true,  they  cordially  approved  of  my  plan,  and  were 
greatly  struck  by  its  simplicity,  unity,  and  apparent  power. 
But  the  substance  of  their  replies  was,  that  they  had  not 
sufficient  orders  to  keep  the  forge  hammers  they  already 


xin.  MY  INVENTION  TAKEN  UP.  235 

possessed  in  work.  They  promised,  however,  that  in  the 
event  of  trade  recovering  from  its  depression,  they  would 
probably  adopt  the  new  power.1 

In  the  meantime  my  invention  was  taken  up  in  an 
entirely  new  and  unexpected  quarter.  I  had  for  some 
years  been  supplying  foreign  customers  with  self-acting 
machine  tools.  The  principals  of  continental  manufac- 
turing establishments  were  accustomed  to  make  frequent 
visits  to  England  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  various 
machine  tools  required  for  the  production  of  the  ponderous 
as  well  as  the  lighter  parts  of  their  machinery.  We  gave 
our  foreign  visitors  every  facility  and  opportunity  for  seeing 
our  own  tools  at  work,  and  they  were  often  so  much 
pleased  that,  when  they  came  to  order  one  special  tool, 
they  ended  by  ordering  many, — the  machine  tools  in  full 
activity  thus  acting  as  their  most  effective  advertisements.2 

In  like  manner  I  freely  opened  my  Scheme  Book  to 
any  foreign  visitors.  There  I  let  them  see  the  mechanical 
thoughts  that  were  passing  through  my  mind,  reduced  to 
pen  and  ink  drawings.  I  did  not  hesitate  to  advocate  the 
advantage  of  my  steam  hammer  over  every  other  method 
of  forging  heavy  masses  of  iron;  and  I  pointed  out  the 
drawing  in  my  Scheme  Book  in  confirmation  of  my  views. 
The  book  was  kept  in  the  office  to  be  handy  for  such 

1  Among  the  heads  of  firms  who  sent  me  cordial  congratulations  on 
my  design,  were  Benjamin  Hick,  of  the  Soho  Ironworks,  Bolton,  a 
man,  whose  judgment  in  all  matters  connected  with  engineering  and 
mechanical  construction  was  held  in  the  very  highest  regard  ;  Messrs. 
Rushton   and    Eckersley,   Bolton   Ironworks ;   Messrs.    Howard  and 
Raven  hill,  Rothorhithe  Ironworks,  London  ;  Messrs.  Hawkes,  Crashaw, 
and  Company,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  ;  George  Thorneycroft,  Wolver- 
hampton ;  and  others. 

2  Some  establishments  in  the  same  line  of  business  were  jealous  of 
the  visit  of  foreigners  ;  but  to  our  views,  restriction  in  the  communica- 
tion of  new  ideas  on  mechanical  subjects  to  foreigners  of  intelligence 
and  enterprising  spirit  served  no  good  purpose,  as  the  foreign  engineer 
was  certain  to  obtain  all  the  information  he  was  in  quest  of  from  the  draw- 
ings in  the  Patent  Office,  or  from  the  admirable  engravings  contained  in 
the  engineering  publications  of  the  day.     It  was  better  to  derive  the 
advantage  of  supplying  them  with  the  machines  they  were  in  quest  of, 
than  to  wait  until  the  demand  was  supplied  by  foreigners  themselves. 


236  MY  DRAWING  COPIED.  CHAP. 

occasions ;  and  in  many  cases  it  was  the  means  of  suggest- 
ing ideas  of  machine  tools  to  our  customers,  and  thus  led 
to  orders  which  might  not  have  been  obtained  without 
this  effective  method  of  prompting  them.  Amongst  our 
foreign  visitors  was  M.  Schneider,  proprietor  of  the  great 
ironworks  at  Creuzot,  in  France.  We  had  supplied  him 
with  various  machine  tools,  and  he  was  so  pleased  with 
their  action  that  the  next  time  he  came  to  England  he 
called  at  our  office  at  Patricroft  M.  Bourdon,  his  mechan- 
ical manager,  accompanied  him. 

I  happened  to  be  absent  on  a  journey  at  the  time ;  but 
my  partner,  Mr.  Gaskell,  was  present.  After  showing  them 
over  the  works,  as  an  act  of  courtesy  he  brought  them  my 
Scheme  Book  and  allowed  them  to  examine  it.  He  pointed 
out  the  drawing  of  my  steam  hammer,  and  told  them  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  intended.  They  were  impressed 
with  its  simplicity  and  apparent  practical  utility, — so  much 
so,  that  M.  Bourdon  took  careful  notes  and  sketches  of  the 
constructive  details  of  the  hammer. 

I  was  informed  on  my  return  of  the  visit  of  MM. 
Schneider  and  Bourdon,  but  the  circumstance  of  their  hav- 
ing inspected  the  designs  in  my  Scheme  Book,  and  especially 
my  original  design  of  the  steam  hammer,  was  regarded 
by  my  partner  as  too  ordinary  and  trivial  an  incident  of 
their  visit  to  be  mentioned  to  me.  The  exhibition  of  my 
mechanical  designs  to  visitors  at  the  Foundry  was  a  matter 
of  almost  daily  occurrence.  I  was,  therefore,  in  entire 
ignorance  of  the  fact  that  these  foreign  visitors  had  taken 
with  them  to  France  a  copy  of  the  plan  and  details  of  my 
steam  hammer. 

It  was  not  until  my  visit  to  France  in  April  1842  that 
the  upshot  of  their  visit  was  brought  under  my  notice  in  an 
extraordinary  manner.  I  was  requested  by  M.  Bouchier, 
Minister  of  Marine,  to  visit  the  French  dockyards  and 
arsenals  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with  the  director  of 
each  with  reference  to  the  supply  of  various  machine  tools 
for  the  proper  equipment  of  the  marine  engine  factories  in 
connection  witli  the  Royal  Dockyards.  In  order  to  render 


xiii.  VISIT  TO  CREUZOT.  237 

this  journey  more  effective  and  instructive,  I  visited  most 
of  the  French  engineering  establishments  which  had  been 
supplied  with  machine  tools  by  our  firm.  Amongst  these 
was  of  course  the  famous  firm  of  Schneider,  whose  works 
at  Creuzot  lay  not  far  out  of  the  way  of  my  return 
journey.1  I  accordingly  made  my  way  thither,  and 
found  M.  Bourdon  at  his  post,  though  M.  Schneider 
was  absent. 

M.  Bourdon  received  me  with  much  cordiality.  As  he 
spoke  English  with  fluency  I  was  fortunate  in  finding  him 
present,  in  order  to  show  me  over  the  works ;  on  entering 
which,  one  of  the  things  that  particularly  struck  me  was  the 
excellence  of  a  large  wrought-iron  marine  engine  single 
crank,  forged  with  a  remarkable  degree  of  exactness  in  its 
general  form.  I  observed  also  that  the  large  eye  of  the 
crank  had  been  punched  and  drifted  with  extraordinary 
smoothness  and  truth.  I  inquired  of  M.  Bourdon  "  how 
that  crank  had  been  forged  ?"  His  immediate  reply  was, 
"  It  was  forged  by  your  steam  hammer  /" 

Great  was  my  surprise  and  pleasure  at  hearing  this  state- 
ment. I  asked  him  how  he  had  come  to  be  acquainted 
with  my  steam  hammer  ?  He  then  narrated  the  circum- 
stance of  his  visit  to  the  Bridgewater  Foundry  during  my 
absence.  He  told  me  of  my  partner  having  exhibited  to 
him  the  original  design,  and  how  much  he  was  struck  by 
its  simplicity^and  probable  efficiency ;  that  he  had  taken 
careful  notes  and  sketches  on  the  spot ;  that  among  the 
first  things  he  did  after  his  return  to  Creuzot  was  to  put  in 
hand  the  necessary  work  for  the  erection  of  a  steam  hammer ; 
and  that  the  results  had  in  all  respects  realised  the  high 
expectations  he  had  formed  of  it. 

M.  Bourdon  conducted  me  to  the  forge  department  of 
the  works,  that  I  might,  as  he  said,  "see  my  own  child;" 
and  there  it  was,  in  truth — a  thumping  child  of  my  brain. 
Until  then  it  had  only  existed  in  my  scheme  book  ;  and 
yet  it  had  often  and  often  been  before  my  mind's  eye  in 

1  The  particulars  of  this  journey  are  referred  to  in  a  future  chapter. 


233  STEAM  HAMMER  AT  CREUZOT.  CHAR 

full  action.  On  inspecting  the  steam  hammer  I  found  that 
Bourdon  had  omitted  some  important  details,  which  had  led 
to  a  few  mishaps,  especially  with  respect  to  the  frequent 
breaking  of  the  piston-rod  at  its  junction  with  the  hammer 
block.  He  had  effected  this,  in  the  usual  way,  by  means  of 
a  cutter  wedge  through  the  rod ;  but  he  told  me  that  it 
often  broke  through  the  severe  jar  during  the  action  of 
the  hammer.  I  sketched  for  him,  then  and  there,  in  full 
size  on  a  board,  the  elastic  packing  under  the  end  of  the 
piston-rod,  which  acted,  as  I  told  him,  like  the  cartilage 
between  the  bones  of  the  vertebrae,  preventing  the  destructive 
effects  of  violent  jars.  I  also  communicated  to  him  a  few 
other  important  details,  which  he  had  missed  in  his  hasty 
inspection  of  my  design.  Indeed,  I  felt  great  pleasure  in 
doing  so,  as  I  found  Bourdon  to  be  a  most  intelligent 
mechanic,  and  thoroughly  able  to  appreciate  the  practi- 
cal value  of  the  information  I  communicated  to  him. 
He  expressed  his  obligation  to  me  in  the  warmest 
terms,  and  the  alterations  .which  he  shortly  afterwards 
effected  in  the  steam  hammer,  in  accordance  with  my 
plans,  enabled  it  to  accomplish  everything  that  he  could 
desire. 

I  had  not  yet  taken  out  a  patent  for  the  steam  hammer. 
The  reason  was  this.  The  cost  of  a  patent'  at  the  time  I 
invented  it  was  little  short  of  £500,  all  expenses  included. 
My  partner  was  unwilling  to  lay  out  so  large  a  sum  upon 
an  invention  for  which  there  seemed  to  be  so  little  demand 
at  that  time ;  and  I  myself  had  the  whole  of  my  capital 
embarked  in  the  concern.  Besides,  the  general  depression 
still  continued  in  the  iron  trade ;  and  we  had  use  for  every 
farthing  of  money  we  possessed.  I  had  been  warned  of  the 
risk  I  ran  by  freely  exhibiting  my  original  design,  as  well 
as  by  sending  drawings  of  it  to  those  who  I  thought  were 
most  likely  to  bring  the  invention  into  use.  But  nothing 
had  as  yet  been  done  in  England.  It  was  left  for  France, 
as  I  have  described,  to  embody  my  invention  in  an  actual 
steam  hammer. 

I  now  became  alarmed,  and  feared  lest  I  should  lose  the 


xin.  A  PATENT  SECURED.  239 


benefits  of  my  invention.  As  my  partner  declined  to  help 
me,  I  applied  to  my  brother-in-law,  William  Bennett.  He 
was  a  practical  engineer,  and  had  expressed  himself  as 
highly  satisfied  with  its  value.  He  had  also  many  times 
cautioned  me  against  "  publishing  "  its  advantages  so  widely, 
without  having  first  protected  it  by  a  patent.  He  was 
therefore  quite  ready  to  come  to  my  assistance.  He  helped 
me  with  the  necessary  money,  and  the  invention  was  placed 
in  a  position  of  safety  so  far  as  my  interests  were  con- 
cerned. In  return  for  his  kindness  I  stipulated  that  the 
reimbursement  of  his  loan  should  be  a  first  charge  upon  any 
profits  arising  from  the  manufacture  of  the  steam  hammer ; 
and  also  that  he  should  have  a  share  in  the  profits  during 
the  period  of  the  patent  rights.  Mr.  Bennett  lived  for 
many  years,  rejoicing  in  the  results  of  his  kindness  to  me 
in  the  time  of  my  difficulty.  I  may  add  that  the  patent 
was  secured  in  June  1842,  or  less  than  two  months  after 
my  return  from  France. 

Soon  after  this,  the  iron  trade  recovered  from  its  de- 
pression. The  tide  of  financial  prosperity  of  the  Bridge- 
water  Foundry  soon  set  in,  and  my  partner's  sanguine 
confidence  in  my  ability  to  raise  it  to  the  condition  of  a 
thriving  and  prosperous  concern  was  justified  in  a  most 
substantial  manner.  In  order  to  make  the  most  effective 
demonstration  of  the  powers  and  capabilities  of  my  steam 
hammer,  I  constructed  one  of  30  cwt.  of  hammer  block, 
with  a  clear  four  feet  range  of  fall.  I  soon  had  it  set  to 
work ;  and  its  energetic  services  helped  us  greatly  in  our 
smith  and  forge  work.  It  was  admired  by  all  observers. 
People  came  from  a  distance  to  see  it.  Mechanics  and  iron- 
founders  wondered  at  the  new  power  which  had  been  born. 
The  precision  and  beauty  of  its  action  seemed  marvellous. 
The  attendant  could,  by  means  of  the  steam  slide-valve 
lever  in  his  hand,  transmit  his  will  to  the  action  of  the 
hammer,  and  thus  think  in  blows.  The  machine  combined 
great  power  with  gentleness.  The  hammer  could  be  made 
to  give  so  gentle  a  blow  as  to  crack  the  end  of  an  egg 
placed  in  a  wine  glass  on  the  anvil ;  whilst  the  next  blow 


240  HAND-GEAR  AND  SELF-ACTING.  CHAP. 

would  shake  the  parish,1  or  be  instantly  arrested  in  its 
descent  midway. 

Hand-gear  was  the  original  system  introduced  in  work- 
ing the  hammer.  A  method  of  self-acting  was  afterwards 
added.  In  1843,  I  admitted  steam  above  the  piston,  to 
aid  gravitation.  This  was  an  important  improvement. 
The  self-acting  arrangement  was  eventually  done  away 
with,  and  hand-gear  again  became  all  but  universal.  Sir 
John  Anderson,  in  his  admirable  Report  on  the  Vienna 
Exhibition  0/1873,  says:  "The  most  remarkable  features 
of  the  Nasmyth  hammers  were  the  almost  entire  abandon- 
ment of  the  old  self-acting  motion  of  the  early  hammers 
and  the  substitution  of  new  devices,  and  in  the  use  of  hand- 
gear  only  in  all  attempts  to  show  off  the  working.  There 
is  no  real  saving,  as  a  general  rule,  by  the  self-acting 
arrangement,  because  one  attendant  is  required  in  either 
case,  and  on  the  other  hand  there  is  frequently  a  positive 
loss  in  the  effect  of  the  blow.  By  hand-working,  with 
steam  on  top  of  piston,  the  full  force  can  be  more  readily 
maintained  until  the  blow  is  fully  delivered;  it  is  thus 
more  of  a  'dead  blow'  than  was  formerly  the  case  with 
the  other  system." 

There  was  no  want  of  orders  when  the  valuable 
qualities  of  the  steam  hammer  came  to  be  seen  and 
experienced.  The  first  order  came  from  Kushton  and 
Eckersley  of  Bolton,  who,  by  the  way,  had  seen  the  first 
copy  of  my  original  design  a  few  years  before.  The  steam 
hammer  I  made  for  them  was  more  powerful  than  my  own. 
The  hammer  block  was  of  five  tons  weight,  and  had  a  clear 
full  of  five  feet.  It  gave  every  satisfaction,  and  the  fame 
of  its  performances  went  abroad  amongst  the  ironworkers. 
The  Lowmoor  Ironworks  Company  followed  suit  with  au 


1  This  is  no  mere  figure  of  speech.  I  have  heard  the  tea-cups  rattle 
in  the  cupboard  iu  my  house  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  place  where 
the  hammer  was  at  work.  I  was  afterwards  informed  that  the  blows 
of  my  great  steam  hammer  at  Woolwich  Arsenal  were  sensibly  felt  at 
Greenwich  Observatory,  about  two  miles  distant. 


xin.  STEAM  HAMMER  AND  ANCHORS.  241 

order  for  one  of  the  same  size  and  power;  and  another 
came  from  Hawkes  and  Co.,  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 

One  of  the  most  important  uses  of  the  steam  hammer 
was  in  forging  anchors.  Under  the  old  system,  anchors — 
upon  the  soundness  of  which  the  safety  of  ships  so  often 
depends — were  forged  upon  the  "  bit  by  bit "  system.  The 
various  pieces  of  an  anchor  were  welded  together,  but  at 
the  parts  where  the  different  pieces  of  iron  were  welded 
together,  flaws  often  occurred ;  the  parts  would  break  off 
— blades  from  the  stock,  or  flukes  from  the  blades — and 
leave  the  vessel,  which  relied  upon  the  security  of  its 
anchor,  at  the  risk  of  the  winds  and  the  waves.  By  means 
of  the  steam  hammer  these  risks  were  averted.  The  slag 
was  driven  out  during  the  hammering  process.  The 
anchor  was  sound  throughout  because  it  was  welded  as  a 
whole. 

Those  who  are  technically  acquainted  with  smith  work 
as  it  used  to  be  practised,  by  what  I  term  the  "  bit  by  bit " 
system — that  is,  of  building  up  from  many  separate  parts 
of  iron,  afterwards  welded  together  into  the  required  form 
— can  appreciate  the  vast  practical  value  of  the  Die  method 
brought  into  general  use  by  the  controllable  but  immense 
power  of  the  steam  hammer.  At  a  very  early  period  of 
my  employment  of  the  steam  hammer,  I  introduced  the 
system  of  stamping  masses  of  welding  hot  iron  as  if  it 
had  been  clay,  and  forcing  it  into  suitable  moulds  or  dies 
placed  Upon  the  anvil.  This  practice  had  been  in  use  on 
a  small  scale  in  the  Birmingham  gun  trade.  The  ironwork 
of  firearms  was  thus  stamped  into  exact  form.  But,  until 
we  possessed  the  wide  range  and  perfectly  controllable 
powers  of  the  steam  hammer,  the  stamping  system  was 
confined  to  comparatively  small  portions  of  forge  work. 
The  new  power  enabled  the  die  and  stamp  system  to  be 
applied  to  the  largest  class  of  forge  work  ;  and  another  era 
in  the  working  of  ponderous  masses  of  smith  and  forge 
work  commenced,  and  has  rapidly  extended  until  the 
present  time.  Without  entering  into  further  details,  the 
steam  hammer  has  advanced  the  mechanical  arts,  especially 

R 


242  PATENT  FOR  THE  UNITED  STATES.      CHAP.  xin. 

with  relation  to  machinery  of  the  larger  class,  to  an  extent 
that  is  of  incalculable  importance. 

Soon  after  my  steam  hammer  had  exhibited  its  merits 
as  a  powerful  and  docile  agent  in  percussive  force,  and 
shown  its  applicability  to  some  of  the  most  important 
branches  of  iron  manufacture,  I  had  the  opportunity  of 
securing  a  patent  for  it  in  the  United  States.  This  was 
through  the  kind  agency  of  my  excellent  friend  and  solicitor, 
the  late  George  Humphries  of  Manchester.  Mr.  Humphries 
was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  intimate  friend  of 
Samuel  Vaughan  Merrick,  founder  of  the  eminent  engin- 
eering firm  of  that  city.  Through  his  instrumentality  I 
forwarded  to  Mr.  Merrick  all  the  requisite  documents  to 
enable  a  patent  to  be  secured  at  the  United  States  Patent 
Office  at  Washington.  I  transferred  the  patent  to  Mr. 
Merrick  in  order  that  it  might  be  worked  to  our  mutual 
advantage.  My  invention  was  thus  introduced  into 
America  under  the  most  favourable  auspices.  The  steam 
hammer  soon  found  its  way  into  the  principal  ironworks 
of  the  country.  The  admirable  straightforward  manner  in 
which  our  American  agent  conducted  the  business  from  first 
to  last  will  ever  command  my  grateful  remembrance. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

TRAVELS  IN  FRANCE  AND  ITALY. 

I  HAVE  already  referred  to  my  visit  to  Creuzot,  in  France. 
I  must  explain  how  it  was  that  I  was  induced  to  travel 
abroad.  The  French  Government  had  ordered  from  our 
firm  some  powerful  machine  tools,  which  were  manufactured, 
delivered,  and  found  to  give  every  satisfaction.  Shortly 
after,  I  received  a  letter  from  M.  Bouchier,  the  Minister 
of  Marine,  inviting  me  to  make  a  personal  visit  to  the 
French  naval  arsenals  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with 
the  directing  officials  as  to  the  mechanical  equipments  of 
their  respective  workshops. 

I  accordingly  proceeded  to  Paris,  and  was  received  most 
cordially  by  the  Minister  of  Marine.  After  conferring  with 
him,  I  was  furnished  with  letters  of  introduction  to  the 
directing  officers  at  Cherbourg,  Brest,  Rochefort,  Indret,  and 
Toulon.  While  in  Paris  I  visited  some  of  the  principal 
manufacturing  establishments,  the  proprietors  of  which  had 
done  business  with  our  firm.  I  also  visited  Arago  at  the 
Observatory,  and  saw  his  fine  array  of  astronomical  in- 
struments. The  magnificent  collections  of  antiquities  at 
the  Louvre  and  Hotel  Cluny  occupied  two  days  out  of  the 
four  I  spent  in  Paris ;  after  which  I  proceeded  on  my 
mission.  Rouen  lay  in  my  way,  and  I  could  not  fail  to 
stay  there  and  indulge  my  love  for  Gothic  architecture.  I 
visited  the  magnificent  Cathedral  and  the  Church  of  St. 
Ouen,  so  exquisite  in  its  beauty,  together  with  the  refined 
Gothic  architectural  remains  scattered  about  in  that  inter- 
esting and  picturesque  city.  I  was  delighted  beyond 


244  CHERBOURG  AND  BREST.  CHAP. 

measure  with  all  that  I  saw.  With  an  eye  to  business, 
however,  I  paid  a  visit  to  the  works  which  had  been 
established  by  the  late  Joseph  Locke  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Eouen  for  the  supply  of  locomotives  to  the  Havre, 
Rouen,  and  Paris  Railway.  The  works  were  then  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Buddicom. 

-.:  I  went  onward  through  Caen  to  Bayeux.  There  I 
rested  for  a  few  hours  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the 
superb  Norman  Cathedral,  and  also  to  inspect  the  cele- 
brated Bayeux  tapestry.  I  saw  the  needlework  of  Queen 
Matilda  and  her  handmaidens,  which  so  graphically  com- 
memorates the  history  of  the  Norman  Conquest.  In  the 
evening  I  reached  Cherbourg.  I  was  cordially  received 
by  the  directing  officer  of  the  dockyard,  which  is  of  very 
large  extent  and  surrounded  by  fortifications.  My  busi- 
ness was  with  the  smithy  or  atelier  des  forges,  and  the 
workshops  or  atdliers  des  machines.  There  I  recognised 
many  of  the  machine-tools  manufactured  at  the  Bridge- 
water  Foundry,  doing  excellent  work. 

My  next  visit  was  to  Brest,  the  chief  naval  arsenal  of 
France.  It  combines  a  dockyard,  arsenal,  and  fortress  of 
the  first  class.  Everything  has  been  done  to  make  the 
place  impregnable.  The  harbour  is  situated  on  the  north 
side  of  one  of  the  finest  havens  in  the  world,  and  is  almost 
land-locked.  Around  the  harbour  run  quays  of  great 
extent,  alongside  of  which  the  largest  ships  can  lie — five 
artificial  basins  being  excavated  out  of  the  solid  rock. 
The  whole  of  the  harbour  is  defended  by  tier  above  tier  of 
batteries.  Foreigners  are  not  permitted  to  enter  the 
dockyard  without  special  permission ;  but  as  I  was  armed 
with  my  letter  of  introduction  from  the  Minister  of  Marine, 
I  was  admitted  and  cordially  received,  as  at  Cherbourg.  I 
went  through  the  Government  foundry  and  steam-factory, 
for  which  I  had  supplied  many  of  my  machine  tools.  I 
found  the  establishment  to  be  the  largest  and  most  com- 
plete that  I  had  seen. 

From  Brest  I  went  to  Rochefort,  an  excellent  naval 
arsenal,  though  much  smaller  than  those  at  Cherbourg  and 


xiv.  M.  ROSINE.  245 


Brest.  Next  to  Indret  on  the  Loire.  Here  is  the  large 
factory  where  marine  engines  are  made  for  the  royal 
steamers.  The  works  were  superintended  by  M.  Rosine, 
a  most  able  man.  I  was  so  much  pleased  with  him  that 
I  spent  two  days  in  his  society.  I  have  rarely  met  with 
a  more  perfect  union  of  the  sound  practical  mechanic,  of 
strong  common-sense,  and  yet  with  a  vivid  imagination, 
which  threw  a  light  upon  every  subject  that  he  touched. 
It  was  delightful  to  see  the  perfect  manner  in  which  he 
had  arranged  all  the  details  of  the  engine  factory  under 
his  superintendence,  and  to  observe  the  pride  which  he 
took  in  the  accuracy  of  the  work  turned  out  by  his 
excellent  machinery.  It  was  a  treat  to  see  the  magnificent 
and  intricate  iron  castings  produced  there. 

As  M.  Rosine  spoke  English  fluently,  we  had  discussions 
on  a  vast  variety  of  topics,  not  only  relating  to  technical 
subjects,  but  on  other  matters  relating  to  art  and  mechani- 
cal drawing.  He  was  one  of  the  few  men  I  have  met  who 
had  in  perfection  the  happy  accomplishment  of  sketching 
with  true  artistic  spirit  any  object  that  he  desired  to  bring 
before  you.  His  pencil  far  outstripped  language  in  con- 
veying distinct  ideas  on  constructive  and  material  objects. 
The  time  that  I  spent  in  the  company  of  this  most 
interesting  man  will  ever  remain  vivid  in  my  memory.  It 
grieved  me  greatly  to  hear  of  his  premature  death  about 
two  years  after  the  date  of  my  visit.  He  must  have  been 
a  sad  loss  to  his  deeply  attached  friends,1  as  well  as  to  the 
nation  whom  he  so  faithfully  served. 

On  my  way  to  Toulon  I  passed  through  Bordeaux,  and 
by  Avignon  to  Nismes.  At  the  latter  city  I  was  delighted 
with  the  sight  of  the  exquisite  Roman  temple,  the  Maison 
Carrte.  It  is  almost  perfect.  But  the  most  interesting  of 
the  Roman  remains  at  Nismes  is  the  magnificent  Amphi- 

1  The  only  man  I  ever  met,  to  whom  I  might  compare  Rosine,  was 
my  lamented  friend  Francis  Humphries,  engineer  of  the  Great  Western 
Steamship  Company.  Both  were  men  of  the  same  type,  though  Rosine 
was  several  octaves  higher  in  the  compass  and  vividness  of  his  intellect. 


246  ARCHITECTURE  AT  NISMES.  CHAP. 

theatre.  In  viewing  this  grand  specimen  of  architecture, 
as  well  as  the  old  temples,  cathedrals,  and  castles,  I  felt 
that  we  moderns  are  comparative  pigmies.  Our  architec- 
ture wants  breadth,  grandeur,  sublimity. 

It  appears  to  me  that  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  the  in- 
feriority and  defects  of  Modern  Architecture  is,  that  our 
designers  are  so  anxious  to  display  their  taste  in  ornament- 
ation. They  first  design  the  exterior,  and  then  fit  into  it 
the  interior  of  their  building.  The  purpose  of  the  building 
is  thus  regarded  as  a  secondary  consideration.  In  short, 
they  utilise  ornament  instead  of  ornamenting  utility — a  total 
inversion,  as  it  appears  to  me,  of  the  fundamental  principle 
which  ought  to  govern  all  classes  of  architectural  structures. 
This  is,  unfortunately,  too  evident  in  most  of  our  public 
buildings.  See,  for  instance,  our  new  Law  Courts. 

One  thing  I  was  especially  struck  with  at  Nismes — the 
ease  with  which  some  thousands  of  people  might  issue, 
without  hindrance,  from  the  Amphitheatre.  The  wedge- 
shaped  passages  radiate  from  the  centre,  and,  widening 
outwards,  would  facilitate  the  egress  of  an  immense  crowd. 
Contrast  this  with  the  difficulty  of  getting  out  of  any  modern 
theatre  or  church  in  case  of  alarm  or  fire.  Another  thing 
is  remarkable — the  care  with  which  the  huge  blocks  of 
magnesian  limestone1  have  been  selected.  Some  of  the 
stone  slabs  are  eighteen  feet  long;  they  roof  over  the 
corridors ;  yet  they  still  retain  the  marks  of  the  Roman 
chisel.  Every  individual  chip  is  as  crisp  as  on  the  day  on 
which  it  was  made ;  even  the  delicate  "  scribe  "  marks,  by 
which  the  mason  some  1900  years  ago  lined  out  his  work 
on  the  blocks  of  stone  he  was  about  to  chip  into  its  re- 
quired form,  are  still  perfectly  distinct. 

This  wonderfully  durable  stone  is  of  the  same  material 
as  that  employed  by  lithographers.  Though  magnesian,  it 
is  of  a  different  quality  from  that  employed  in  building 
our  Houses  of  Parliament.  As  this  was  carefully  selected, 

1  I  believe  Dolomite  is  the  proper  geological  term.  This  fine 
niatri  ial  abounds  in  this  part  of  France,  and  has  materially  contributed 
to  the  durability  of  the  Roman  mason  work. 


xiv.  THE  COL  D'OLLIOULLES.  247 

the  latter  was  carelessly  ^selected.  It  was  quarried  at 
random,  in  the  most  ignorant  way ;  some  of  it  proved 
little  better  than  chalk ;  and  though  all  sorts  of  nostrums 
have  been  tried,  nothing  will  cure  the  radical  defect. 
This,  however,  is  a  wide  digression  from  my  subject  of 
the  admirable  mason  work,  and  the  wonderful  skill  and 
forethought  employed  in  erecting  that  superb  arena  and 
the  other  Koman  buildings  at  Nismes. 

I  proceeded  to  Marseilles,  where  I  had  some  business  to 
transact  with  Philip  Taylor  and  Company,  the  engineering 
firm.  They  were  most  kind  and  attentive  to  me  while 
there,  and  greatly  added  to  the  enjoyment  of  my  visit  to 
that  remarkable  city.  From  Marseilles  I  proceeded  to 
Toulon,  the  last  of  the  marine  dockyards  I  had  to  visit. 
There  was  no  railway  between  the  places  at  that  time,  and 
it  was  accordingly  necessary  that  I  should  drive  along  the 
usual  road.  In  the  course  of  my  journey  to  Toulon  I  went 
through  the  Pass  of  Col  d'Ollioulles.  It  was  awfully  im- 
pressive. The  Pass  appeared  to  consist  of  a  mighty  cleft 
between  two  mountains ;  the  result  of  some  convulsion  of 
Nature.  There  was  only  room  for  the  carriage  road  to 
pass  between  the  cliffs.  The  ruins  of  a  Saracenic  castle 
stood  on  the  heights  to  guard  the  passage.  It  was  cer- 
tainly the  most  romantic  scene  I  had  ever  beheld. 

Looking  down  into  the  deep  cleft  below  me,  at  the 
bottom  of  which  ran  a  turbulent  stream,  I  saw  the  narrow 
road  along  which  our  carriage  was  to  pass.  And  then 
suddenly  I  emerged  in  full  sight  of  the  Mediterranean,  with 
the  calm  blue  heavens  resting  over  the  deep  blue  sea. 
There  were  palms,  cactuses,  and  orange  trees,  mixed  with 
olive  groves.  The  fields  were  full  of  tulips  and  narcissuses, 
and  the  rocks  by  the  roadside  were  covered  with  boxwood 
and  lavender.  Everything  gave  evidence  of  the  sunny 
South.  I  had  got  a  glimpse  of  the  Mediterranean  a  few 
days  before  ;  but  now  I  saw  it  in  its  glory. 

I  arrived  in  due  time  at  Toulon.  The  town  is  not  very 
striking  in  itself.  It  is  surrounded  by  an  amphitheatre  of 
mountains  of  hard  magnesian  limestone.  These  are  almost 


248  LISTLESSNESS  OF  TOULON.  CHAP. 

devoid  of  vegetation.  This  it  is  which  gives  so  arid  an 
aspect  to  this  part  of  the  coast.  Facing  the  south,  the 
sun's  rays,  reflected  from  the  bare  surface  of  the  rocks, 
place  one  at  mid-day  as  if  in  the  focus  of  a  great  burning 
mirror,  and  send  every  one  in  quest  of  shade.  This  in- 
tense temperature  has  its  due  effect  upon  the  workers  in 
the  dockyard.  I  found  the  place  far  inferior  to  the  others 
which  I  had  visited.  The  heat  seemed  to  engender  a  sort 
of  listlessness  over  the  entire  place.  The  people  seemed 
to  be  falling  asleep.  Though  we  complain  of  cold  in  our 
northern  hemisphere,  it  is  a  great  incentive  to  work. 
Even  our  east  wind  is  an  invigorator ;  it  braces  us  up,  and 
strengthens  our  nerves  and  muscles. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  the  workmen  of  the  Toulon 
dockyard  might  fire  up  and  work  with  energy  provided  an 
occasion  arose  to  call  forth  their  dormant  energy.  But 
without  the  aid  of  an  almost  universal  introduction  of 
self-acting  tools  in  this  sleepy  establishment,  to  break, 
with  the  busy  hum  of  active  working  machinery,  the  spell 
of  indolence  that  seemed  to  pervade  it,  there  appeared 
to  me  no  hope  of  anything  like  continuous  and  effec- 
tive industry  or  useful  results.  The  docks  looked  like 
one  vast  knacker's  yard  of  broken-down  obsolete 
ships  and  wretched  old  paraphernalia  —  unfortunately 
a  characteristic  of  other  establishments  nearer  home 
than  Toulon. 

After  transacting  my  business  with  the  directing  officers 
of  this  vast  dockyard  I  returned  to  Marseilles.  There  I 
found  letters  requiring  me  to  proceed  to  Naples,  in  order 
to  complete  some  business  arrangements  in  that  city.  I 
was  exceedingly  rejoiced  to  have  an  opportunity  of  visiting 
the  south  of  Italy.  I  set  out  at  once.  A  fine  new  steamer 
of  the  Messageries  Imp6riales,  the  Ercolano,  was  ready  to 
sail  from  the  harbour.  I  took  my  place  on  board.  I 
found  that  the  engines  had  been  made  by  Maudsley  Sons 
and  Field ;  they  were  of  their  latest  improved  double- 
cylinder  construction.  When  I  went  down  into  the 
engine-room  I  felt  myself  in  a  sense  at  home ;  for  the 


nv.  FROM  MARSEILLES  TO  GEXOJL  Ml 

of  the  engines  brought  to  my  mind  many  a  pleasant 
remembrance  of  the  days  gone  by. 

We  steamed  out  of  the  harbour,  and  passed  in  snc- 
n  the  beautiful  little  islands  which  gem  the  bay  of 
Marseilles.  Amongst  others,  the  isle  of  If,  crowned  by  its 
castle,  once  a  State  prison,  and  the  Chateau  d'lf,  immor- 
talised by  Dumas.  Then  Pomegne,  Eatonean,  and  other 
islands.  We  were  now  on  the  deep  blue  Mediterranean, 
watching  the  graceful  corves  of  the  coast  as  we  steamed  along. 
Soon  after,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  snow-capped  maritime 
Alps  behind  Nice.  The  evening  was  calm  and  dear,  and 
a  bright  moon  shone  overhead.  Next  morning  I  awoke 
in  the  harbour  of  Genoa,  with  a  splendid  panoramic  view 
of  the  city  before  me.  I  shall  never  forget  the  glorious 
sight  of  that  clear  bright  morning  as  long  as  I  live. 

As  the  steamer  was  to  remain  in  the  harbour  until  two 
o'clock  next  day,  I  landed  with  the  passengers  and  saw  the 
wonders  of  the  city.  I  felt  as  if  I  were  in  a  new  world. 
On  every  side  and  all  around  me  were  objects  of  art  lighted 
up  by  glorious  sunshine.  The  picturesque  narrow  streets, 
with  the  blue  sky  overhead  and  the  bright  sunshine  light- 
ing up  the  beautiful  architecture  of  the  palatial  houses,  re- 
lieved by  masses  of  clear  shade,  together  with  the  pictur- 
esque dresses  of  the  people,  and  the  baskets  of  oranges  and 
lemons  with  the  leaves  on  the  boughs  on  which  they  had 
been  born  and  reared,  the  brilliant  greenery  of  the  inner 
courts  into  which  you.  peeped  while  passing  along  the 
Strada  Xuova,  literally  a  street  of  palaces,  threw  me  into  a 
fervency  of  delight  Here,  indeed,  was  architecture  to  be 
proud  of — grand,  imposing,  and  massive — chastely  yet 
gloriously  ornamented.  There  was  nothing  of  the  ginger- 
bread order  here ! 

The  plan  of  these  palaces  is  admirable.  They  are  open 
to  the  street,  so  that  all  the  inner  arrangements  may  be 
seen.  There  is  the  court,  surrounded  by  arcades,  the 
arches  of  which  rest  upon  columns  ;  the  nights  of  marble 
steps  on  each  side,  leading  to  the  great  hall  or  the 
principal  apartments;  and  inside  the  court,  the  pink 


250  INTEREST  OF  GENOA.  CHAP. 

daphnes  and  Tangerine  orange  trees,  surrounded  by 
greenery,  with  which  the  splendour  of  the  marble  ad- 
mirably contrasts  ;  —  the  whole  producing  a  magnificent 
effect.  I  remembered  that  Genoa  la  superba  was  one  of 
rny  father's  pet  subjects  when  talking  of  his  first  visit  to 
Italy ;  and  now  I  could  confirm  all  that  he  had  said  about 
the  splendour  of  its  palaces. 

I  do  not  know  of  anything  more  delightful  than  to 
grope  one's  way  through  a  foreign  city,  especially  such  a 
city  as  Genoa,  and  come  unexpectedly  upon  some  building 
that  one  has  heard  of — that  has  dimly  lived  in  the  mind  like 
a  dream — and  now  to  see  it  realised  in  fact.  It  suddenly 
starts  into  life,  as  it  were,  surrounded  by  its  natural  associa- 
tions. I  hate  your  professional  guides  and  their  constant 
chatter.  Much  better  to  come  with  a  mind  prepared  with 
some  history  to  fall  back  upon,  and  thus  be  enabled  to 
compare  the  present  with  the  past,  the  living  with  the  dead. 

I  climbed  up  some  of  the  hills  surrounding  Genoa — for 
it  is  a  city  of  ups  and  downs.  I  wandered  about  the 
terraced  palaces  surrounded  by  orange  groves,  and  sur- 
veyed the  fortified  heights  by  which  the  place  is  sur- 
rounded. What  exquisite  bits  of  scenery  there  were  to 
sketch ;  what  a  rich  combination  of  nature  and  art !  And 
what  a  world  of  colour,  with  the  clear  blue  sea  in  the 
distance  !  Altogether,  that  one  day  at  Genoa  —  though 
but  a  succession  of  glimpses  —  formed  a  bright  spot  in 
my  life,  that  neither  time  nor  distance  can  dim  or  tarnish. 

I  returned  to  the  harbour  two  hours  before  the  steamer 
was  to  leave.  To  commemorate  my  visit,  I  mounted  the 
top  of  the  paddle-box,  took  out  my  sketch  book,  and  made 
a  panoramic  view  of  Genoa  as  seen  from  the  harbour.  I 
did  it  in  pencil  at  the  time,  and  afterwards  filled  it  up 
with  ink.  When  the  pages  of  the  sketch  book  had  been 
joined  together  the  panoramic  view  extended  to  about 
eight  feet  long.  The  accuracy  of  the  detail,  as  well  as  the 
speed  with  which  the  drawing  was  done,  were  perhaps 
rather  creditable  to  the  draughtsman  —  at  least  so  my 
artistic  friends  were  pleased  to  tell  me.  Indeed,  many 


XIV. 


BUILDINGS  AT  PISA. 


251 


years  after,  a  friend  at  court  desired  to  submit  it  to  the 
highest  Lady  in  the  land,  and,  being  herself  an  artist,  she 
expressed  herself  as  highly  gratified  with  the  performance. 
'•  The  next  station  the  steamer  touched  at  was  Leghorn. 
As  the  vessel  was  not  to  start  until  next  day,  there  was 
sufficient  time  for  me  to  run  up  to  Pisa.  There  I  spent  a 
delightful  day,  principally  in  wandering  about  that  glorious 
group  of  buildings  situated 
so  near  to  each  other — the 
Cathedral,  the  Baptistery,  the 
Campo  Santo,  and  the  Cam- 
panile or  Leaning  Tower. 
What  interested  me  most  at 
the  Cathedral  was  the  two 
bronze  lamps  suspended  at 
the  end  of  the  nave,  which 
suggested  to  the  mind  of 
Galileo  the  invention  of  the 
pendulum.  Thousands  had 
seen  the  lamps  swinging  be- 
fore them,  but  he  alone  would 
know  "  the  reason  why." 
The  one  swung  at  a  different 
rate  as  compared  with  the 
other,  being  the  result  of  the 
chains  being  hung  of  different 
lengths.  Hence  Galileo's  dis- 
covery of  the  principle  or  Law 
of  the  Pendulum.  This  paved 
the  way  for  Newton's  law  of 
gravitation — one  of  the  grand- 
est laws  of  the  universe. 

Some  of  the  finest  works  of  Andrea  del  Sarto,  son  of 
the  Tailor,  are  found  here.  Indeed,  the  works  of  that  great 
painter  are  little  known  out  of  Pisa  and  Florence.  I  was 
reluctant  to  tear  myself  away  from  Pisa  ;  but  the 
Ercolano  could  not  wait,  and  I  was  back  in  good  time, 
and  soon  under  weigh. 


A   MONK   ON   BOAKD. 


252 


DISTANT  VIEW  OF  VESUVIUS. 


CHAP. 


The  next  port  we  touched  at  was  Civita  Vecchia,  one 
of  the  most  dreary  places  that  can  be  imagined,  though 
at  one  time  an  Etruscan  city,  and  afterwards  the  port  of 
Trajan.  I  did  not  land,  as  there  were  some  difficulties  in 


DISTANT    VIEW    OF    VKSL'VH.S. 


the  way  of  passports.  \Vc  steamed  on  ;  and  next  morning 
when  I  awoke  we  were  passing  the  coast  of  Ischia.  \\V 
could  scarcely  see  the  island,  for  a  thick  mist  had  over- 
spread the  sea.  Naples  was  still  hidden  from  our  sight, 
but  over  the  mist  I  could  observe  the  summit  of  Vesuvius 
vomiting  forth  dense  clouds  of  white  smoke.  The  black 


XIY.  THE  NATIONAL  MUSEUM.  253 

summit  of  the  crater  appeared  floating  in  the  clear  blue 
sky.  But  the  heat  of  the  sun  shortly  warmed  the  mist, 
and  it  floated  away  like  a  curtain. 

A  grand  panorama  then  lay  before  us.  Naples  looked 
bright  and  magnificent  under  the  sunlight.  The  sea  was 
so  smooth  that  the  buildings  and  towers  and  convents  and 
spires  were  reflected  in  the  water.  On  our  left  lay  the 
Bay  of  Baise,  with  its  castles  and  temples  and  baths,  dating 
from  the  days  of  the  Roman  Republic.  To  the  right  lay 
Castellamare,  Sorrento,  and  the  island  of  Capri.  But  the 
most  prominent  object  was  Vesuvius  in  front,  with  its 
expanding  cloud  of  white  smoke  over  the  landscape. 
*"  On  landing,  I  took  up  my  quarters  at  the  Hotel 
Victoria.  I  sallied  forth  to  take  my  first  hasty  view  of 
the  Chiaia,  the  streets,  and  the  principal  buildings.  But, 
in  accordance  with  my  motto  of  "Duty  first,  pleasure 
second,"  I  proceeded  to  attend  to  the  business  respecting 
which  I  had  visited  Naples.  That,  however,  was  soon 
disposed  of.  In  a  few  days  I  was  able  to  attend  to  plea- 
sure. I  made  my  way  to  the  Museo  Borbonico,  now 
called  the  National  Museum.  I  found  it  a  rich  mine  of 
precious  treasures,  consisting  of  Greek,  Etruscan,  and 
Roman  antiquities  of  every  description.  Not  the  least 
interesting  part  of  the  Museum  is  the  collection  of  marbles, 
pictures,  and  articles  of  daily  use,  dug  from  the  ruins  of 
the  buried  city  of  Pompeii.  Every  spare  hour  that  I 
could  command  was  occupied  in  visiting  and  revisiting 
this  wonderful  Museum. 

Herculaneum  and  Pompeii  were  also  visited,  but,  more 
than  all,  the  crater  of  Vesuvius.  During  my  visit  the 
mountain  was  in  its  normal  state.  I  mounted  the  volcanic 
ashes  with  which  it  is  strewn,  and  got  to  the  top.  There 
I  could  look  down  into  the  pit  from  which  the  clouds  of 
steam  are  vomited  forth.  I  went  down  to  the  very  edge 
of  the  crater,  stood  close  to  its  mouth,  and  watched  the 
intermittent  up-rushing  of  the  blasts  of  vapour  and  sul- 
phureous gases.  To  keep  clear  of  these  I  stood  to  the 
windward  side,  and  was  thus  out  of  harm's  way. 


254  THE  CRATER  OF  VESUVIUS.  CHAP. 

What  struck  me  most  was  the  wonderfully  brilliant 
colours  of  the  rugged  lava  rocks  forming  the  precipitous 
cliffs  of  the  interior  walls  of  the  crater.  These  brilliant 
colours  were  the  result  of  the  sublimation  and  condensation 
on  their  surfaces  of  the  combinations  of  sulphur  and  chloride 
of  iron,  quite  as  bright  as  if  they  had  been  painted  with 
bright  red,  chrome,  and  all  the  most  brilliant  tints. 
Columns  of  all  manner  of  chemical  vapours  ascended  from 
the  clefts  and  deep  cracks,  at  the  bottom  of  which  I 
clearly  saw  the  bright  hot  lava, 

I  rolled  as  big  a  mass  of  cool  lava  as  I  could  to  the 
edge  of  the  crater  and  heaved  it  down ;  but  I  heard  no 
sound.  Doubtless  the  depth  was  vast,  or  it  might  probably 
have  fallen  into  the  molten  lava,  and  thus  made  no  noise. 
On  leaving  this  horrible  pit  edge,  I  tied  the  card  of  the 
Bridgewater  Foundry  to  a  bit  of  lava  and  threw  it  in,  as 
token  of  respectful  civility  to  Vulcan,  the  head  of  our  craft. 

I  had  considerably  more  difficulty  in  clambering  up  to 
the  top  edge  of  the  crater  than  I  had  in  coming  down. 
Once  or  twice,  indeed,  I  was  half  choked  by  the  swirls  of 
sulphureous  and  muriatic  acid  vapour  that  environed  me 
before  I  could  reach  the  upper  edge.  I  sat  down  in  a  nook, 
though  it  was  a  very  hot  one,  and  made  a  sketch  or  two  of 
the  appearance  of  the  crater.  But  I  feel  that  it  is  quite 
beyond  my  power  either  by  pen  or  pencil,  to  convey  an 
idea  of  the  weird  unearthly  aspect  which  the  funnel-shaped 
crater  of  Vesuvius  presented  at  that  time.  An  eruption  of 
unusual  violence  had  occurred  shortly  before  I  saw  it. 
Great  rounded  blocks  of  lava  had  been  thrown  high  into 
the  air  again  and  again,  and  had  fallen  back  into  the 
terrible  focus  of  volcanic  violence.  Vast  portions  of  the 
rugged  and  precipitous  sides  of  the  crater  had  fallen  in, 
and  were  left  in  a  state  of  the  wildest  confusion.  When  I 
visited  the  place  the  eruption  had  comparatively  subsided. 
The  throat  of  the  crater  was  a  rugged  opening  of  more  than 
forty  feet  diameter,  leading  down  to — "Where?  Echo 
answers,  « Where?" 

And  yet  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  great  mass  of 


xiv.  VOLCANIC  ACTION.  255 

materials  which  lay  around  me  as  I  made  my  sketches, 
had  been  shot  up  from  inconceivable  depths  beneath  the 
solid  crust  of  the  earth.  There  still  remains  an  enormous 
mass  of  molten  materials  that  has  been  shut  up  beneath 
that  crust  since  the  surface  of  the  globe  assumed  its 
present  condition.  The  mineral  matter  that  formed  the 
globe  had  converged  towards  its  centre  of  gravity,  and  the 
arrestment  of  the  momentum  of  the  coalescing  particles 
resulted  in  intense  heat.  Hence  the  molten  condition  of 
the  globe  in  its  primitive  state.  The  molten  lava  of  vol- 
canoes is  the  survival  of  that  original  cosmical  heat. 

This  heat  has  played  a  great  part  in  the  physical 
history  of  the  globe.  Volcanic  action  has  been,  as  it  were, 
the  universal  plough  !  It  has  given  us  mountains,  hills, 
and  valleys.  It  has  given  us  picturesque  scenery,  gorges, 
precipices,  waterfalls.  The  upheaving  agent  has  displayed 
the  mineral  treasures  of  the  earth,  and  enabled  man,  by 
intelligent  industry,  to  use  them  as  mines  of  material 
blessings.  This  is  indeed  a  great  and  sublime  subject. 

I  had  remained  near  the  mouth  of  the  crater  for  about 
five  hours.  Evening  was  approaching.  My  drawings  were 
finished,  and  I  prepared  to  leave.  My  descent  from  the 
summit  of  the  crater  edge  was  comparatively  rapid,  though 
every  footstep  went  down  some  fifteen  inches  through  the 
volcanic  ashes.  I  descended  by  the  eastern  side,  and  was 
soon  at  the  base  of  the  great  cone.  I  made  my  way  by 
tortuous  walking  round  the  erupted  masses  of  lava,  and 
also  by  portions  of  the  lava  streams,  which,  on  losing  their 
original  fluidity,  had  become  piled  up  and  contorted  into 
gigantic  masses. 

At  the  extreme  edges  of  the  flow,  where  the  lava  had 
become  viscid,  these  folds  and  contortions  were  very  remark- 
able. They  were  piled  fold  over  fold, — the  result  of  the 
mighty  pressure  from  behind.  It  was  sad  to  see  so  many 
olive  gardens  burnt  and  destroyed ;  the  trees  were  as  black 
as  charcoal.  It  is  singular  to  see  the  numbers  of  orange 
and  olive  growers  who  choose  to  live  so  near  to  the  "  fiery 
element."  But  the  heat  presses  forward  the  growth  of 


. 

256  WINE  HOUSE  AT  ROSINA.  CHAP. 


vegetation.  To  be  there  is  like  living  in  a  hothouse ;  and 
the  soil  is  extraordinarily  fertile.  Hence  the  number  of 
vineyards  quite  close  to  the  base  of  Vesuvius.  The  culti- 
vators endeavour  to  enclose  their  gardens  with  hard  masses 
of  lava,  so  as  to  turn  off  the  flow  of  the  molten  streams  in 
other  directions;  but  the  lava  bursts  through  the  walls 
again  and  again,  and  the  gardens  are  often  utterly  burnt 
up  and  ruined.  Almost  every  field  at  the  base  of  Vesuvius 
contains  a  neat  little  oratory,  with  a  statue  of  the  Virgin 
and  Child,  to  which  the  cultivators  repair  in  times  of  peril 
and  calamity.  But  chapel,  statue,  and  gardens  are  alike 
swept  away  by  the  tremendous  descent  of  the  molten  lava. 

As  the  night  was  growing  dark,  I  made  my  way  from 
these  riskful  farms  to  Eosina,  a  little  village  on  the  way 
back  to  Naples.  As  I  had  had  nothing  to  eat  or  drink 
during  this  thirst-producing  journey,  I  went  into  a  wine 
shop  and  asked  for  some  refreshment.  The  wine  shop  was 
a  sort  of  vault,  with  a  door  like  that  of  a  coach-house,  but 
with  a  bench  and  narrow  table.  The  good  woman  brought 
me  a  great  green  glass  bottle  like  a  vitriol  carboy !  It 
contained  more  than  six  gallons  of  wine,  and  she  left  me 
with  a  big  glass  to  satisfy  my  wants.  The  wine  was  the 
veritable  LpehrytMt  Christi — a  delightful  light  claret — for 
producing  which  the  vineyards  at  the  base  of  Vesuvius  are 
famous.  After  some  most  glorious  swigs  from  this  generous 
and  jovial  carboy,  accompanied  with  some  delightful  fresh- 
made  bread,  I  felt  myself  up  to  anything.  After  washing 
down  the  dust  that  I  had  swallowed  during  the  day,  I 
settled  with  my  liberal  landlady  (indeed  she  was  mightily 
pleased  with  only  tenpence),  and  started  for  Naples. 

I  had  still  an  eight-mile  walk  before  me,  but  that  was 
nothing  to  my  vigorous  powers  at  that  time.  The  moon 
had  risen  during  my  stay  in  the  wine  house,  and  it  shone 
with  a  bright  clear  light.  After  a  few  miles'  walking  I 
felt  a  little  tired,  for  the  day's  exercise  had  been  rather 
toilsome.  A  fine  carriage  passed  me  on  the  road  with  a 
most  tempting  platform  behind.  I  hailed  the  driver,  and 
was  allowed  to  mount.  I  was  soon  bowling  along  the  lava- 


xiv.  RETURN  JOURNEY.  257 

paved  road,  and  in  a  short  time  I  arrived  at  Naples.  I 
made  another  excursion  to  the  crater  of  Vesuvius  before  I 
left,  as  well  as  visits  to  Herculaneum  and  Pompeii,  which 
exceedingly  interested  me.  But  these  I  need  not  attempt 
to  relate.  I  refer  my  readers  to  Murray's  Guide  Book, 
where  both  are  admirably  described. 

After  completing  my  business  affairs  at  Naples,  and 
sowing  the  seeds  of  several  orders,  which  afterwards  bore 
substantial  results,  I  left  the  city  by  the  same  line  of 
steamers.  I  passed  again  Civita  Vecchia,  Leghorn,  Genoa, 
and  Marseilles.  On  passing  through  the  South  of  France  I 
visited  the  works  of  several  of  our  employers,  and  carried 
back  with  me  many  orders.  It  was  when  at  Creuzot  that 
I  saw  the  child  of  my  brain,  the  steam  hammer,  in 
full  and  efficient  work.  But  this  I  have  referred  to  in  a 
previous  chapter. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

STEAM   HAMMER   PILE-DRIVER, 

IN  1840  I  furnished  Sir  Edward  Parry  with  a  drawing  of 
my  steam  hammer,  in  the  hope  that  I  might  induce  him  to 
recommend  its  adoption  in  the  Royal  Dockyards.  Sir 
Edward  was  at  that  time  the  head  director  of  the  steam 
marine  of  England.  That  was  after  the  celebrity  he  had 
acquired  through  his  Arctic  voyages.  I  was  of  opinion 
that  the  hammer  might  prove  exceedingly  useful  in  forging 
anchors  and  large  iron  work  in  those  great  establishments. 
Sir  Edward  appeared  to  be  much  struck  with  the  simplicity 
and  probable  efficiency  of  the  invention.  But  the  Admiralty 
Board  were  very  averse  to  introducing  new  methods  of 
manufacturing  into  the  dockyards.  Accordingly,  my  in- 
terview with  Sir  Edward  Parry,  notwithstanding  his  good 
opinion,  proved  fruitless. 

Time  passed  by.  I  had  furnished  steam  hammers  to 
the  principal  foundries  in  England.  I  had  sent  them 
abroad,  even  to  Russia.  At  length  it  became  known  to 
the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  that  a  new  power  in  forging 
had  been  introduced.  This  was  in  1843,  three  years  after 
I  had  submitted  my  design  to  Sir  Edward  Parry.  The 
result  was  that  my  Lords  appointed  a  deputation  of  in- 
telligent officers  to  visit  my  foundry  at  Patricroft  to  see 
the  new  invention.  It  consisted  of  Captain  Denison 
(brother  of  the  late  Speaker),  and  Captain  Burgman, 
Resident  Engineer  at  Devonport  Dockyard.  They  were 
well  able  to  understand  the  powerful  agency  of  the  steam 
hammer  for  marine  forge  work.  I  gave  them  every  oppor- 


CHAP.  xv.         STEAM  HAMMER  AT  DEVONPORT.  259 

tunity  for  observing  its  action.  They  were  much  pleased, 
and  I  may  add  astonished,  at  its  range,  power,  and 
docility. 

Besides  showing  them  my  own  steam  hammer,  I  took 
the  deputation  to  the  extensive  works  of  Messrs.  Eushton 
and  Eckersley,  where  they  saw  one  of  my  five-ton  hammer- 
block  steam  hammers  in  full  action.  It  was  hammering 
out  some  wrought-iron  forgings  of  the  largest  class,  as  well 
as  working  upon  smaller  forgings.  By  exhibiting  the  wide 
range  of  power  of  the  steam  hammer,  these  gentlemen  were 
entirely  satisfied  of  its  fitness  for  all  classes  of  forgings  for 
the  naval  service.  They  reported  to  the  Admiralty  accord- 
ingly, and  in  a  few  days  we  received  an  official  letter,  with 
an  order  for  a  steam  hammer  having  a  50  cwt.  hammer- 
block,  together  with  the  appropriate  boiler,  crane,  and 
forge  furnace,  so  as  to  equip  a  complete  forge  shop  at 
Devonport  Dockyard.  This  was  my  first  order  from  the 
Government  for  a  steam  hammer. 

When  everything  was  ready,  I  set  out  for  Devonport  to 
see  the  hammer  and  the  other  portions  of  the  machinery 
carefully  erected.  In  about  a  fortnight  it  was  ready  for  its 
first  stroke.  As  good  luck  would  have  it,  the  Lords  of  the 
Admiralty  were  making  their  annual  visit  of  inspection  to 
the  dockyard  that  day.  They  arrived  too  late  in  the  after- 
noon for  a  general  inspection  of  the  establishment;  but 
they  asked  the  superintending  admiral  if  there  was  any- 
thing of  importance  which  they  might  see  before  the  day 
closed.  The  admiral  told  them  that  the  most  interesting 
novelty  in  the  dockyard  was  the  starting  of  Nasmyth's 
steam  hammer.  "  Very  well,"  they  said,  "  let  us  go  and 
see  that." 

I  was  there,  with  the  two  mechanics  I  had  brought  with 
me  from  Patricroft  to  erect  the  steam  hammer.  I  took 
share  and  share  alike  in  the  work.  The  Lords  were  intro- 
duced to  me,  and  I  proceeded  to  show  them  the  hammer. 
I  passed  it  through  its  paces.  I  made  it  break  an  eggshell 
in  a  wine-glass  without  injuring  the  glass.  It  was  as 
neatly  effected  by  the  two-and-a-half  ton  hammer  as  if  it 


260  THE  HAMMER  AT  WORK.  CHAP. 

had  been  done  by  an  egg-spoon.  Then  I  had  a  great  mass 
of  white-hot  iron  swung  out  of  the  furnace  by  a  crane  and 
placed  upon  the  anvil  block.  Down  came  the  hammer  on 
it  with  ponderous  blows.  My  Lords  scattered  to  the 
extremities  of  the  workshop,  for  the  splashes  and  sparks 
of  hot  metal  flew  about.  I  went  on  with  the  hurtling 
blows  of  the  hammer,  and  kneaded  the  mass  of  iron  as  if 
it  had  been  clay  into  its  devised  forms. 

After  finishing  off  the  forging,  my  Lords  gathered 
round  the  hammer  again,  when  I  explained  to  them  the 
rationale  of  its  working,  and  the  details  of  its  construction. 
They  were  greatly  interested,  especially  Mr.  Sidney  Herbert 
(afterwards  Lord  Herbert  of  Lea),  then  Secretary  to  the 
Admiralty,  and  Sir  George  Cockburn,  a  fine  specimen  of 
the  old  admiral.  Indeed,  all  the  members  of  the  Board 
were  more  or  less  remarkable  men.  They  honoured  me 
with  their  careful  attention,  and  expressed  their  admiration 
at  the  hammer's  wonderful  range  of  power  and  delicacy 
of  touch,  in  this  new  application  of  the  force  of  steam. 

The  afternoon  was  a  most  important  one  for  me  in  more 
ways  than  one,  although  I  cannot  venture  to  trouble  my 
readers  with  the  details.  It  was  followed,  however,  by  an 
order  to  supply  all  the  Koyal  Dockyard  forge  departments 
with  a  complete  equipment  of  steam  hammers,  and  all  the 
requisite  accessories.  These  were  supplied  in  due  time, 
and  gave  in  every  case  the  highest  satisfaction.  The  forg- 
ings  were  found  to  be  greatly  better,  and  almost  absurdly 
cheaper  than  those  done  by  the  old  bit  by  bit  building-up 
process.  The  danger  of  flaws  was  entirely  done  away  with  ; 
and,  in  the  case  of  anchors,  this  was  a  consideration  of 
life  and  death  to  the  seamen,  who  depend  for  their  safety 
upon  the  soundness  of  the  forgings. 

Besides  my  introduction  to  that  admirable  man,  Mr. 
Sidney  Herbert,  I  had  the  happiness  of  being  introduced 
to  Captain  Brandreth,  Director  of  Naval  Works.  The 
whole  of  the  buildings  on  shore,  including  the  dockyards, 
were  under  his  control.  One  of  the  most  important  affairs 
that  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  had  to  attend  to  on  their 


xv.  PILE-DRIVING  MACHINE  SUGGESTED.  261 

visit  to  Devonport  was  to  conclude  the  contract  for  con- 
structing the  great  docks  at  Keyham.  This  was  a  large 
extension  of  the  Devonport  Docks,  intended  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  great  steamships  of  the  Royal  Navy,  as 
well  as  for  an  increase  of  the  graving  docks  and  workshops 
for  their  repair.  An  immense  portion  of  the  shore  of  the 
Hamoaze  had  to  be  walled  in  so  as  to  exclude  the  tide  and 
enable  the  space  to  be  utilised  for  the  above  purposes.  To 
effect  this  a  vast  amount  of  pile-driving  was  rendered 
necessary,  in  order  to  form  a  firm  foundation  for  the  great 
outer  dock  wall,  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  in  length. 

Messrs.  Baker  and  Sons  were  the  contractors  for  this 
work.  They  were  present  at  the  first  start  of  my  steam 
hammer  at  Devonport.  They  were,  like  the  others,  much 
impressed  by  its  vast  power  and  manageableness.  They 
had  an  interview  with  me  as  to  its  applicability  for  driving 
piles  for  the  immense  dock,  this  being  an  important  part 
of  their  contract.  Happily,  I  had  already  given  some 
attention  to  this  application  of  the  powers  of  the  steam 
hammer.  In  fact,  I  had  secured  a  patent  for  it.  I  had 
the  drawings  for  the  steam  hammer  pile-driving  machine 
with  me.  I  submitted  them  to  Mr.  Baker,  and  he  saw  its 
importance  in  a  moment.  "That,"  he  said,  "is  the  very 
thing  that  I  want  to  enable  me  to  complete  my  contract 
satisfactorily."  Thousands  of  enormous  piles  had  to  be 
driven  down  into  the  deep  silt  of  the  shore;  and  to  have 
driven  them  down  by  the  old  system  of  pile-driving  would 
have  occupied  a  long  time,  and  would  also  have  been  very 
expensive. 

The  drawings  were  of  course  submitted  to  Captain 
Brandreth.  He  was  delighted  with  my  design.  The 
steam  pile-driver  would  be,  in  his  opinion,  the  prime  agent 
for  effecting  the  commencement  of  the  great  work  origin- 
ated by  himself.  At  first  the  feat  of  damming  out  such  a 
high  tide  as  that  of  the  Hamoaze  seemed  very  doubtful, 
because  the  stiff  slate  silt  was  a  treacherous  and  difficult 
material  to  penetrate.  But  now,  he  thought,  the  driving 
would  be  rendered  comparatively  easy.  With  Captain 


STEAM  PILE-DRIVER  ORDERED. 


CHAP. 


Brandreth's  consent  the  contractors  ordered  of  me  two  off 
my  steam  hammer  pile-drivers.  They  were  to  be  capable 
of  driving  18-inch  square  piles  of  70  feet  in  length  into  the 
silt  of  the  Hamoaze. 

This  first  order  for  my  pile-driver  was  a  source  of  great 
pleasure  to  me.     I  had  long  contemplated  this  application 


SPACE  TO   BE   ENCLOSED  AT  TUE   UAMOAZE. 


of  the  power  of  the  steam  hammer.  The  machine  had 
long  been  in  full  action  in  my  "  mind's  eye,"  and  now  I 
was  to  see  it  in  actual  reality.  I  wrote  down  to  my 
partner  by  that  night's  post  informing  him  of  the  happy 
circumstance.  The  order  was  for  two  grand  steam  hammer 
pile-drivers,  each  with  four- ton  hammer-blocks.  The 
wrought- iron  guide  case  and  the  steam  cylinder  were  to 


xv.  IMAGINATION  AND  ENGINEERING.  263 

weigh  in  all  seven  tons.  All  this  weight  was  to  rest  on 
the  shoulders  of  the  pile.  The  blows  were  to  be  about 
eighty  in  the  minute.  This,  I  thought,  would  prove 
thoroughly  effective  in  rapidly  driving  the  piles  down 
into  the  earth. 

I  have  said  that  the  steam  pile-driver  was  in  my  mind's 
eye  long  before  I  saw  it  in  action.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
delightful  results  of  the  possession  of  the  constructive 
faculty,  that  one  can  build  up  in  the  mind  mechanical 
structures  and  set  them  to  work  in  imagination,  and  ob- 
serve beforehand  the  various  details  performing  their 
respective  functions,  as  if  they  were  in  absolute  material 
form  and  action.  Unless  this  happy  faculty  exists  ab 
initio  in  the  brain  of  the  mechanical  engineer,  he  will  have 
a  hard  and  disappointing  life  before  him.  It  is  the  early 
cultivation  of  the  imagination  which  gives  the  right  flexi- 
bility to  the  thinking  faculties.  Thus  business,  commerce, 
and  mechanics  are  all  the  better  for  a  little  healthy  imagi- 
nation. 

So  soon  as  I  had  returned  home,  I  set  to  work  and 
prepared  the  working  drawings  of  the  steam  pile-drivers. 
They  were  soon  completed,  conveyed  to  Devonport,  and 
erected  on  the  spot  where  they  were  to  be  used.  They 
were  ready  on  the  3d  of  July  1845.  Some  preliminary 
pile-driving  had  been  done  in  the  usual  way,  in  order  to 
make  a  stage  or  elevated  way  for  my  pile-driver  to  travel 
along  the  space  where  the  permanent  piles  were  to  be 
driven.  I  arranged  my  machines  so  that  they  might  travel 
by  their  own  locomotive  powers  along  the  whole  length  of 
the  coffer  dam,  and  also  that  they  should  hoist  up  the 
great  logs  of  Baltic  timber  which  formed  the  piles  into 
their  proper  places  before  being  driven. 

The  entire  apparatus  of  the  machine  was  erected  on  a 
strong  timber  platform,  and  was  placed  on  wheels,  so  that 
it  might  move  along  the  rails  laid  down  upon  the  timber 
way.  The  same  boiler  that  supplied  the  steam  hammer 
part  of  the  apparatus  served  to  work  the  small  steam-engine 
fixed  to  the  platform  for  its  locomotion,  and  also  to  perform 


264 


DIAGRAM  OF  STEAM  PILE-DRIVER  CHAP. 


the  duty  of  rearing  the  next  pile  which  had  to  he  driven. 
The  steam  was  conveyed  to  the  hummer  cylinder  hy  the 


xv.  DESCRIPTION  OF  APPARATUS.  265 

jointed  pipe  seen  in  the  annexed  engraving.  The  pipe 
accommodated  itself  to  any  elevation  or  descent  of  the 
hammer.  The  whole  weight  of  the  cylinder,  hammer-block, 
and  guide  box,  supported  by  the  shoulders  of  the  pile, 
amounting  to  seven  tons  in  all,  rested  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  pile  as  a  "persuader;"  and  the  eighty  blows  per 
minute  of  the  four-ton  hammer  came  down  with  tremend- 
ous energy  upon  the  top  of  the  pile  head.1  No  soil,  that 
piles  could  penetrate,  could  resist  such  effective  agencies. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  curiosity  in  the  dockyard 
as  to  the  action  of  the  new  machine.  The  pile-driving 
machine-men  gave  me  a  good-natured  challenge  to  vie  with 
them  in  driving  down  a  pile.  They  adopted  the  old 
method,  while  I  adopted  the  new  one.  The  resident 
managers  sought  out  two  great  pile  logs  of  equal  size  and 
length — 70  feet  long  and  18  inches  square.  At  a  given 
signal  we  started  together.  I  let  in  the  steam,  and  the 
hammer  at  once  began  to  work.  The  four-ton  block 
showered  down  blows  at  the  rate  of  eighty  a  minute ;  and 
in  the  course  of  four  and  a  half  minutes  my  pile  was  driven 
down  to  the  required  depth.  The  men  working  at  the 

1  EXPLANATION  OF  THE  DIAGRAM  OF  THE  STEAM  PILE-DRIVER. — 
The  chief  feature  of  novelty  of  this  pile-driving  machine  consists  in  the 
employment  of  the  direct  action  of  the  Steam  Hammer  as  the  blow- 
giving  agent,  and  also  in  the  manner  in  which  the  dead  weight  of  the 
entire  apparatus,  consisting  of  the  hammer-block  C,  the  steam  cylinder 
A,  and  its  guide-case  B,  is  employed  to  importantly  aid  the  effect  of 
the  rapid  and  energetic  blows  of  the  steam  hammer.  These  ponderous 
parts  rest  on  the  shoulders  of  the  pile  H  all  the  while  it  is  being  driven, 
the  pile  in  this  respect  being  the  only  support  of  the  apparatus  ABC. 
So  that,  besides  the  eighty  blows  per  minute  that  the  four-ton  steam 
hammer  energetically  deals  out  to  the  head  of  the  pile  from  a  four  foot 
fall,  the  dead  weight  of  the  apparatus  constantly  acts  as  a  most  effect- 
ive " predisposer "  to  the  sinking  of  the  pile  into  the  ground;  the 
hoisting  chain  D  being  let  slack  the  while,  so  as  to  allow  A  B  C  to 
"  follow  down "  the  pSe  H,  while  the  eighty  blows  per  minute  are 
incessantly  showered  on  its  head.  The  upward  stroke  of  the  piston, 
with  its  attached  hammer-block  C,  is  arrested  at  the  proper  height 
not  only  by  allowing  the  steam  that  raised  it  to  escape,  but  as  soon  as 
the  piston  passes  the  escape  holes  X  X,  the  confined  air  above  the 
piston  at  0  rebounds,  and  so  aids  most  effectively  in  increasing  the 
energy  of  the  fall  of  the  hammer-block  C  on  the  pile  head. 


266  SUCCESS  OF  PILE-DRIVER.  CHAP. 

ordinary  machine  had  only  begun  to  drive.  Ifc  took  them 
upwards  of  twelve  hours  to  complete  the  driving  of  their 
pile ! 

Such  a  saving  of  time  in  the  performance  of  similar 
work — by  steam  versus  manual  labour — had  never  before 
been  witnessed.  The  energetic  action  of  the  steam  hammer, 
sitting  on  the  shoulders  of  the  pile  high  up  aloft,  and 
following  it  suddenly  down,  the  rapidly  hammered  blows 
keeping  time  with  the  flashing  out  of  the  waste  steam  at 
the  end  of  each  stroke,  was  indeed  a  remarkable  sight. 
When  my  pile  was  driven,  the  hammer-block  and  guide 
case  were  speedily  re-hoisted  by  the  small  engine  that  did 
all  the  labouring  and  locomotive  work  of  the  machine ; 
the  steam  hammer  portion  of  which  was  then  lowered  on 
to  the  shoulders  of  the  next  pile  in  succession.  Again  it 
set  to  work  At  this  the  spectators,  crowding  about  in 
boats,  pronounced  their  approval  in  the  usual  British  style 
of  "  three  cheers  !"  My  new  pile-driver  was  thus  acknow- 
ledged as  another  triumphant  proof  of  the  power  of  steam. 

The  whole  of  the  piles  for  this  great  work  were  speedily 
driven  in.  The  wall  was  constructed,  and  the  docks  were 
completed  in  an  unusually  short  time.  The  success  of  my 
pile-driver  was  followed  by  numerous  orders.  It  was  used 
for  driving  the  immense  piles  required  for  the  High  Level 
Bridge  at  Newcastle,  the  great  Border  Bridge  at  Berwick- 
upon- Tweed,  the  Docks  at  Tynemouth,  the  Docks  at 
Birkenhead,  the  Docks  at  Grimsby,  the  new  Westminster 
Bridge,  the  great  bridge  at  Kief  in  Russia,  the  bridge  at 
Petersburg,  the  forts  at  Cronstadt,  the  Embarrage  of  the 
Nile,  at  Yokohama  in  Japan,  and  at  other  places.  It 
enabled  a  solid  foundation  to  be  laid  for  the  enormous 
superstructures  erected  over  them,  and  thus  contributed 
to  the  permanence  of  many  important  undertakings. 

The  mechanical  principles  on  which  the  efficiency  of  the 
steam  pile-driver  chiefly  depends  are  as  simple  as  I  believe 
they  are  entirely  novel  and  original.  The  shoulder  of  the 
pile  acts  as  the  sole  supporter  of  the  ponderous  mass  of  the 
hamnier-block,  cylinder,  and  guide-box.  This  heavy  weight 


xv.  OLD  METHOD  OF  PILE-DRIVING.  267 

acts  as  a  predisposing  agency  to  force  the  pile  down,  while 
the  momentum  given  by  the  repeated  fall  of  the  hammer,  at 
eighty  blows  the  minute,  brings  the  constant  dead  weight 
into  full  action.  I  am  not  aware  of  any  other  machine  in 
which  such  a  combination  of  mechanical  forces  is  employed. 

Another  very  effective  detail  consisted  in  employing  the 
waste  steam  in  the  upper  part  of  the  cylinder  for  the 
purpose  of  acting  as  a  buffer  to  resist  any  undue  length  of 
the  upward  stroke  of  the  piston.  But  for  this  the  cylinder 
covers  might  have  been  knocked  off.  The  elastic  buffer 
of  waste  steam  also  acted  as  a  help  to  the  downward  blow 
of  the  hammer-block.  The  simplicity  and  effectiveness  of 
these  arrangements  form — if  I  may  be  allowed  to  say  so 
— a  happy  illustration  of  my  "  Definition  of  Engineering," 
the  application  of  common  sense  in  the  use  of  materials. 

The  folding-up  steam  pipe  with  which  the  steam  was 
conveyed  from  the  boiler  to  the  cylinder  at  all  heights,  and 
the  way  in  which  the  folding  joints  accommodated  them- 
selves to  the  varying  height  of  the  cylinder,  was  another  of 
my  happy  thoughts.  In  fact,  this  invention,  like  most  others, 
was  the  result  of  a  succession  of  happy  thoughts.  The 
machine  in  its  entirety  was  the  result  of  a  number  of 
common-sense  contrivances,  such  as  I  generally  delight  in. 
At  all  events,  this  most  effective  and  novel  machine  was  a 
special  favourite  with  me. 

I  may  mention,  before  concluding  this  branch  of  my 
subject,  that  pile-driving  had  before  been  conducted  on  what 
I  might  term  the  artillery  or  cannon-ball  principle.  A 
small  mass  of  iron  was  drawn  slowly  up,  and  suddenly  let 
down  on  the  head  of  the  pile  at  a  high  velocity.  This  was 
destructive,  not  impulsive  action.  Sometimes  the  pile  was 
shivered  into  splinters,  without  driving  it  into  the  soil ;  in 
many  cases  the  head  of  the  pile  was  shattered  into  matches, 
and  this  in  spite  of  a  hoop  of  iron  about  it  to  keep  the  layers 
of  wood  together.  Yet  the  whole  was  soon  beat  into  a  sort 
of  brush.  Indeed,  a  great  portion  of  the  men's  time  was 
consumed  in  "reheading"  the  piles.  On  the  contrary,  I 
employed  great  mass  and  moderate  velocity.  The  fall  of 


268  PROVING  CHAIN  CABLES.  CHAP, 

the  steam  hammer-block  was  only  three  or  four  feet,  but 
it  went  on  at  eighty  blows  the  minute,  and  the  soil  into 
which  the  pile  was  driven  never  had  time  to  grip  or  thrust 
it  up — an  impediment  well  known  to  ordinary  pile-drivers. 
At  the  end  of  the  driving  by  my  steam  hammer,  the  top 
of  the  pile  was  always  found  neat  and  smooth,  indeed  more 
so  than  when  the  driving  began. 

I  may  again  revert  to  my  interview  with  the  Lords  of 
the  Admiralty  on  the  occasion  of  my  first  meeting  them  at 
Devonport.  I  was  residing  at  the  hotel  where  they  usually 
took  up  their  quarters  while  making  their  annual  visitation 
of  the  dockyard.  I  was  honoured  with  an  invitation  to 
confer  with  Sir  George  Cockburn,  Mr.  Sidney  Herbert,  and 
Captain  BrandretLon  a  subject  of  considerable  importance; 
namely,  the  proving  of  chain  cables  and  anchors  required  for 
the  Royal  Navy.  The  question  was  mooted  as  to  whether 
or  not  some  permanent  injury  was  done  to  both  by  the  test 
strains  to  which  they  were  submitted  before  being  put  on 
board  ship.  This  was  a  subject  of  vital  importance.  The 
members  of  the  Board  requested  me  to  act  as  one  of  a 
committee  to  inquire  into  the  subject.  I  felt  much  gratified 
by  the  invitation  and  gladly  accepted  it. 

On  discussing  the  subject  with  these  gentlemen  that 
evening,  I  found  that  Sir  George  Cockburn  entertained  an 
ingenious  theory  in  support  of  his  apprehensions  as  the 
effect  of  "  over-proof  "  straining  of  cables  and  anchors.  It 
was  that  they  were  originally  in  the  condition  of  a  strong 
man  who  had  to  lift  some  heavy  weight,  requiring  him  to 
exert  his  muscular  strength  to  the  utmost;  and,  although  he 
might  perform  the  feat,  it  was  at  the  cost  of  a  permanent 
injury,  and  that  he  might  never  be  able  to  lift  the  same 
weight  again.  This,  however  true  it  might  be  with  regard 
to  flesh  and  bone  structures,  was  scarcely  true  with  respect 
to  mechanical  agencies.  I  proposed  a  simple  experiment 
with  chain  cables,  which,  it  occurred  to  me,  would  show 
quite  a  different  result — namely,  that  the  capability  of  resist- 
ing the  severest  proof -strain  would  rise  rath  or  than  fall  at 
each  successive  proof  of  the  same  chain  cable. 


xv.  CHIEF  CAUSE  OF  FAILURE.  269 

To  test  the  correctness  of  my  supposition,  we  had  a  first- 
class  chain  cable  put  into  the  proof  machine,  and  subjected 
it  to  such  a  strain  as  to  break  it  again  and  again,  until  at 
last  it  was  divided  almost  into  single  links.  As  I  expected, 
the  proof  or  breaking  strain  kept  rising  and  rising  as  each 
successive  remaining  portion  of  the  cable  was  torn  asunder, 
thus  showing  that  no  injury  to  the  natural  tenacity  of  the 
chain  had  resulted  from  the  increased  proofs  to  which  it 
had  been  subjected,  and  that  the  last  broken  links  had  been 
much  more  resisting  than  the  first.  The  same  class  of  de- 
monstrative experiments  was  made  with  anchors,  and  other 
wrought-iron  work  used  in  the  service.  The  Admiralty 
officers  were  much  gratified  with  the  result,  as  removing  a 
groundless  but  very  natural  apprehension,  heightened,  no 
doubt,  by  the  suggestions  that  had  been  made  to  the 
Admiralty,  that  their  standard  proof  strain  was  not  only 
too  high  in  itself,  but  produced  permanent  damage  to  what 
at  the  outset  was  of  the  toughest  iron.  My  system  of  con- 
tinued proof-straining  was,  in  fact,  another  exemplification 
of  the  "  Survival  of  the  Fittest "  ! 

A  very  interesting  truth  came  out  in  the  course  of  our 
experiments.  It  was  that  the  chief  cause  of  failure  in  the 
links  of  chain  cables  arose,  not  so  much  from  their  want  of 
tenacity,  or  from  the  quality  of  the  iron,  but  from  some 
defective  welding  in  the  making  of  the  links.  To  get  at  this 
truth,  many  excellent  cables  as  received  from  the  contractors, 
as  well  as  veteran  ones  that  had  held  great  ships  riding 
at  anchor  in  terrible  gales,  were  pulled  asunder  link  by 
link  by  an  intentional  destructive  strain  by  the  proving 
machine.  An  exact  account  was  taken  of  the  nature  of  the 
fracture  of  each.  The  result  was  that  in  eight  cases  out  of 
ten,  the  fracture  was  found  to  result  from  a  defectively 
welded  part  of  the  chain-link.  The  practically  trained  eye 
could  see  the  scoria  which  indicates  the  defective  welding. 
Though  long  unseen,  it  was  betrayed  at  once  when  the  link 
was  torn  open  by  the  proof  strain. 

My  services  on  this  committee  proved  a  source  of  great 
enjoyment  to  me.  I  had  frequent  occasion  to  visit  the 


270  PUNCTILIOUSNESS  AT  DOCKYARDS.  CHAP. 

dockyards  and  workshops,  accompanied  by  Captain  Brand- 
reth,  survey  or -general  of  the  Admiralty  land  works,  Mr. 
Thomas  Lloyd,  engineer -in -chief  of  the  Admiralty,  and 
Mr.  Jeremiah  Owen,  chief  of  the  metal  material  required  in 
the  equipment  of  the  navy  I  was  requested  to  suggest  any 
improvement  in  the  workshops  that  I  thought  would  add 
to  the  efficiency  of  the  department;  and  I  trust  that  my 
recommendations  proved  of  practical  good  to  the  service. 
At  the  same  time,  I  have  reason  to  know  that  many  of  the 
recommendations  of  the  committee,  though  cordially  acknow- 
ledged by  the  higher  powers,  were  by  a  sort  of  passive 
resistance  practically  shelved. 

I  was  much  amused,  when  I  first  went  to  Devonport 
dockyard,  to  notice  the  punctilious  observance  of  forms  and 
ceremonies  with  respect  to  the  various  positions  of  officials 
— from  the  admiral-superintendent  down  the  official  grades 
of  dignity,  to  the  foremen  of  departments,  and  so  on.  I  did 
not  care  for  all  this  panjandrum  of  punctiliousness,  but  was, 
I  hope,  civil  and  chatty  with  everybody.  I  had  a  good 
word  for  the  man  as  well  as  for  the  foreman.  I  received 
some  kind  and  good-natured  hints  as  to  the  relative  official 
superiority  that  prevailed  in  the  departments,  and  made  out 
a  scale  or  list  of  the  various  strata  accordingly.  This  gamut 
of  eminence  was  of  use  to  me  in  my  dealings  with  dockyard 
officials.  I  was  enabled  to  mind  my  p's  and  q's  in  com- 
municating with  them. 

The  first  Sunday  that  I  spent  at  Devonport  I  went  to 
the  dockyard  church — the  church  appointed  for  officials 
and  men  employed  by  the  Government.  The  seats  were 
appointed  in  the  order  of  rank,  employments,  and  rate  of 
pay.  The  rows  of  seats  were  all  marked  with  the  class  of 
employers  that  were  expected  to  sit  in  them.  Labourers 
were  near  the  door.  The  others  were  in  successive  rows 
forward,  until  the  pew  of  the  "Admiral  Superintendent," 
next  the  Altar  rails,  was  reached.  I  took  my  seat  among 
the  "artificers,"  being  of  that  order.  On  coming  out  of 
church  the  master-attendant,  next  in  dignity  to  the  admiral- 
superintendent,  came  up  to  me  to  say  ho\v  distressed  he 


xv.  THE  PASHA  OF  EGYPT.  271 

was  to  see  me  "among  the  artificers,"  and  begged  me  in 
future  to  use  his  seat.  No  doubt  this  was  kindly  intended, 
and  I  thanked  him  for  his  courtesy.  Nevertheless  I  kept 
to  my  class  of  artificers.  I  did  not  like  the  "  breest  o'  the 
laft "  l  principle.  No  doubt  the  love  of  distinction,  within 
reasonable  limits,  is  a  great  social  prime  mover;  but  at 
Devonport,  with  the  splitting  up  into  ranks,  even  amongst 
workmen,  I  found  it  simply  amusing,  especially  when  in- 
troduced into  a  church. 

I  afterwards  met  with  several  veterans  in  the  service  of 
the  Admiralty,  who  are  well  served  by  such  experienced 
and  well-selected  men.  It  is  the  schemers  and  the  satel- 
lites who  haunt  the  contractors  that  are  the  vermin  of 
dockyards.  I  gave  them  all  a  very  wide  berth.  But 
worst  of  all  are  the  men  who  get  their  employment  through 
parliamentary  influence.  They  are  a  detestable  set.  They 
always  have  some  "  grievance  "  to  pester  people  about.  I 
hope  things  are  better  now. 

I  may  add,  with  respect  to  the  steam  hammer  pile- 
driving  machines,  that  I  received  an  order  for  two  of  them 
from  Mohammed  Ali,  the  Pasha  of  Egypt.  These  were 
required  for  driving  the  piles  in  that  great  work — the 
barrage  of  the  Nile  near  Cairo.  The  good  services  of 
these  machines  so  pleased  the  Pasha  that  he  requested  us 
to  receive  three  selected  Arab  men  into  our  works.  He 
asked  that  they  should  have  the  opportunity  of  observing 
the  machinery  processes  and  the  system  of  management  of 
an  English  engineering  factory.  The  object  of  the  Pasha 
was  that  the  men  should  return  to  Egypt  and  there 
establish  an  engine  manufactory,  so  as  to  render  him  in  a 
measure  independent  of  foreign  help.  For  British  work- 
men, when  imported  into  Egypt,  had  a  great  tendency  to 

1  "The  breest  o'  the  laft"  is  the  seat  of  dignity.  The  best  places 
in  churches  are  occupied  by  "superior  "  people.  In  Scotland  the  chief 
men — the  Provosts,  Bailies,  and  Councillors — have  a  seat  appropriated 
to  them  in  the  front  part  of  the  gallery,  generally  opposite  the  minister. 
That  is  "the  breest  o'  the  laft."  The  same  principle  pervades  society 
generally. 


272  EGYPTIAN  WORKMEN  EMPLOYED.  CHAP. 

degenerate  when  removed  from  the  wholesome  stimulus  to 
exertion  in  competition  with  their  fellows. 

My  firm  had  no  objection  to  the  introduction  of  the 
Arab  workmen.  Accordingly,  one  day  we  received  a  visit 
from  an  excellent  Egyptian  officer,  Edim  Bey,  accompanied 
by  his  secretary  Rushdi  Effendi,  who  spoke  English  fluently. 
He  thus  made  our  interview  with  the  Bey  easy  and  agree- 
able. He  conveyed  to  us,  in  the  most  courteous  manner, 
the  wishes  of  the  Pasha ;  and  the  three  workmen  were  at 
once  received.  Every  opportunity  was  given  them  to 
observe  and  understand  the  works  going  forward.  They 
were  intelligent-looking  young  men,  about  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  One  of  them  was  especially  bright  looking,  quick 
in  the  expression  of  his  eyes,  and  active  in  his  manner. 
His  name  was  Affiffi  Lalli ;  the  names  of  the  others  I 
forget. 

These  young  men  were  placed  under  charge  of  the  fore- 
men of  the  departments  that  each  fancied  to  be  most  to 
his  taste.  Affiffi  was  placed  in  the  fitting  department,  in 
which  skilful  manipulation  was  required.  He  exhibited 
remarkable  aptitude,  and  was  soon  able  to  hold  his  own 
alongside  of  our  best  workmen.  Another  was  set  to  the 
turning  department,  and  did  fairly  well.  The  third  was 
placed  in  the  foundry,  where  he  soon  became  efficient  in 
moulding  and  casting  brass  and  iron  work.  He  lent  a 
hand  all  round,  and  picked  up  a  real  practical  knowledge 
of  the  various  work  in  his  department.  During  their 
sojourn  in  our  works  they  became  friendly  with  their  col- 
leagues ;  and  in  fact  became  quite  favourites  with  the  men, 
who  were  always  willing  to  help  them.  But  Affiffi  Lalli 
was  regarded  as  the  genius  of  the  trio.  He  showed  a 
marked  and  intelligent  aptitude  for  acquiring  technical 
skill  in  all  the  branches  of  our  business. 

After  remaining  with  us  for  about  four  years  they  were 
ready  to  return  to  Cairo,  and  show  what  they  had  learned 
in  practical  and  technical  mechanical  knowledge  during 
their  stay  in  England.  The  three  Arab  workmen  were 
placed  in  their  suitable  departments  in  the  Pasha's  work- 


xv.  AFFIFFI  RETURNS  TO  ENGLAND,  273 

shops.  But  such  was  the  natural  energy  of  Affiffi,  that 
when  he  was  set  to  work  beside  the  slow,  dilatory,  and 
stupid  native  workmen,  he  became  greatly  irritated.  The 
contrast  between  the  active  energetic  movements  which  he 
had  seen  at  the  Bridgewater  Foundry  and  the  ineffective, 
blundering,  and  untechnical  work  of  his  fellows  was  such 
that  he  could  not  stand  it  any  longer.  So  one  fine  day 
he  disappeared  from  the  works,  took  refuge  on  board  a 
British  steamer,  and  at  the  risk  of  his  neck  made  his  way 
back  to  the  Bridgewater  Foundry  ! 

As  we  were  reluctant  to  take  back  a  man  who  had 
escaped  from  the  Pasha's  employment  —  excellent  work- 
man though  he  was — we  declined  to  employ  him.  But  I 
gave  Affiffi  a  note  of  introduction  to  Boulton  and  Watt  of 
Soho,  Birmingham,  and  there  he  was  employed.  He 
afterwards  passed  into  other  firms,  and  having  employed 
his  skill  in  making  some  needle  machinery  at  Eedditch,  he 
settled  down  there.  He  married  a  Warwickshire  lass,  and 
had  a  family — half  Arab,  half  English — and  has  now  a 
thriving  foundry  and  engineer  workshop  of  his  own.  This 
little  narrative  shows  that  the  Arab  has  still  much  of  the 
wonderful  energy  and  skill  that  once  made  the  Moors 
masters  of  a  large  part  of  South- Western  Europe. 

We  had  many  visitors  at  the  foundry — from  London, 
from  the  manufacturing  districts,  and  from  foreign 
countries.  One  day  a  young  gentleman  presented  a  letter 
from  Michael  Faraday,  dated  "Royal  Institution,  29th 
May  1847,"  requesting  me  to  pay  him  some  attention  and 
show  him  round  the  works.  I  did  so  with  all  my  heart, 
and  wrote  to  Mr.  Faraday  intimating  how  much  pleasure 
it  gave  me  to  serve  him  in  any  respect.  I  cannot  refrain 
from  giving  his  answer.  He  said : — 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR — That  you  should  both  show  kindness  to 
the  bearer  of  my  letter,  and  prove  that  you  did  so  with  plea* 
sure  by  writing  me  a  letter  in  return,  was  indeed  more  than  I 
ought  or  could  have  expected  ;  but  it  was  very  gratifying  and 
pleasant  to  my  mind.  I  only  wish  that  the  circumstances  of 

T 


274  MICHAEL  FARADAY'S  LETTER.  CHAP.  xv. 


my  life  were  such  as  to  enable  me  to  take  advantage  of  such 
goodwill  on  your  part,  and  to  be  more  in  your  company  and 
conversation  than  is  at  present  possible. 

"  I  could  imagine  great  pleasure  from  such  a  condition  of 
things ;  but  though  our  desires,  and  even  our  hopes  at  times, 
spread  out  beforehand  over  a  large  extent,  it  is  wonderful  how, 
as  the  future  becomes  the  present,  the  circumstances  that  sur- 
round us  limit  the  sphere  to  which  our  real  life  is  circumscribed. 
If  ever  I  come  your  way  I  hope  to  see  your  face  ;  and  the  hope 
is  pleasant,  though  the  reality  may  never  arrive. 

*/  You  tell  me  of  the  glorious  work  of  your  pile-driver,  and 
it  must  be  indeed  a  great  pleasure  to  witness  the  result.  Is  it 
not  Shakespeare  who  says,  *  The  pleasure  we  delight  in  physics 
pain'?  In  all  your  fatigue  and  labour  you  must  have  this 
pleasure  in  abundance,  and  a  most  delightful  and  healthy  enjoy- 
ment it  is.  I  shall  rejoice  to  see  some  day  a  blow  of  the  driver 
and  a  tap  of  the  hammer. 

"  You  speak  of  some  experiments  on  hardening  and  temper- 
ing steel  in  which  we  can  help  you.  I  hope  when  you  do 
come  to  town  you  will  let  us  have  the  pleasure  of  doing  so. 
Our  apparatus,  such  as  it  is,  shall  be  entirely  at  your  service. 
I  made,  a  long  while  ago,  a  few  such  experiments  on  steel 
wire,  but  could  eliminate  no  distinct  or  peculiar  results.  You 
will  know  how  to  look  at  things,  and  at  your  hand  I  should 
expect  much. 

"  Here  we  are  just  lecturing  away,  and  I  am  too  tired  to 
attempt  anything,  much  less  to  do  anything  just  now  ;  but  the 
goodwill  of  such  men  as  you  is  a  great  stimulus,  and  will,  I 
trust  even  with  me,  produce  something  else  praiseworthy. — 
Ever,  my  dear  Nasniyth,  yours  most  truly, 

M.  FAIIADAY." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

NUREMBERG — ST.  PETERSBURG — DANNEMORA. 

IN  the  autumn  of  1842  I  had  occasion  to  make  a  journey 
to  Nuremberg  in  company  with  my  partner  Mr.  Gaskell. 
We  had  been  invited  to  a  conference  with  the  directors  of 
the  Nuremberg  and  Munich  Railroad  as  to  the  supply  of 
locomotives  for  working  their  line.  As  this  was  rather  an 
important  and  extensive  transaction,  we  thought  it  better 
not  to  trust  to  correspondence,  but  to  see  the  directors  on 
the  spot.  We  found  that  there  were  several  riskful  condi- 
tions attached  to  the  proposed  contract,  which  we  con- 
sidered it  imprudent  to  agree  to.  We  had  afterwards  good 
reason  to  feel  satisfied  that  we  had  not  yielded  to  the  very 
tempting  commercial  blandishments  that  were  offered  to  us, 
but  that  we  refrained  from  undertaking  an  order  that  re- 
quired so  many  important  modifications. 

Nevertheless,  I  was  exceedingly  delighted  with  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  city  of  Nuremberg.  It  carries  one  back 
to  the  mediajval  times !  The  architecture,  even  of  the 
ordinary  houses,  is  excellent.  St.  Lawrence,  St.  Sebald's, 
and  the  Frauenkirche,  are  splendid  specimens  of  Gothic 
design.  The  city  is  surrounded  by  old  walls  and  turrets, 
by  ramparts  and  bastions,  enclosed  by  a  ditch  faced  with 
masonry.  Very  few  cities  have  so  well  escaped  the  storm 
of  war  and  sieges  in  the  Middle  Ages,  and  even  in  modern 
times.  Everything  has  been  carefully  preserved,  and 
many  of  the  best  houses  are  still  inhabited  by  the 
families  whose  forefathers  originally  constructed  them. 
But  "  progress  "  is  beginning  to  affect  Nuremberg.  It  is 


276  NUREMBERG.  CHAP. 

the  centre  of  railways  ;  buildings  are  extending  in  all 
directions;  tram-cars  are  running  in  the  streets;  and 
before  long,  I  fear,  the  ditch  will  be  filled  up,  the  surround- 
ing picturesque  walls  and  towers  demolished,  and  the  city 
thrown  open  to  the  surrounding  country. 

I  visited  the  house  of  Albert  Diirer,  one  of  the  greatest 
artists  who  ever  lived.  He  was  a  man  of  universal  genius 
— &  painter,  sculptor,  engraver,  mathematician,  and  engineer. 
He  was  to  Germany  what  Leonardo  da  Vinci  was  to  Italy. 
His  house  is  wonderfully  preserved.  You  see  his  entrance 
hall,  his  exhibition  room,  his  bedroom,  his  studio,  and  the 
opening  into  which  his  wife — that  veritable  Xantippe — 
thrust  the  food  that  was  to  sustain  him  during  his  solitary 
hours  of  labour.  I  saw  his  grave,  too,  in  the  old  church- 
yard beyond  the  Thiergarten  gate.  I  saw  the  bronze  plate 
commemorating  the  day  of  his  death.  "Emigrant  8  idus 
Aprilis  1528."  "  Emigravit "  only,  for  the  true  artist  never 
dies.  Hans  Sachs's  grave  is  there  too — the  great  Reforma- 
tion poet  of  Luther's  time. 

Adam  Krafft  must  have  been  a  great  sculptor,  though 
his  name  is  little  known  out  of  Nuremberg.  Perhaps  his 
finest  work  is  in  St.  Lawrence  Cathedral — the  Sacraments- 
Juiuslein,  or  the  repository  for  the  sacred  wafer — a  graceful 
tapering  stone  spire  of  florid  Gothic  open  work,  more  than 
sixty  feet  high,  which  stands  at  the  opening  of  the  right 
transept.  Its  construction  and  decoration  occupied  the 
sculptor  and  his  two  apprentices  no  less  than  five  years ; 
and  all  that  he  received  for  his  hard  labour  and  skilful  work 
was  770  gulden,  or  about  £80  sterling.  No  wonder  that 
he  died  in  the  deepest  distress.  St.  Sebald's  and  the 
Frauenkirche  also  contain  numerous  specimens  of  his  ad- 
mirable work. 

In  the  course  of  the  following  year  (1843)  it  was 
necessary  for  me  to  make  a  journey  to  St.  Petersburg.  My 
object  was  to  endeavour  to  obtain  an  order  for  a  portion  of 
the  locomotives  required  for  working  the  line  between  that 
city  and  Moscow.  The  railway  had  been  constructed  under 
the  eugineership  of  Major  Whistler,  father  of  the  well-known 


xvi.  VISIT  TO  ST.  PETERSBURG.  277 

artist ;  and  it  was  shortly  about  to  be  opened.  It  appeared 
that  the  Emperor  Nicholas  was  desirous  of  securing  a  home 
supply  of  locomotives,  and  that,  like  a  wise  monarch,  he 
wished  to  employ  his  own  subjects  rather  than  foreigners 
in  producing  them.  No  one  could  object  to  this. 

The  English  locomotive  manufacturers  were  not  aware 
of  the  Emperor's  intention.  When  I  arrived  in  the  city 
I  expected  an  order  for  locomotives.  The  representatives 
of  the  principal  English  firms  were  there  like  myself;  they, 
too,  expected  a  share  of  the  order.  It  so  happened  that  at 
the  table  d'hdte  dinner  I  sat  near  a  very  intelligent 
American,  with  whom  I  soon  became  intimate.  He  told  me 
that  he  was  very  well  acquainted  with  Major  Whistler,  and 
offered  to  introduce  me  to  him.  By  all  means !  There  is 
nothing  like  friendly  feelings  in  matters  of  business. 

The  Major  gave  me  a  frank  and  cordial  reception,  and 
informed  me  of  the  position  of  affairs.  The  Emperor,  he 
said,  was  desirous  of  training  a  class  of  Eussian  mechanics 
to  supply  not  only  the  locomotives  but  to  keep  them  con- 
stantly in  repair.  He  could  not  solely  depend  upon  foreign 
artisans  for  the  latter  purpose.  The  locomotives  must  be 
made  in  Russia.  The  Emperor  had  given  up  the  extensive 
premises  of  the  Imperial  China  Manufactory,  which  were  to 
be  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  engines. 

The  Major  appointed  Messrs.  Eastwick,  Harrison,  and 
Wynants,  to  supply  the  entire  mechanical  plant  of  the  rail- 
way. I  saw  that  it  would  be  of  no  use  to  apply  for  any 
order  for  locomotives ;  but  I  offered  to  do  all  that  I  could 
to  supply  the  necessary  details.  In  the  course  of  a  few  days 
I  was  introduced  to  Joseph  Harrison,  the  chief  mechanic 
of  the  firm ;  and  I  then  entered  into  a  friendship  which 
proved  long  and  lasting.  He  gave  me  a  large  order  for 
boilers,  and  for  detail  parts  of  the  Moscow  engines — all 
of  which  helped  him  forward  in  the  completion  of  the 
locomotives.  We  also  supplied  many  of  our  special  machine 
tools,  without  which  engines  could  not  then  be  very  satis- 
factorily made  or  kept  in  repair.  In  this  way  I  was  in  all 
respects  highly  remunerated  for  my  journey. 


278  GENERAL  WILSON.  CTLIP 

The  enjoyment  of  my  visit  to  St.  Petersburg  was  much 
enhanced  by  frequent  visits  to  my  much  valued  friend 
General  Alexander  Wilson.  He  was  a  native  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  delighted  to  enjoy  cracks  with  me  upon  sub- 
jects of  mutual  interest.  His  sister,  who  kept  house  for 
him,  joined  in  our  conversation.  She  had  been  married  to 
the  Emperor  Paul's  physician,  who  was  also  a  Scotsman, 
and  was  able  to  narrate  many  terrible  events  in  relation  to 
Russian  Court  affairs.  The  General  had  worked  his  way 
upwards,  like  the  rest  of  us.  During  the  principal  part  of 
his  life  he  had  superintended  the  great  mechanical  establish- 
ments at  Alexandrosky  and  Colpenha,  where  about  3000 
operatives  were  employed.  These  establishments  were  ori- 
ginally founded  by  the  Empress  Catherine  for  the  purpose 
of  creating  a  native  manufacturing  population  capable  of 
carrying  on  textile  and  mechanical  works  of  all  kinds.  The 
sail-cloth  for  the  Russian  navy  was  manufactured  at  Alex- 
androsky by  excellent  machinery.  Cotton  fabrics  were  also 
manufactured,  as  well  as. playing  cards,  which  were  a  Crown 
monopoly.  The  great  establishment  at  Colpenha  consisted 
of  a  foundry,  a  machine  manufactory,  and  a  mint — where 
the  copper  money  of  the  empire  was  coined.  General 
Wilson  was  the  directing  chief  officer  of  all  these  establish- 
ments. 

Through  him  I  had  the  happiness  of  being  introduced 
to  General  Greg,  son  of  the  great  admiral  who  shed  such 
honour  on  the  Russian  flag  during  the  reign  of  the  Empress 
Catherine.  He  was  then  well  advanced  in  years,  but  full 
of  keen  intelligence  and  devoted  to  astronomical  pursuits. 
He  was  in  a  great  measure  the  founder  of  the  Imperial 
Observatory  at  Pulkowa,  situated  on  an  appropriate  eminence 
about  eight  miles  from  St.  Petersburg.  The  observatory 
was  furnished  under  his  directions  with  the  most  magnificent 
astronomical  instruments.  I  had  the  honour  to  be  intro- 
duced by  him  to  the  elder  Struve,  whose  astronomical 
labours  procured  him  a  well-earned  reputation  throughout 
Europe.  I  had  the  rare  happiness  of  spending  some  nights 
with  Struve,  when  he  showed  me  the  wonderful  capabilities 


xvi.  THE  ASTRONOMER  STRUVE.  279 

of  his  fine  instruments.  The  observatory  is  quite  imperial 
in  its  arrangement  and  management,  and  was  supported  in 
the  most  liberal  manner  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas.  Indeed, 
it  is  a  perfect  example  of  what  so  noble  an  establishment 
should  be. 

Struve  most  kindly  invited  me  to  come  whenever  the 
state  of  the  weather  permitted  him  to  show  forth  the 
wonderful  perfection  of  his  instruments, — a  rare  chance, 
which  I  seized  every  opportunity  of  enjoying.  It  was 
quite  a  picture  to  see  the  keen  interest  and  intense  enjoy- 
ment with  which  the  profound  astronomer  would  seat  him- 
self at  his  instrument  and  pick  out  some  exquisite  test 
objects,  such  as  the  double  stars  in  Virgo,  Cygnus,  or  Ursa 
Major.  The  beautiful  order  and  neatness  with  which  the 
instruments  were  kept  in  their  magnificent  appropriate 
apartments,  each  having  its  appropriate  observer  proceed- 
ing quietly  with  his  allotted  special  work,  with  nothing  to 
break  the  silence  but  the  "tick,  tack!"  of  the  sidereal 
clock — this  was  indeed  a  most  impressive  sight !  And  the 
kindly  companionable  manner  of  the  great  master  of  the 
establishment  was  in  all  respects  in  harmony  with  the 
astronomical  work  which  he  conducted  in  this  great  Temple 
of  the  Universe ! 

Through  my  friendship  with  General  Wilson  I  was 
enabled  to  extend  my  acquaintance  with  many  of  my 
countrymen  who  had  been  long  settled  at  St.  Petersburg 
in  connection  with  commercial  affairs.  I  enjoyed  their 
kind  hospitality,  and  soon  found  myself  quite  at  home 
amongst  them.  I  remained  in  the  city  for  about  two 
months.  During  that  time  I  was  constantly  about.  The 
shops,  the  streets,  the  houses,  the  museums,  were  objects  of 
great  interest.  The  view  of  the  magnificent  buildings  along 
the  sides  of  the  quay  is  very  imposing.  Looking  from  the 
front  of  the  statue  of  Peter  the  Great  you  observe  the  long 
facade  of  the  Admiralty,  the  column  of  Alexander,  the 
Winter  Palace,  and  other  public  buildings.  The  Neva  flows 
in  front  of  them  in  a  massive  volume  of  pure  water. 
On  an  island  opposite  stands  the  citadel.  The  whole 


280  PALACES  AND  SHOPS.  CHAP. 

presents  a  coup  d'oeil  of  unexampled  architectural  mag- 
nificence. 

I  was  much  interested  by  the  shops  and  their  signboards. 
The  latter  were  fixed  all  over  the  fronts  of  the  shops,  and 
contained  a  delineation  of  the  goods  sold  within.  There 
was  no  necessity  for  reading.  The  pictorial  portraits  told 
their  own  tale.  They  were  admirable  specimens  of  what  is 
called  still-life  pictures ;  not  only  as  regards  the  drawing 
and  colouring  of  each  object,  but  with  respect  to  the  group- 
ing, which  was  in  most  cases  artistic  and  natural.  Two 
reasons  were  given  me  for  this  style  of  artistic  sign-paint- 
ing :  one  was  that  many  of  the  people  could  not  read  the 
written  words  defining  the  articles  sold  within ;  and  the 
other  was  that  the  severe  and  long-continued  frosts  of  the 
St.  Petersburg  winter  rendered  large  shop  windows  im- 
possible for  the  proper  display  of  the  goods.  Hence 
the  small  shop-windows  to  keep  out  the  cold,  and  the 
large  painted  signboards  to  display  the  articles  sold  inside. 

I  was  also  greatly  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which 
the  Kussians  employ  ivy  in  screening  their  windows  during 
summer.  Ivy  is  a  beautiful  plant,  and  is  capable  of  form- 
ing a  most  elegant  window-screen.  Nothing  can  be  more 
beautiful  than  to  look  through  green  leaves.  Nearly  every 
window  of  the  ground  flat  of  the  houses  in  St.  Petersburg 
is  thus  screened.  The  neat  manner  in  which  the  ivy  plants 
are  trained  over  ornamental  forms  of  cane  is  quite  a  study 
in  its  way.  And  though  the  ivy  is  very  common,  yet  a 
common  thing,  being  a  thing  of  beauty,  may  be  a  "joy  for 
ever."  In  the  finer  and  most  important  mansions,  the 
sides  of  the  flight  of  wide  steps  that  lead  up  to  the  recep- 
tion rooms  were  beautifully  decorated  by  oleander  plants, 
growing  in  great  vigour,  with  their  fine  flowers  as  fresh  as 
if  in  a  carefully-kept  conservatory.  Other  plants  of  an 
ornamental  kind  were  mixed  with  the  oleander,  but  the 
latter  appeared  to  be  the  favourite.1 

1  While  passing  through  Lubeck  on  my  way  out  to  St.  Petersburg 
I  was  much  struck  with  the  taste  for  flower-plants  displayed  by  the 
people  of  that  old-world  city.  The  inner  side  of  the  lower  house  win- 


XVT.  THE  EMPEROR  NICHOLAS.  281 

About  the  end  of  my  visit  I  was  about  to  call  upon  one 
of  my  customers  with  reference  to  my  machine  tools ;  for 
though  I  pursued  pleasure  at  occasional  times,  I  never  lost 
sight  of  business.  It  was  a  very  dull  day,  and  the  streets 
about  the  Winter  Palace  were  almost  deserted.  I  was  sit- 
ting in  my  drosky  with  my  roll  of  drawings  resting  on  my 
thigh — somewhat  in  the  style  of  a  commander-in-chief  as 
represented  in  the  old  pictures — when  I  noticed  a  drosky 
coining  out  of  the  gates  of  the  Winter  Palace.  I  observed 
that  it  contained  a  noble -looking  officer  in  a  blue  military 
cloak  sitting  behind  his  drosky  driver.  My  driver  instantly 
took  off  his  hat,  and  I,  quickly  following  his  example,  took 
off  my  hat  and  bowed  gracefully,  keeping  my  extended  hand 
on  the  level  of  my  head — a  real  royal  salute.  The  person 
was  no  other  than  the  Emperor  Nicholas !  He  fixed  his 
peculiarly  fine  eyes  upon  me,  and  gave  me  one  of  the  grand- 
est military  salutes,  accompanied,  as  I  thought,  with  a  kindly 
smile  from  his  magnificent  eyes  as  he  passed  close  by  me. 

As  I  had  been  lunching  with  a  Dutch  engineer  about 
half  an  hour  before,  and  had  a  glass  or  two  of  champagne, 
this  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  my  daring  to 
give  the  Emperor,  in  his  own  capital,  what  I  was  after- 
wards told  was  not  a  bow  but  a  brotherly  recognition 
between  potentates,  and  only  by  royal  usage  allowed  to  be 
so  given, — namely,  swaying  off  the  hat  at  arm's  length 
level  with  the  head,  so  as  to  infer  royal  equality,  or  some- 
thing of  that  sort.  AVhen  I  narrated  to  some  Russian 
friends  what  I  had  done,  they  told  me  that  I  need  not  be 
surprised  if  I  received  a  visit  from  the  chief  of  police  next 
morning  for  my  daring  to  salute  the  Emperor  in  such  a 
style.  But  the  Emperor  was  doubtless  more  amused  than 
offended,  and  I  never  received  the  expected  visit. 

clows  were  all  beautifully  decorated  with  flowers,  which  were  evidently 
well  cared  for.  Some  of  the  windows  were  almost  made  up  with 
flowers.  Perhaps  the  long-continued  winter  of  these  parts  has  caused 
the  people  to  study  and  practise  within-door  culture  with  such  marked 
success.  It  is  a  most  elegant  pursuit,  and  should  be  cultivated  every- 
where. It  is  thoroughly  in  character  with  the  exquisite  cleanliness 
and  tidiness  of  the  houses  at  Lubeck. 


282  RUSSIAN  WORKMEN.  CHAP, 

To  anticipate  a  little.  Soon  afterwards  the  Emperor 
sent  me  a  present  of  a  magnificent  diamond  ring  through 
his  ambassador  in  England — Baron  Brunow.  It  was  also 
accompanied,  as  the  Baron  informed  me,  with  the  Emperor's 
most  gracious  thanks  for  the  manner  in  which  my  steam 
hammer  had  driven  the  piles  for  his  new  forts  at  Cronstadt, 
which  he  had  seen  in  full  action.  The  steam-hammer  pile- 
driver  had  also  been  used  for  driving  the  piles  of  the  great 
bridge  at  Kieff.  I  next  received  an  order  for  one  of  my 
largest  steam  hammers  for  the  Imperial  Arsenal,  and  it  was 
followed  by  many  more.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  as  showing 
the  readiness  of  the  Eussian  and  other  foreign  Govern- 
ments to  adopt  at  an  early  date  any  mechanical  improve- 
ment of  ascertained  utility,  that  I  supplied  steam  hammers 
to  the  Russian  Government  twelve  months  before  our 
Admiralty  availed  themselves  of  its  energetic  action.  The 
French  were  the  first  to  adopt  the  invention ;  thanks  to  the 
insight  of  M.  Bourdon,  who  had  the  opportunity  of  recog- 
nising its  importance. 

Before  I  leave  this  part  of  my  subject,  I  must  not  omit 
to  mention  my  friend  Mr.  Francis  Baird,  the  zealous  son 
of  Sir  Charles  Baird.  The  latter  was  among  the  first  to 
establish  iron  foundries  and  engine  works  at  St.  Peters- 
burg. At  the  time  of  my  visit  he  was  far  advanced  in 
years,  and  unable  to  attend  personally  to  the  very  largo 
business  which  he  had  established.  But  he  was  neverthe- 
less full  of  geniality.  He  greatly  enjoyed  the  long  con- 
versations which  he  had  with  me  about  his  friends  in  Scot- 
land, many  of  whom  I  knew.  He  also  told  me  about  the 
persons  in  his  employment.  He  said  that  the  workmen 
were  all  serfs,  or  the  sons  of  serfs.  The  Empress  Catherine 
had  given  them  to  him  for  the  purpose  of  being  trained  in 
his  engine  foundry,  and  in  his  sugar  refinery,  which  was 
another  part  of  the  business.  I  had  rarely  seen  a  more 
faithful  and  zealous  set  of  workmen  than  these  Russian 
serfs.  They  were  able  and  skilful,  and  attached  to  their 
employers  by  some  deeper  and  stronger  tie  than  that  of 
mere  money  wages.  Indeed,  they  were  treated  by  Sir 


xvi.  FINE  FOUNDRY  WORK.  283 

Charles  Baird  and  his  son  with  the  kindest  and  most 
paternal  care,  and  they  duly  repaid  their  attachment  by 
their  zeal  in  his  service  and  the  excellent  quality  of  their 
work. 

The  most  important  business  in  hand  at  the  time  of 
my  visit  to  the  foundry  was  the  moulding  and  casting  of 
the  magnificent  bronze  capitals  of  the  grand  portico  of  the 
Izak  Church.  This  building  is  one  of  the  finest  in  St. 
Petersburg.  It  is  of  grand  proportions, — simple,  noble, 
and  massive.  It  is  built  upon  a  forest  of  piles.  The 
walls  of  the  interior  are  covered  with  marble.  The 
malachite  columns  for  the  screen  are  fifty  feet  high,  and 
exceed  everything  that  has  yet  been  done  in  that  beautiful 
mineral.  The  great  dome  is  of  iron  covered  with  gilt 
copper.  This,  as  well  as  the  Corinthian  capitals  of  bronze, 
was  manufactured  at  the  foundry  of  the  Bairds.  The 
tympanum  of  the  four  great  porticos  consisted  of  colossal 
groups  of  alto-relievo  figures,  many  of  which  were  all  but 
entirely  detached  from  the  background.  It  was  a  kind  of 
foundry  work  of  the  highest  order,  all  the  details  and  pro- 
cesses requiring  the  greatest  care.  To  my  surprise  every 
one  engaged  in  this  gigantic  and  refined  metal  work  was  a 
serf.  The  full-sized  plaster  models  which  they  used  in 
moulding  were  executed  by  a  resident  French  sculptor.  He 
was  a  true  artist,  and  of  the  highest  order.  But  to  see 
the  skilful  manner  in  which  these  native  workmen,  drawn 
from  the  staff  of  the  Bairds'  ordinary  foundry  workers,  per- 
formed their  duties,  was  truly  surprising.  It  would  make 
our  best  bronze  statuary  founders  wince  to  be  asked  to 
execute  such  work.  Judging  from  what  I  saw  of  the 
Russian  workmen  in  this  instance,  I  should  say  that  Russia 
has  a  grand  future  before  it. 

Having  satisfactorily  completed  all  my  business  arrange- 
ments in  St.  Petersburg,  I  prepared  to  set  out  homewards. 
But  as  I  had  some  business  to  transact  at  Stockholm  and 
Copenhagen  I  resolved  to  visit  those  cities.  I  left  St. 
Petersburg  for  Stockholm  by  a  small  steamer,  which  touched 
at  Helsingfors  and  Abo,  both  in  Finland.  The  weather 


284  STOCKHOLM  SCENERY.  CHAP 

was  beautiful.  Clear  blue  sky  and  bright  sunshine  by  day, 
and  the  light  prolonged  far  into  the  night.  Even  in 
September  the  duration  of  the  sunshine  is  so  great  and 
the  night  so  short  that  the  air  has  scarcely  time  to  cool  till 
it  gets  heated  again  by  the  bright  morning  rays.  Even  at 
twelve  at  night  the  sun  dips  but  a  little  beneath  the  bright 
horizon  on  the  north.  The  night  is  so  bright  in  the  Abo 
latitude  that  one  can  read  the  smallest  print. 

Nothing  can  be  more  beautiful  than  the  charming 
scenery  we  passed  through  in  our  tortuous  voyage  to 
Stockholm.  We  threaded  between  the  granite  islands 
which  crowd  the  shores  of  the  Baltic.  They  are  covered 
with  pines,  which  descend  to  the  water's  edge.  We  swept 
them  with  our  paddle-boxes,  and  dipped  their  bright  green 
fronds  into  the  perfectly  clear  sea.  For  about  two  days 
our  course  lay  through  those  beautiful  small  islands.  It 
seemed  like  a  voyage  through  fairyland.  And  it  continued 
in  this  exquisite  tranquil  way  until  we  reached  that  crown- 
ing feature  of  all — the  magnificent  city  of  Stockholm, 
sleeping,  as  it  were,  on  the  waters  of  the  Malar  Lake,  and 
surrounded  by  noble  mountains  clad  with  pines.  With 
the  exception  of  Edinburgh,  Genoa,  and  Naples,  I  had 
never  beheld  so  noble  a  city  with  such  magnificent  sur- 
roundings. 

I  spent  but  a  short  time  in  Stockholm,  but  quite 
sufficient  to  enable  me  to  see  much  that  was  grandly 
beautiful  in  its  neighbourhood.  Lakes,  rocks,  and  noble 
trees  abounded,  and  exquisite  residences  peeped  out  through 
the  woods,  giving  evidences  of  high  civilisation.  Elegance 
of  taste  and  perfect  domestic  arrangements  supplied  every 
form  of  rational  comfort  and  enjoyment.  My  old  friend 
Sir  John  Ross,  of  Arctic  celebrity,  was  settled  at  Stock- 
holm as  chief  consul  for  Her  Majesty.  He  introduced  me 
to  several  of  the  leading  English  merchants,  from  whom  I 
received  much  kind  attention.  Mr.  Erskine  invited  me  to 
spend  a  day  or  two  at  his  beautiful  villa  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. It  was  situated  on  the  side  of  a  mountain,  and 
overlooked  a  lake  that  reminded  me  very  much  of  Loch 


XVI.  OLD  UPSALA.  285 

Katrine.  Fine  timbei  grew  about,  in  almost  inaccessible 
places,  on  the  tops  of  precipices,  and  in  shelves  and  clefts 
among  the  rocks.  The  most  important  result  of  my  visit 
was  an  introduction  to  Baron  Tarn,  the  proprietor  and 
chief  director  of  the  great  Dannemora  Iron  Mine. 

I  was  at  once  diverted  for  a  time  from  my  voyage  to 
Copenhagen.  I  was  most  desirous  of  seeing  in  person  this 
celebrated  mine.  The  baron  most  willingly  furnished 
me  with  several  letters  of  introduction  to  his  managers, 
and  I  proceeded  to  Dannemora  by  way  of  Upsala.  I  was 
much  interested  by  this  city,  by  its  cathedral,  containing 
the  tomb  of  Gustavas  Vasa,  and  by  its  many  historical 
associations.  But  I  was  still  more  impressed  by  Old 
Upsala,  about  three  miles  distant.  This  is  a  place  of  great 
antiquity.  It  is  only  a  little  hamlet  now,  though  at  one 
time  it  must  have  been  the  centre  of  a  large  population. 
The  old  granite  church  was  probably  at  one  time  a  pagan 
temple.  Outside,  and  apart  from  it,  is  a  wooden  bell- 
tower,  erected  in  comparatively  modern  times.  In  a  wooden 
box  inside  the  church  is  a  wooden  painted  god,  a  most  un- 
likely figure  to  worship.  And  yet  the  Swedes  in  remote 
parts  of  the  country  carefully  preserve  their  antique  wooden 
gods. 

The  great  sacrifices  to  Odin  were  made  at  Old  Upsala. 
Outside  the  church,  in  a  row,  are  three  great  mounds  of 
earth,  erected  in  commemoration  of  Odin,  Thor,  and  Freia 
— hence  our  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday.  These 
mounds,  of  about  60  feet  high  and  232  feet  in  diameter, 
were  in  former  times  used  as  burying-places  for  the  great 
and  valiant.  I  went  into  a  cottage  near  the  tumuli,  and 
drank  a  bumper  of  mead  to  the  memory  of  Thor  from 
a  very  antique  wooden  vessel.  I  made  an  especial  rever- 
ential obeisance  to  Thor,  because  I  had  a  great  respect  for 
him  as  being  the  great  Hammerman,  and  one  of  our  craft, 
— the  Scandinavian  Yulcan. 

I  drove  back  to  Upsala,  and  remained  there  for  the 
night.  It  is  a  sleepy  silent  place.  The  only  sound  I  heard 
was  the  voice  of  the  watchman  calling  out  the  small  hours 


286 


GRAPHIC  ORDER  FOR  DINNER. 


CHAP. 


of  the  morning  from  his  station  on  the  summit  of  the  cath- 
edral tower.  As  the  place  is  for  the  most  part  built  of 
wood,  this  precaution  in  the  shape  of  a  watchman  who  can 
see  all  points  of  the  city  is  a  necessary  one  in  case  of  fire. 

Next  morning  I  hired  a  small  sort  of  gig  of  a  very 
primitive  construction,  with  a  boy  for  driver.  His  duty 
was  to  carry  me  to  the  next  post-house,  and  there  leave 
me  to  be  carried  forward  by  another  similar  conveyance. 
But  the  pony  No.  2  was  about  a  mile  off,  occupied  in 
drawing  a  plough,  so  that  I  had  to  wait  until  the  job  was 


MWW 


THE    OIU)KU   KOU   1>INNKK. 


over.  In  about  an  hour  or  so  I  was  again  under  weigh. 
And  so  on  da  aqto,  until  about  six  in  the  evening,  when  I 
found  myself  within  sight  of  the  great  mine. 

The  post-house  where  I  was  set  down  was  an  inn, 
though  without  a  signboard.  The  landlady  was  a  bright, 
cheery,  jolly  woman.  She  could  not  speak  a  word  of 
English,  nor  I  a  word  of  Dannemora  Swedish.  I  was  very 
thirsty  and  hungry,  and  wanted  something  to  eat.  How 
was  I  to  communicate  my  wishes  to  the  landlady  ?  I 
resorted,  as  I  often  did,  to  the  universal  language  of  the 
pencil.  I  took  out  my  sketch-book,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
made  a  sketch  of  a  table,  with  a  dish  of  smoking  meat 
upon  it,  a  bottle  and  a  glass,  a  knife  and  fork,  a  loaf,  a  salt- 
cellar, and  a  corkscrew.  She  looked  at  the  drawing  and 


xvi.  THE  DANNEMORA  MINE.  287 

gave  a  hearty  laugh.  She  nodded  pleasantly,  showing  that 
she  clearly  understood  what  I  wanted.  She  asked  me  for 
the  sketch,  and  went  into  the  back  garden  to  show  it  to 
her  husband,  who  inspected  it  with  great  delight.  I  went 
out  and  looked  about  the  place,  which  was  very  picturesque. 
After  a  short  time,  the  landlady  came  to  the  door  and 
beckoned  me  in,  and  I  found  spread  out  on  the  table 
everything  that  I  desired — a  broiled  chicken,  smoking  hot 
from  the  gridiron,  a  bottle  of  capital  home-brewed  ale,  and 
all  the  et  ceteras  of  an  excellent  repast.  I  made  use  of  my 
pencil  in  many  ways.  I  always  found  that  a  sketch  was 
more  useful  than  a  blundering  sentence.  Besides,  it  gener- 
ally created  a  sympathy  between  me  and  my  entertainers. 

My  visit  to  the  Dannemora  Mine  at  Osterby  was  one  of 
peculiar  interest.  I  may  in  the  first  place  say  that  the  im- 
mense collection  of  iron  ore  at  that  point  has  been  the  result 
of  the  upheaval  of  a  vast  volume  of  molten  igneous  ore, 
which  has  been  injected  into  the  rock,  or  deposited  in 
masses  under  the  crust  of  the  earth.  In  some  cases  the 
quarried  ore  yields  from  50  to  70,  and  even  as  much  as  90 
per  cent  of  iron.  The  Dannemora  Mine  is  a  vast  quarry  open 
to  the  sky.  When  you  come  near  it  the  place  looks  like  a 
vast  deep  pit,  with  an  unfathomable  bottom.  Ghostlike, 
weird-looking  pinnacles  of  rocks  stand  out  from  its  profound 
depths ;  but  beyond  these  you  see  nothing  but  wreaths  of 
smoke  curling  up  from  below.  The  tortuous  chasm  in  the 
earth,  caused  by  the  quarries  beneath,  is  about  half  a  mile 
long,  and  about  a  thousand  feet  wide. 

The  first  process  of  the  workmen  in  the  quarries  below 
is  devoted  to  breaking  into  small  fragments  the  great  masses 
of  ore  scattered  about  by  the  previous  night's  explosions. 
These  are  sent  to  the  surface  in  great  tubs  attached  to 
wire  ropes,  which  are  drawn  up  by  gins  worked  by  horses. 
Other  miners  are  engaged  in  boring  blast  holes  in  the  ore, 
which  displays  itself  in  great  wide  veins  in  the  granite 
sides  of  the  vast  chasm.  These  blast  holes  are  charged 
with  gunpowder,  each  with  a  match  attached.  At  the  end 
of  the  day  the  greater  number  of  the  miners  are  drawn  up 


DANNEMORA  IRON. 


in  the  cages  or  tubs,  while  a  few  are  left  below  to  light  the 
slow-burning  matches  attached  to  about  a  hundred  charged 
bore  holes.  The  rest  of  the  miners  are  drawn  up,  and 
then  begins  the  tremendous  bombardment.  I  watched  the 
progress  of  it  from  a  stage  projecting  over  the  wild-looking 
yawning  gulph.  It  was  grand  to  hear  the  succession  of 
explosions  that  filled  the  bottom  of  the  mine  far  beneath 
me.  Then  the  volumes  of  smoke,  through  the  surface  of 
which  masses  of  rock  were  sometimes  sent  whirling  up  into 
the  clear  blue  sky,  and  fell  back  again  into  the  pit  below. 
Such  an  infernal  cannonade  I  have  never  witnessed.  In 
some  respects  it  reminded  me  of  the  crater  of  Vesuvius, 
from  which  such  dense  clouds  of  steam  and  smoke  and  fire 
are  thrown  up.  In  the  course  of  the  night,  the  suffocating 
smoke  and  sulphureous  gases  has  time  to  pass  away,  and 
next  morning  the  workmen  were  ready  to  begin  their 
operations  as  before. 

The  ore  extracted  from  this  great  mine  is  smelted  in  blast 
furnaces  with  wood  charcoal,  and  forged  into  bars.  The 
charcoal  is,  of  course,  entirely  free  from  sulphur.  When  sent 
to  Sheffield  the  iron  is  placed  in  fire-brick  troughs  closely 
surrounded  by  powdered  charcoal.  After  a  few  days'  ex- 
posure to  a  red  heat,  the  iron  is  converted  into  splendid 
steel,  which  has  given  such  a  reputation  to  that  great  manu- 
facturing town.  It  is  also  the  steel  from  which  the  firm  of 
Stubbs  and  Company,  of  Warrington  (to  which  I  have 
already  referred),  produce  their  famous  P.S.  files. 

After  the  explosions  had  ceased  at  the  mine,  I  went  with 
one  of  the  managers  to  see  the  great  Bar  forge.  It  was  a 
picturesque  sight  to  see  the  forgemen  at  work  with  the  tilt 
hammers  under  the  glowing  light  of  the  furnaces.  I  in- 
spected the  machinery  and  forge  works  throughout,  and  had 
thus  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  whole  proceeding,  from 
the  blasting  and  quarrying  of  the  ore  in  the  mine,  the 
forging  and  rolling  of  the  worked  iron  into  their  proper 
lengths,  down  to  the  final  stamp  or  "  mark  "  driven  in  by 
the  blow  of  the  tilt  hammer  at  the  end  of  each  bar.  Having 
now  thoroughly  examined  everything  connected  with  tin's 


DANNEMORA   IRON  MINE.      AFTER  A  DRAWING   BY  JAMES   NASMYTH. 


xvi.  THE  DJURGARD,  STOCKHOLM.  289 

celebrated  iron  mine,  I  prepared  to  set  out  for  Stockholm 
in  the  same  way  as  I  had  come.  To  prepare  the  landlord 
for  my  setting  out,  I  again  resorted  to  my  pencil.  I  made 
a  drawing  of  the  little  gig  and  pony,  with  the  sun  rising, 
and  the  hour  at  which  I  wished  to  start.  He  understood 
it  in  a  moment,  and  next  morning  the  trap  was  at  the 
door  at  the  specified  time. 

Before  I  left  Stockholm  I  made  a  careful  and  elaborate 
panoramic  sketch  of  the  city,  as  a  companion  to  the  one 
I  had  made  of  Genoa  from  the  harbour  a  year  before.  I 
made  this  one  from  the  summit  of  the  King's  Park,  which 
is  the  favourite  pleasure-ground  of  the  people.  I  was 
ferried  across  in  a  little  paddle-wheel  boat,  worked  by 
Dalecarlian  women  in  their  peculiar  costumes.  The  King's 
Park,  or  Djurgard,  is  doubly  beautiful,  not  only  from  its 
panoramic  view  of  the  city,  the  Malar  Lake,  and  the  arm 
of  the  Baltic,  which  comes  up  to  the  Skeppsbron  Quay, 
but  also  from  the  magnificent  oak  trees  with  which  it  is 
studded.  These  noble  trees,  as  foreground  objects,  are  per- 
fect pictures.  The  masses  of  rock  are  grand,  and  the  drives 
are  beautifully  kept.  No  wonder  that  the  Swedes  are  so 
proud  of  this  beautiful  park,  for  it  is  the  finest  in  Europe. 

I  left  Stockholm  for  Gottenburg  by  steamer.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  picturesque  routes  in  Sweden.  First,  we 
passed  through  the  Malar  Lake — one  of  the  most  beautiful 
pieces  of  water  in  the  world.  It  contains  no  less  than 
fourteen  hundred  islands,  mostly  covered  with  wood.  Of 
course  we  did  not  see  one  twentieth  part  of  the  lake ;  we 
only  steamed  along  its  eastern  shore  for  about  twenty 
miles  on  our  way  to  Sodertelye,  where  the  Gotha  Canal 
begins.  "We  then  reached  the  small  Maran  Lake,  and 
afterwards  an  arm  of  the  Baltic.  We  passed  numberless 
islands  and  rocks  and  reached  the  Slatbacken  Fiord,  which 
we  entered.  Beautiful  scenery  surrounds  the  entrance  to 
the  fiord.  In  the  morning,  after  rising  up  the  locks 
between  Mariehop  and  Wenneberga,  and  passing  through 
Lakes  Roxen  and  Boren,  we  found  ourselves  at  Motala, 
near  the  entrance  to  the  Wettern  Lake. 

U 


290  THE  SWEDISH  LAKES.  CHAP 

Motala  is  a  place  of  great  importance  in  the  manufac- 
turing industry  of  Sweden.  When  I  visited  it,  the  iron- 
foundry  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  Caulson,  a  native  of  the 
country.  I  had  known  him  some  years  before  in  London, 
and  had  the  highest  opinion  of  his  ability  as  a  constructive 
engineer.  He  was  surrounded  at  Motala  with  everything  in 
the  way  of  excellently  arranged  workshops,  good  machine 
tools,  as  well  as  abundant  employment  for  them.  Indeed, 
this  is  the  largest  ironfoundry  in  Sweden,  where  iron 
steamers,  steam-engines,  and  rolling  mills  are  made.  From 
its  central  position  it  has  a  great  future  before  it. 

The  steamer  crosses  the  lake  to  Carlsborg,  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  fiord  and  canal  that  leads  to  Lakes  Wiken 
and  Wenern.  The  latter  is  an  immense  lake — in  fact,  an 
inland  sea.  During  a  great  part  of  the  time  we  were  out 
of  sight  of  land.  At  length  we  reached  Wenersborg,  and 
passed  down  the  Charles  Canal.  A  considerable  time  is 
required  to  enable  the  steamer  to  pass  from  lock  to  lock — 
nine  locks  in  all — down  to  the  level  of  the  Gotha  Eiver. 
During  that  time  an  opportunity  was  afforded  us  for  seeing 
the  famous  Trollhatten  Falls — a  very  fine  piece  of  Nature's 
workmanship. 

Before  leaving  the  subject  of  Sweden,  I  feel  that  I 
must  say  a  word  or  two  about  the  Swedish  people.  I 
admired  them  exceedingly.  They  are  tall,  fair,  good- 
looking.  They  are  among  the  most  civil  and  obliging 
people  that  I  have  ever  met.  I  never  encountered  a  rude 
word  or  a  rude  look  from  them.  In  their  homes  they  are 
simple  and  natural.  I  liked  the  pleasing  softness  of  their 
voices,  so  sweet  and  musical — "  a  most  excellent  thing  in 
woman."  There  was  a  natural  gentleness  in  their  deport- 
ment. All  classes,  even  the  poorest,  partook  of  it  Their 
domestic  habits  are  excellent  They  are  fond  of  their 
homes;  and,  above  all  things,  they  are  clean  and  tidy. 
They  strew  the  floors  of  their  ground  apartments  with 
spruce  pine  twigs,  which  form  a  natural  carpet  as  well  as 
give  out  a  sweet  balsamic  perfume.  These  are  swept 
away  every  morning  and  replaced  with  fresh  material. 


xvr. 


SWEDISH  CHARACTERISTICS. 


291 


With  their  many  virtues,  the  Swedes  are  a  most  self- 
helping  people.  They  are  hard-working  and  honest,  true 
and  straightforward.  In  matters  of  commerce  they  are 
men  of  their  word.  They  are  clear-headed,  honest-minded, 


and  keen  in  their 
desire  for   know- 
ledge. Their  natu- 
ral simple  common  sense  en- 
ables them  to  clear  away  all 
parasitical  and  traditional  rub- 
bish   from    their  minds,   and 
_     to  stand  before  us  as  men  of 
the  highest    excellence.      All 
happiness  and   prosperity  to  dear 


PART  OF  TROLLHATTEN   FALLS. 


I  set  out  from  Gottenburg  to  Helsingborg,  along  the 
shores  of  the  Kattegat.  From  Helsingborg  I  crossed  the 
Sound  by  a  small  steamer  to  Elsinore,  famous  for  its  con- 
nection with  Hamlet,  Prince  of  Denmark.  The  old  dreary- 


292  COPENHAGEN  MUSEUMS.  CHAP. 

looking  castle  still  stands  there.  From  Elsinore  I  went  to 
Copenhagen,  and  occupied  myself  for  a  few  days  in  visiting 
the  wonderful  museums.  There  I  saw,  in  the  Northern 
Antiquities  Collection,  the  unwritten  history  of  civilisa- 
tion in  the  stone,  bronze,  and  iron  tools  which  have 
brought  the  world  to  what  it  is  now.  This  museum  is 
perfectly  unrivalled.  I  saw  there  the  first  section  of 
kitchen -middens — that  is,  the  refuse  of  oyster  shells, 
fish-bones,  and  other  stuff  thrown  out  by  the  ancient 
inhabitants  of  the  country  after  their  meals ;  together  with 
accumulations  of  rude  stone  implements,  kelts,  arrow-heads, 
and  such  like.  Then  there  were  the  articles  of  the  Bronze 
Age,  with  war  trumpets ;  the  articles  of  the  early  Iron  Age, 
which  also  contain  some  remarkable  golden  war  horns. 
These  are  followed  by  the  middle  Iron  Age,  and  then  by 
the  later  Iron  Age.  This  part  of  the  collection  is  superb. 
But  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  describe  the  wonders  of  the 
museum. 

I  was  greatly  interested  too  by  the  collection  of  articles 
at  the  Rosenburg  Castle.  This  is  the  only  museum  at 
Copenhagen  which  is  not  free;  but  the  price  charged  is 
very  small.  It  contains  an  extraordinary  collection  of 
royal  clothes  (what  would  Sartor  Resartus  say?),  armour, 
furniture,  drinking  vessels,  and  all  manner  of  personal 
antiquities  connected  with  the  Kings  of  Denmark. 

I  was  especially  interested  by  the  collection  of  royal 
drinking  vessels,  from  the  earliest,  made  of  wood,  down  to 
the  latest,  grand  gold  and  silver  flagons.  What  most 
amused  me  in  respect  to  these  boozing  implements  were  the 
pegs  that  marked  the  depths  down  to  which  the  stalwart 
Dane  was  able  to  swig  at  a  pull  one  enormous  draught  of 
wine.  In  some  cases  the  name  and  date  of  the  achievement 
of  the  heavy  drinker  was  engraved  on  the  flagon  to  record  his 
feat.  "Take  him  a  peg  down"  was  the  ordinary  saying, 
and  the  words  have  become  a  proverb  amongst  ourselves. 
For  we  unquestionably  have  derived  a  great  deal  of  our 
drinking  capabilities  from  our  ancestors  the  Danes. 

The  whole  of  the  museums  at  Copenhagen  are  excellent. 


xvi.  TYCHO  BRAHE.  293 

Besides  those  I  have  mentioned,  are  the  Ethnographic 
Museum — the  best  of  its  kind ;  the  Museum  of  Coins,  the 
most  complete  I  have  seen;  the  Thorvvaldsen  Museum;  the 
Mineralogical  Museum ;  the  Zoological  Museum,  and  many 
more.  The  custodians  are  most  kind  and  civil ;  and  when 
they  see  any  visitor  interested  in  the  collection,  they  take 
a  special  pleasure  in  going  round  with  him  and  pointing 
out  the  beauty  and  rarity  of  the  articles,  imparting  at  the 
same  time  most  interesting  information.  I  wish  those 
melancholy  taciturn  "  staff-in-hand "  attendant  custodians 
of  our  British  Museums  could  or  would  follow  their 
example,  and  thus  aid  the  chief  object  of  these  costly  in- 
stitutions. 

Holding  the  memory  of  Tycho  Brahe"  in  the  highest 
regard  as  one  of  the  great  pioneers  of  astronomy,  I  was 
much  interested  by  a  contemporary  portrait  of  him  in  the 
Town  Hall;  but  still  more  so  by  the  remains  of  his  observa- 
tory at  the  top  of  the  great  Round  Tower,  where  he  carried 
on  his  careful  observations  by  instruments  of  his  own 
design  and  construction.  These,  with  many  additions,  he 
afterwards  transported  to  the  island  of  Hveen,  where  the 
remains  of  his  castle  and  observatory  are  still  to  be  seen. 
While  I  was  mounting  the  Round  Tower  I  could  not  but 
think  of  the  footsteps  of  the  great  astronomer  who  has 
made  it  classic  ground. 

I  left  Copenhagen  for  Hamburg  by  coach.  After  pass- 
ing through  the  island  of  Zealand,  I  was  ferried  across  to  the 
island  of  Fyen,  and  after  that  I  proceeded  along  the  mainland 
of  Sleswick  and  Holstein.  I  was  much  pleased  with  what 
I  saw  of  the  people  of  these  provinces.  Their  farmhouses 
and  cottages  were  wonderfully  clean  and  neat.  The  women 
were  all  engaged  in  scrubbing  and  polishing.  I  believe  I 
saw  more  brass  in  the  shape  of  bright  door-knockers  during 
my  journey  than  I  had  seen  in  all  England.  Even  the 
brass  and  iron  hoops  round  the  milk  pails,  by  constant 
scrubbing,  looked  like  gold  and  silver.  Every  window  had 
its  neat  dimity  curtains  edged  with  snow-white  trimming. 
The  very  flower-pots  were  painted  red,  to  fetch  up  their 


294  BACK  TO  ENGLAND.  CHAP.  xvi. 

brightness  to  the  general  standard.  I  never  saw  a  more 
cheerful  and  happy-looking  people  than  those  whom  I 
observed  between  Copenhagen  and  Hamburg.  They  seemed 
to  me  to  be  very  like  the  people  of  England — especially  in 
the  northern  and  eastern  parts — in  their  oval  faces,  their 
bright  blue  eyes,  and  their  light  and  golden  hair,  as  well  as 
their  active  minds  and  bodies,  which  enable  them  to  do 
their  work  with  hearty  cheerful  energy. 

I  went  from  Hamburg  to  Amsterdam  by  steamer ;  and 
after  doing  a  few  days'  business  I  went  to  take  a  peep  at 
the  fine  collections  of  pictures  there,  as  well  as  at  the 
Hague.  Then  I  proceeded  to  Eotterdam,  and  took  ship  for 
England  by  the  Batavian  steamer.  I  reached  home  safely 
after  my  prolonged  tour.  Everything  was  going  on  well  at 
the  Bridgewater  Foundry.  The  seeds  which  I  had  sown  in 
the  northern  countries  of  Europe  were  already  springing  up 
plentifully  in  orders  for  machine  tools ;  and  the  clang  of 
the  hammer  and  the  whirl  of  the  lathes  and  planing 
machines  were  working  cheerily  on  from  morning  till 
night. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

MORE  ABOUT  BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY — WOOLWICH 
ARSENAL. 

THE  rapid  extension  of  railways  and  steam  navigation,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  occasioned  a  largely  increased  demand 
for  machinery  of  all  kinds.  Our  order-book  was  always 
full ;  and  every  mechanical  workshop  felt  the  impulse  of 
expanding  trade.  There  was  an  increased  demand  for  skilled 
mechanical  labour — a  demand  that  was  far  in  excess  of  the 
supply.  Employers  began  to  outbid  each  other,  and  wages 
rapidly  rose.  At  the  same  time  the  disposition  to  steady 
exertion  on  the  part  of  the  workmen  began  to  decline. 

This  state  of  affairs  had  its  usual  effect.  It  increased 
the  demand  for  self-acting  tools,  by  which  the  employers 
might  increase  the  productiveness  of  their  factories  without 
having  resort  to  the  costly  and  untrustworthy  method  of 
meeting  the  demand  by  increasing  the  number  of  their 
workmen.  Machine  tools  were  found  to  be  of  much  greater 
advantage.  They  displaced  hand-dexterity  and  muscular 
force.  They  were  unfailing  in  their  action.  They  could 
not  possibly  go  wrong  in  planing  and  turning,  because  they 
were  regulated  by  perfect  self-acting  arrangements.  They 
were  always  ready  for  work,  and  never  required  a  Holiday 
or  a  Saint  Monday. 

As  the  Bridgewater  Foundry  had  been  so  fortunate  as 
to  earn  for  itself  a  considerable  reputation  for  mechanical 
contrivances,  the  workshops  were  always  busy.  They  were 
crowded  with  machine  tools  in  full  action,  and  exhibited  to 
all  comers  their  effectiveness  in  the  most  satisfactory  man- 


296  ABILITY  OF  MACHINE  TOOLS.  CHAP. 

ner.  Every  facility  was  afforded  to  those  who  desired  to 
see  them  at  work ;  and  every  machine  and  machine  tool 
that  was  turned  out  became  in  the  hands  of  its  employers 
the  progenitor  of  a  numerous  family. 

Indeed,  on  many  occasions  I  had  the  gratification  of 
seeing  my  mechanical  notions  adopted  by  rival  or  competitive 
machine  constructors,  often  without  acknowledgment ; 
though,  notwithstanding  this  point  of  honour,  there  was 
room  enough  for  all.  Though  the  parent  features  were 
easily  recognisable,  I  esteemed  such  plagiarisms  as  a  sort 
of  left-handed  compliment  to  their  author.  I  also  regarded 
them  as  a  proof  that  I  had  hit  the  mark  in  so  arranging 
my  mechanical  combinations  as  to  cause  their  general 
adoption,  and  many  of  them  remain  unaltered  to  this  day. 

The  machine  tools  when  in  action  did  not  require  a 
skilled  workman  to  guide  or  watch  them.  All  that  was 
necessary  to  superintend  them  was  a  well-selected  labourer. 
The  self-acting  machine  tools  already  possessed  the  requisite 
ability  to  plane,  to  turn,  to  polish,  and  to  execute  the  work 
when  firmly  placed  in  situ.  The  work  merely  required  to 
be  shifted  from  time  to  time,  and  carefully  fixed  for  an- 
other action  of  the  machine. 

Besides  selecting  clever  labourers,  I  made  an  extensive 
use  of  active  handy  boys  to  superintend  the  smaller  class 
of  self-acting  machine  tools.  To  do  this  required  little 
exertion  of  muscular  force,  but  only  observant  attention. 
The  machine  tools  did  all  the  working  (for  the  thinking  had 
been  embodied  in  them  beforehand),  and  they  turned  out 
all  manner  of  geometrical  forms  with  the  utmost  correctness. 
This  sort  of  training  educated  the  faculties  of  the  lads,  and 
trained  their  ideas  to  the  perception  of  exactness  of  form, 
at  the  same  time  that  it  gave  them  an  intimate  acquaint- 
ance with  the  nature  of  the  materials  employed  in  mechanical 
structures.  The  rapidity  with  which  they  thus  acquired  the 
efficiency  of  thoroughly  practical  mechanics  was  surprising. 

As  the  lads  grew  in  strength  they  were  promoted  to 
the  higher  classes  of  work.  We  gave  to  the  foreman  of 
each  department  the  right  to  recommend  to  a  special  rise 


xvn.  THE  TRADES'  UNION  AGAIN.  297 

of  wages  any  lad  who  showed  an  extra  intelligent  earnest- 
ness and  assiduity  in  superintending  his  machine.  This 
produced  an  active  spirit  of  emulation,  which  not  only 
advanced  their  efficiency  but  relieved  the  foreman  from  a 
source  of  irritation  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  I  have 
already  referred  to  the  subject  in  a  former  portion  of  this 
narrative  ;  but  it  cannot  be  too  strongly  urged  upon  the 
attention  of  proprietors  of  mechanical  works.  Besides 
making  first-rate  workmen,  this  method  prevents  the  lads 
from  getting  into  habits  of  workshop  dishonesty,  i.e.  "skulk- 
ing," and  other  annoyances.  My  system  of  non-binding  of 
apprentices  was  the  "perfect  cure,"  if  I  may  so  speak.  All 
that  existed  between  us  was  mutual  satisfaction  with  each 
other,  and  that  alone  proved  from  first  to  last  in  every 
respect  a  perfect  bond. 

So  completely  were  the  workmen  in  attendance  on  self- 
acting  machines  relieved  from  the  necessity  of  labour,  that 
many  of  the  employers,  to  keep  the  men  from  falling 
asleep,  allowed  them  to  attend  to  other  machines  within 
their  powers  of  superintendence.  This  kept  them  fully 
awake.  The  workmen  cheerfully  acquiesced  in  this 
arrangement,  as  a  relief  from  tedium,  and  especially  when 
a  shilling  extra  was  added  to  their  wages  for  each  addi- 
tional machine.  All  went  well  for  a  time,  for  men  as  well 
as  masters.  But  now  came  the  difficulty.  The  system 
was  opposed  to  the  rules  of  the  Trades'  Union.  Their 
committee  held  that  setting  one  man  to  superintend  more 
than  one  machine  was  keeping  out  of  employment  some 
other  man  who  ought  to  be  employed.  And  yet,  at  the 
time  that  the  objection  was  made,  such  persons  were  not 
to  be  had.  The  increased  demand  for  skilled  labour  had 
employed  every  spare  workman. 

Nevertheless  the  system,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Union, 
"  must  be  put  down."  The  demand  was  made  that  every 
machine  must  have  a  Union  man  to  superintend  it,  and 
that  he  must  be  paid  the  full  Union  regulation  wages.  All 
labourers  and  lads  were  to  be  discharged,  and  Union  men 
employed  in  their  places.  As  the  times  were  good,  and 


298  ANOTHER  STRIKE.  CHAP. 

the  workshops  were  full  of  orders,  it  was  thought  by  the 
Union  that  the  time  had  come  to  put  the  matter  to  the 
test.  The  campaign  was  opened  by  the  organisation  of  a 
powerful  body,  entitled  "  The  Amalgamated  Society  of 
Mechanical  Engineers."  It  included  every  class  of  work- 
men employed  in  the  trade — ironfounders,  turners,  fitters, 
erectors,  pattern-makers,  and  such  like.  All  were  invited 
to  make  common  cause  against  the  employers. 

In  order  to  make  a  conspicuous  demonstration  of  their 
power,  the  Council  of  the  Union  first  attacked  the  exten- 
sive firm  of  Platt  Brothers,  Oldham.  The  Council  sent 
them  a  mandate  to  discharge  all  their  labourers  or  other 
"  illegal  hands  "  from  their  works — all  who  were  employed 
in  superintending  their  vast  assortment  of  machinery — and 
to  fill  their  places  with  "  legal  mechanics "  at  the  then 
regulation  wages.  The  plan  of  the  Union  was  to  attack 
the  employers  one  by  one — to  call  out  the  hands  of  one 
particular  workshop  until  the  employers  were  subdued  and 
obeyed  the  commands  of  the  Union ;  and  then  to  attack 
another  employer  in  the  same  way.  The  sagacity  of  this 
policy  very  much  resembled  that  of  the  ostrich,  which 
hides  its  head  in  a  hole  and  thinks  it  is  concealed.  The 
employers  knew  the  drift  of  the  policy,  and  took  steps  to 
circumvent  it. 

A  mutual  defence  association  was  formed,  and  a  decree 
was  issued  that,  unless  the  demand  of  the  Council  against 
Platt's  factory  was  withdrawn  by  a  certain  day,  every 
employer  would  at  once  close  his  concern.  The  Union, 
nevertheless,  stuck  to  their  guns — but  only  for  a  time. 
A  strike  took  place.  The  works  of  some  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive employers  of  labour  were  closed.  Everything  was 
paralysed  for  a  time  ;  the  men  went  about  with  their  hands 
in  their  pockets,  while  the  women  and  children  at  home 
were  wanting  food.  After  a  few  weeks  the  funds  of  the 
Amalgamated  Society  became  so  reduced  that  the  men 
gradually  retired  from  the  contest. 

Meanwhile,  such  concerns  as  contrived  to  keep  their 
workmen  in  full  employment — of  whom  we  were  one — 


xvii.  KNOWLEDGE  OF  CHARACTER  299 

made  use  of  the  occasion  to  act  on  the  healthy  system  of 
what  I  have  termed  "  Free  trade  in  ability."  We  added, 
so  far  as  we  could,  to  the  number  of  intelligent  labourers, 
advanced  them  to  the  places  which  the  Unionist  workmen 
had  left  at  the  order  of  their  Council,  and  thus  kept  our 
men  on  full  wages  until  the  strike  was  over.  This  was 
the  last  contest  I  had  with  Trades'  Unions.  One  of  the 
results  was  that  I  largely  increased  the  number  of  self- 
acting  machines,  and  gave  a  still  greater  amount  of  em- 
ployment to  my  unbound  apprentices.  I  placed  myself  in 
an  almost  impregnable  position,  and  showed  that  I  could 
conduct  my  business  with  full  activity  and  increasing  pro- 
sperity, and  at  the  same  time  maintain  good-feeling  between 
employed  and  employer. 

Another  important  point  was  this, — that  I  always  took 
care  to  make  my  foremen  comfortable,  and  consequently 
loyal.  A  great  part  of  a  man's  success  in  business  con- 
sists in  his  knowledge  of  character.  It  is  not  so  much 
what  he  himself  does,  as  what  he  knows  his  heads  of  de- 
partments can  do.  He  must  know  them  intimately,  take 
cognisance  of  the  leading  points  of  their  character,  pick 
and  choose  from  them,  and  set  them  to  the  work  which 
they  can  most  satisfactorily  superintend.  Edward  Tootal, 
of  Manchester,  said  to  me  long  before,  "  Never  give  your 
men  cause  to  look  over  the  hedge."  He  meant  that  I 
should  never  give  them  any  reason  for  looking  for  work 
elsewhere.  It  was  a  wise  saying,  and  I  long  remembered 
it.  I  always  endeavoured  to  make  my  men  and  foremen 
as  satisfied  as  possible  with  their  work,  as  well  as  with 
their  remuneration. 

I  never  had  any  cause  to  regret  that  I  had  struck  out 
an  independent  course  in  managing  the  Bridgewater 
Foundry.  The  works  were  always  busy.  A  cheerful  sort 
of  contentment  and  activity  pervaded  the  entire  estab- 
lishment. Our  order-book  continued  to  be  filled  with  the 
most  satisfactory  class  of  entries.  The  railway  trucks  in 
the  yard,  and  the  canal  barges  at  the  wharf,  presented  a 
busy  scene, — showing  the  influx  of  raw  material  and  the 


300  INTERCHANGE  OF  IDEAS.  CHAP. 

output  of  finished  work.  This  happy  state  of  affairs  went 
on  in  its  regular  course  without  any  special  incident 
worthy  of  being  mentioned.  The  full  and  steady  influx 
of  prosperity  that  had  been  the  result  of  many  years  of 
interesting  toil  and  cheerful  exertion,  had  caused  the 
place  to  assume  the  aspect  of  a  smoothly  working  self- 
acting  machine. 

Being  blessed  with  a  sound  constitution,  I  was  enabled 
to  perform  all  my  duties  with  hearty  active  good-will. 
And  as  I  had  occasional  journeys  to  make  in  connection 
with  our  affairs  and  interests,  these  formed  a  very  interest- 
ing variety  in  the  ordinary  course  of  my  daily  work.  The 
intimate  and  friendly  intercourse  which  I  was  so  fortunate 
as  to  cultivate  with  the  heads  of  the  principal  engineering 
firms  of  my  time,  kept  me  well  posted  up  in  all  that  was 
new  and  advanced  in  the  way  of  improvements  in  mechani- 
cal processes.  I  had  at  the  same  time  many  pleasant 
opportunities  of  making  suggestions  as  to  further  improve- 
ments, some  of  which  took  root  and  yielded  results  of  no 
small  importance.  These  visits  to  my  friends  were  always 
acceptable,  if  I  might  judge  from  the  hearty  tone  of  wel- 
come with  which  I  was  generally  received. 

I  do  not  know  what  may  be  the  case  in  other  classes  of 
businesses  or  professions,  but  as  regards  engineer  mechanists 
and  metal  workers  generally,  there  is  an  earnest  and  frank 
intercommunication  of  ideas — an  interchange  of  thoughts 
and  suggestions — which  has  always  been  a  source  of  the 
highest  pleasure  to  me,  and  which  I  have  usually  found 
thoroughly  reciprocated.  The  subjects  with  which  engi- 
neers have  to  deal  are  of  a  wide  range,  and  jealousy  in 
intercommunication  is  almost  entirely  shut  out.  Many  of 
my  friends  were  special  "characters."  For  the  most  part 
they  had  made  their  own  way  in  the  world,  like  myself.  I 
found  among  them  a  great  deal  of  quaint  humour.  Their 
talk  was  quite  unconventional ;  and  yet  their  remarks  were 
well  worth  being  treasured  up  in  the  memory  as  things  to  be 
thought  about  and  pondered  over.  Sometimes  they  gave 
the  key  to  the  comprehension  of  some  of  the  grandest 


xvn.  USE  OF  SMALL  STEAM-ENGINES.  301 


functions  in  Nature,  and  an  insight  into  the  operation  of 
those  invariable  laws  which  regulate  the  universe.  For  all 
Nature  is,  as  it  were,  a  grand  workshop,  ruled  over  by  an 
ever  present  Almighty  Master, — of  whose  perfect  designs 
and  works  we  are  as  yet  only  permitted  to  obtain  hasty 
and  imperfect  glimpses. 

To  return  to  my  own  humbler  progress.  From  an  early 
period  of  my  efforts  as  a  mechanical  engineer,  I  had  been 
impressed  with  the  great  advantages  that  would  result  from 
the  employment  of  small  high-pressure  steam-engines  of  a 
simple  and  compact  construction.  These,  I  thought,  might 
suit  the  limited  means  and  accommodation  of  small  factories 
and  workshops  where  motive  power  was  required.  The 
highly  satisfactory  results  which  followed  the  employment 
of  steam-engines  of  this  class,  such  as  I  supplied  shortly 
after  beginning  business  in  Manchester,  led  to  a  constantly 
increasing  demand  for  them.  They  were  used  for  hoisting 
in  and  out  the  weighty  bales  of  goods  from  the  lofty  Man- 
chester warehouses.  They  worked  the  "lifts,"  and  also  the 
pumps  of  the  powerful  hydraulic  presses  used  in  packing 
the  bales. 

;  These  small  engines  were  found  of  service  in  a  variety  of 
ways.  When  placed  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  building 
the  waste  steam  was  utilised  in  warming  the  various  apart- 
ments of  the  house.  The  steam  was  conveyed  in  iron  pipes, 
and  thus  obviated  the  risk  of  fire  which  attended  the  use 
of  stoves  and  open  fire-grates.  I  remember  being  much 
pleased  with  seeing  a  neat  arrangement  of  a  "  hot-closet " 
heated  by  the  waste  steam  conveyed  from  the  bottom  of 
the  building.  This  was  used  for  holding  the  dinners  and 
teas  of  the  minor  clerks  and  workpeople.  Another  enclosed 
place,  heated  by  waste  steam,  was  used  for  drying  wet 
clothes  and  jackets  during  rainy  weather.  Much  attention 
was  paid  by  the  employers  to  their  workpeople  in  these 
respects.  The  former  exhibited  a  great  deal  of  kindly 
thoughtfulness.  But  men  and  master  were  alike.  It  was 
a  source  of  the  greatest  pleasure  to  me,  when  looking  round 
the  warehouses  and  factories,  to  see  the  intelligent  steady 


302  CONVEYANCE  OF  STEAM  POWER.  CHAP. 

energy  that  pervaded  every  department,  from  the  highest 
to  the  lowest. 

I  never  lost  sight  of  the  importance  of  extending  the 
use  of  my  small  steam-engine  system.  It  was  the  most  con- 
venient method  of  applying  steam  power  to  individual 
machines.  Formerly,  the  power  to  drive  a  machine  was  de- 
rived from  a  very  complicated  arrangement  of  shafting  and 
gearing  brought  from  a  distant  engine.  But  by  my  system 
I  conveyed  the  power  to  the  machine  by  means  of  a  steam 
pipe,  which  enabled  the  engine  to  which  it  was  attached  to 
be  driven  either  fast  or  slow,  or  to  be  stopped  or  started, 
just  as  occasion  required.  It  might  be  run  while  all  the 
other  machines  were  at  rest ;  or,  in  the  event  of  a  break- 
down of  the  main  engine  of  the  factory,  the  small  engine 
might  still  be  kept  going,  or  even  assist  in  the  repairs  of 
the  large  one. 

An  important  feature  in  this  mode  of  conveying  power 
by  means  of  piping — in  place  of  gearing  and  shifting  belts 
and  belt  pulleys — was  the  ease  with  which  the  steam  could 
be  conveyed  into  intricate  parts  of  the  building.  The  pipes 
which  I  used  were  of  wrought-iron,  similar  to  those  used  in 
conveying  gas.  They  could  be  curved  to  suit  any  peculi- 
arity of  the  situation;  and  when  the  pipes  were  lapped 
with  felt,  or  enclosed  in  wooden  troughs  filled  with  saw- 
dust, the  loss  of  heat  by  radiation  was  reduced  to  a  mini- 
mum. The  loss  of  power  was  certainly  much  less  than  in 
the  friction  of  a  long  and  perhaps  tortuous  line  of  shafting. 
With  steam  of  50  Ibs.  to  the  inch,  a  pipe  of  one-inch  bore 
will  convey  sufficient  steam  to  give  forth  five  horse-power 
at  a  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred  feet  from  the 
boiler.1 

I  adopted  the  same  practice  in  working  the  refined  and 
complex  machines  used  in  printing  coloured  patterns  on 

1  In  tho  case  of  rambling  premises,  such  as  iron  shipbuilding  yards, 
the  conveyance  of  steam  by  well-protected  pipes  put  underground  for 
tho  purpose  of  driving  engines  to  work  punching  and  plate-shearing 
machines  (which  have  to  be  near  at  hand  when  the  work  is  required), 
has  very  great  practical  advantages. 


xvii.  IMPROVED  CALICO-PRINTING.  303 

calico.  A  great  variety  of  colours  has  to  be  transferred  by 
a  combination  of  rollers — each  carrying  its  proper  colour ; 
these  are  printed  on  the  calico  with  the  utmost  exactness, 
and  result  in  the  complete  pattern.  My  system  of  having 
a  separate  engine  to  give  motion  to  these  colour-printing 
machines  was  found  to  be  of  great  service,  and  its  value 
was  recognised  by  its  speedy  and  almost  universal  adoption. 
Every  connection  with  the  main  shaft,  with  its  gearing  and 
belts  and  pulleys — by  which  colour-printing  had  before 
been  accomplished — was  entirely  done  away  with,  because 
each  machine  had  its  own  special  engine.  The  former 
practice  had  led  to  much  waste,  and  the  printing  was  often 
confused  and  badly  done.  The  power  was  conveyed  from 
a  great  central  steam-engine ;  the  printing  machines  were 
ranged  by  the  side  of  a  long  gallery,  and  by  means  of  a 
"  clutch "  each  machine  was  started  at  once  into  action. 
The  result  of  this  was  a  considerable  shock  to  the  machine, 
and  an  interference  with  the  relative  adjustments  of  the 
six  or  eight  colour  rollers,  which  were  often  jerked  out  of 
their  exact  relative  adjustment.  Then  the  machines  had 
to  be  stopped  and  the  rollers  readjusted,  and  sometimes 
many  yards  of  calico  had  been  spoiled  before  this  could  be 
done. 

These  difficulties  were  now  entirely  removed.  When 
all  was  adjusted,  the  attendant  of  the  print-machine  had 
only  to  open  gradually  the  steam  admission  valve  of  his 
engine,  and  allow  it  to  work  the  machine  gently  at  its  first 
off-go ;  and  when  all  was  seen  to  be  acting  in  perfect  con- 
cert, to  open  the  valve  further  and  allow  the  machine  to  go 
at  full  speed.  The  same  practice  was  adopted  in  slow- 
ing off  the  machine,  so  as  to  allow  the  attendant  to 
scrutinise  the  pattern  and  the  position  of  the  work,  or  in 
stopping  the  machine  altogether.  So  satisfactory  were  the 
results  of  the  application  of  this  mode  of  driving  calico- 
printing  machines,  that  it  was  adopted  for  the  like  processes 
as  applied  to  other  textile  fabrics ;  and  it  is  now,  I  believe, 
universally  applied  at  home  as  well  as  abroad. 

I  may  also  add. that  the  waste  steam,  as  it  issued  from 


304  SMALL  ENGINES  AT  WOOLWICH.  CHAP. 

the  engine  after  performing  its  mechanical  duty  there,  was 
utilised  in  a  most  effective  manner  by  heating  a  series  of 
steam-tight  cylinders,  over  which  the  printed  cloth  travelled 
as  it  issued  from  the  printing  machine,  when  it  was  speedily 
and  effectively  dried.  In  these  various  improvements  in 
calico  printing  I  was  most  ably  seconded  by  Mr.  Joseph 
Lese,  of  Manchester,  whose  practical  acquaintance  with  all 
that  related  to  that  department  of  industry  rendered  him 
of  the  greatest  service.  There  was  no  "  Invention,"  so  to 
speak,  in  this  almost  obvious  application  of  the  steam- 
engine  to  calico-printing.  It  required  merely  the  faculty  of 
observation,  and  the  application  of  means  to  ends.  The 
main  feature  of  the  system,  it  will  be  observed,  was  in 
enabling  the  superintendent  of  each  machine  to  have  per- 
fect control  over  it, — to  set  it  in  motion  and  to  regulate  its 
speed  without  the  slightest  jerk  or  shock  to  its  intricate 
mechanism.  In  this  sense  the  arrangement  was  of  great 
commercial  value. 

I  had  another  opportunity  of  introducing  my  small 
engine  system  into  the  Government  Arsenal  at  Woolwich. 
In  1847  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Ordnance  was 
directed  to  the  inadequacy  of  the  equipment  of  the  work- 
shops there.  The  mechanical  arrangements,  the  machine 
tools,  and  other  appliances,  were  found  insufficient  for  the 
economical  production  of  the  apparatus  of  modern  warfare. 
The  Board  did  me  the  honour  to  call  upon  me  to  advise 
with  them,  and  also  with  the  heads  of  departments  at  the 
arsenal.  Sir  Thomas  Hastings,  then  head  of  the  Ordnance, 
requested  me  to  accompany  him  at  the  first  inspection.  I 
made  a  careful  survey  of  all  the  workshops,  and  although 
the  machinery  was  very  interesting  as  examples  of  the  old 
and  primitive  methods  of  producing  war  material,  I  found 
that  it  was  better  fitted  for  a  Museum  of  Technical 
Antiquity  than  for  practical  use  in  these  days  of  rapid 
mechanical  progress.  Everything  was  certainly  far  be- 
hind the  arrangements  which  I  had  observed  in  foreign 
arsenals. 

The  immediate  result  of  my  inspection  of  the  work- 


xvn.  IMPROVEMENTS  AT  THE  ARSENAL.  305 


shops  and  the  processes  conducted  within  them  was,  that  I 
recommended  the  introduction  of  machine  tools  specially 
adapted  to  economise  labour,  as  well  as  to  perfect  the 
rapid  production  of  war  material.  In  this  I  was  heartily 
supported  by  the  heads  of  the  various  departments.  After 
several  conferences  with  them,  as  well  as  with  Sir  Thomas 
Hastings,  it  was  arranged  that  a  large  extension  of  the 
workshop  space  should  be  provided.  I  was  so  fortunate  as 
to  make  a  happy  suggestion  on  this  head.  It  was,  that 
by  a  very  small  comparative  outlay  nearly  double  the 
workshop  area  might  be  provided — by  covering  in  with 
light  iron  roofs  the  long  wide  roadway  spaces  that  divided 
tho  parallel  ranges  of  workshops  from  each  other. 

This  plan  was  at  once  adopted.  Messrs.  Fox  and 
Henderson,  the  well-known  railway  roofing  contractors, 
were  entrusted  with  the  order;  and  in  a  very  short  time 
the  arsenal  was  provided  with  a  noble  set  of  light  and  airy 
workshops,  giving  ample  accommodation  for  present  re- 
quirements, as  well  as  surplus  space  for  many  years  to 
come.  In  order  to  supply  steam  power  to  each  of  these 
beautiful  workshops,  and  for  working  the  various  machines 
placed  within  them,  I  reverted  to  my  favourite  system  of 
small  separate  steam-engines.  This  was  adopted,  and  the 
costly  ranges  of  shafting  that  would  otherwise  have  been 
necessary  were  entirely  dispensed  with. 

A  series  of  machine  tools  of  the  most  improved  modern 
construction,  specially  adapted  for  the  various  classes  of 
work  carried  on  in  the  arsenal,  together  with  improved 
ranges  of  smiths'  forge  hearths,  blown  by  an  air  blast 
supplied  by  fans  of  the  best  construction,  and  a  suitable 
supply  of  small  hand  steam  hammers,  completed  the  arrange- 
ments; and  quite  a  new  era  in  the  forge  work  of  the 
arsenal  was  begun.  I  showed  the  managers  and  the 
workmen  the  docile  powers  of  the  steam  hammer,  in  pro- 
ducing in  a  few  minutes,  by  the  aid  of  dies,  many  forms  in 
wrought-iron  that  had  heretofore  occupied  hours  of  the 
most  skilful  smiths,  and  that,  too,  in  much  more  perfect 
truth  and  exactitude.  Both  masters  and  men  were  de- 


306  THE  SUPERINTENDING  OFFICERS.  CHAP. 

lighted  with  the  result :  and  as  such  precise  and  often  com- 
plex forms  of  wrought-iron  work  were  frequently  required 
by  hundreds  at  a  time  for  the  equipment  of  naval  gun 
carriages  and  other  purposes,  it  was  seen  that  the  steam 
hammer  must  henceforward  operate  as  a  powerful  auxiliary 
in  the  productions  of  the  arsenal. 

In  the  introduction  of  all  these  improvements  I  re- 
ceived the  frank  and  cordial  encouragement  of  the  chief 
officers  of  the  Board  of  Ordnance  and  Admiralty.  My 
suggestions  were  zealously  carried  out  by  Colonel  J.  N. 
Colquhoun,  then  head  of  the  chief  mechanical  department 
of  the  Ordnance  works  at  Woolwich,  He  was  one  of  the 
most  clear-headed  and  intelligent  men  I  have  ever  met 
with.  He  had  in  a  special  degree  that  happy  power  of  in- 
spiring his  zeal  and  energy  into  all  who  worked  under  his 
superintendence,  whether  foremen  or  workmen.  A  wonder- 
fully sympathetic  effect  is  produced  when  the  directing 
head  of  the  establishment  is  possessed  of  the  valuable 
faculty  of  cheerful  and  well-directed  energy.  It  works 
like  an  electric  thrill,  and  soon  pervades  the  whole  depart- 
ment. I  may  also  mention  General  Dundas,  director  of 
the  Royal  Gun  Factory,  and  General  Hardinge,  head  of 
the  Royal  Laboratories.1  This  latter  department  included 
all  processes  connected  with  explosives.  It  was  super- 
intended by  Captain  Boxer,  an  officer  of  the  highest  talent 
and  energy,  who  brought  everything  under  his  control  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  excellence.  I  must  also  add  a  most  im- 
portant person,  my  old  and  much  esteemed  friend  John 
Anderson,  then  general  director  of  the  Machinery  of  the 
arsenal.  He  was  an  admirable  mechanic,  a  man  of  clear 
practical  good  sense  and  judgment,  and  he  eventually 
raised  himself  to  the  highest  position  in  the  public 
service. 

1  The  term  "  Laboratory"  may  appear  an  odd  word  to  use  in  con- 
nection with  machinery  and  mechanical  operations.  Yet  its  original 
signification  was  quito  appropriate,  inasmuch  as  it  related  to  the  pre- 
paration of  explosive  substances,  such  as  shells,  rockets,  fusees, 
cartridges,  and  percussion  caps,  where  chemistry  was  as  much  con- 
cerned as  mechanism  in  producing  the  required  results. 


xvn.  FOREIGN  GOVERNMENTS.  307 

The  satisfactory  performance  of  the  machinery  which 
had  been  supplied  to  the  workshops  of  the  royal  dock- 
yards and  arsenals,  led  to  further  demands  for  similar 
machinery  for  foreign  Governments.  Foreign  visitors 
were  allowed  freely  to  inspect  all  that  had  been  done. 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  wisdom  of  this  proceeding, 
it  is  certainly  true  that  no  mechanical  improvement  can 
long  be  kept  secret  nowadays.  Everything  is  published 
and  illustrated  in  our  engineering  journals.  And  if  the 
foreigners  had  not  been  allowed  to  obtain  their  new 
machines  from  England,  they  were  provided  with  facilities 
enough  for  constructing  them  for  themselves.  At  all 
events,  one  result  of  the  improved  working  of  the  new 
machines  at  the  Koyal  Arsenal  at  Woolwich,  was  the  re- 
ceipt of  large  orders  for  our  firm  for  the  supply  of  foreign 
Governments.  For  instance,  that  of  Spain  employed  us 
liberally,  principally  for  the  equipment  of  the  royal  dock- 
yards of  Ferrol  and  Cartagena.  These  orders  came  to  us 
through  Messrs.  Zuluatta  Brothers,  who  conducted  their 
proceedings  with  us  in  a  prompt  and  business-like  way  for 
many  years.  Through  the  same  firm  we  obtained  orders 
to  furnish  machinery  for  the  Spanish  royal  dockyard  at 
Havana. 

In  1849  we  received  an  extensive  order  from  the 
Russian  Government.  This  was  transmitted  to  us 
through  the  Imperial  Consulate  in  London.  The  machinery 
was  required  for  the  equipment  of  a  very  extensive  rope 
factory  at  the  naval  arsenal  of  Nicolaiev,  on  the  Black  Sea. 
This  order  included  all  the  machinery  requisite  for  the 
factory,  from  the  heckling  of  the  hemp  to  the  twisting  of 
the  largest  ropes  and  cables  required  in  the  Russian  naval 
service.  The  design  and  organisation  of  this  machinery 
in  its  minutest  detail  caused  me  to  made  a  special  study 
of  the  art  of  rope-making.  It  was  a  comparatively  new 
subject  to  me ;  but  I  found  it  full  of  interest.  It  was  a 
difficulty,  and  therefore  to  be  overcome.  And  in  this 
lies  a  great  deal  of  the  pleasure  of  contriving  and  in- 
venting. 


308  GRAND  DUKE  CONSTANTINE.  CHAP. 

During  the  progress  of  the  work  I  had  the  advantage 
of  the  frequent  presence  of  an  able  Russian  officer,  Captain 
Putchkraskey,  whose  intelligent  supervision  was  a  source 
of  much  satisfaction.  We  had  also  occasional  visits  from 
Admiral  Kornileff,  a  man  of  the  highest  order  of  intelli- 
gence. He  was  not  only  able  to  appreciate  our  exertions 
to  execute  the  order  in  first-rate  style,  but  to  enter 
into  all  the  special  details  and  contrivances  of  the  work 
while  in  progress.  I  had  often  occasion  to  meet  Russian 
officers  while  at  the  Bridgewater  Foundry.  They  were 
usually  men  of  much  ability,  selected  by  the  Russian 
Government  to  act  as  their  agents  abroad,  in  order  to  keep 
them  well  posted  up  in  all  that  had  a  bearing  upon  their 
own  interests.  They  certainly  reflected  the  highest  credit 
on  their  Government,  as  proving  their  careful  selection  of 
the  best  men  to  advance  the  interests  of  Russia. 

During  the  visit  of  the  Grand  Duke  Constantino  to 
England  about  that  time,  he  resided  for  some  days  with 
the  Earl  of  Ellesmere  at  Worsley  Hall,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  Bridgewater  Foundry.  We  were  favoured  with% 
several  visits  from  the  Grand  Duke,  accompanied  by  Baron 
Brunnow,  Admiral  Heyden,  and  several  other  Russian 
officials.  They  came  by  Lord  Ellesmere's  beautiful  barge, 
which  drew  up  alongside  our  wharf,  where  the  'party 
landed  and  entered  the  works.  The  Grand  Duke  care- 
fully inspected  the  whole  place,  and  expressed  himself  as 
greatly  pleased  with  the  complete  mastery  which  man  had 
obtained  over  obdurate  materials,  through  the  unfailing 
agency  of  mechanical  substitutes  for  manual  dexterity  and 
muscular  force. 

I  was  invited  to  meet  this  distinguished  party  at 
Worsley  Hall  on  more  than  one  occasion,  and  was  much 
pleased  with  the  frank  and  intelligent  conversation  of  the 
Grand  Duke,  in  his  reference  to  what  he  had  seen  in  his 
visits  to  our  works.  It  was  always  a  source  of  high  plea- 
sure to  me  to  receive  visits  from  Lord  Ellesmere,  as  he  was 
generally  accompanied  by  men  of  distinction  who  were  well 
able  to  appreciate  the  importance  of  what  had  been  dis- 


xvn.  ADMIRAL  KORNILEFF.  309 

played  before  them.  The  visits,  for  instance,  of  Eajah 
Brooke,  the  Earl  of  Elgin,  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  Chevalier 
Bunsen,  and  Count  Flahault,  stand  out  bright  in  my 
memory. 

But  to  return  to  my  rope-making  machinery.  It  was 
finished  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Russian  officers.  It  was 
sent  off  by  ship  to  the  Black  Sea  in  July  1851,  and  fitted 
up  at  Nicolaiev  shortly  after.  I  received  a  kind  and 
pressing  invitation  from  Admiral  Kornileff  to  accompany 
him  on  the  first  trip  of  a  magnificent  steamer  which  had 
been  constructed  in  England  under  his  supervision.  His 
object  was,  not  only  that  I  might  have  a  pleasant  voyage 
in  his  company,  but  that  I  might  see  my  machinery  in  full 
action  at  Nicolaiev,  and  also  that  I  might  make  a  personal 
survey  of  the  arsenal  workshops  at  Sebastopol.  It  would, 
no  doubt,  have  been  a  delightful  trip,  but  it  was  not  to  be. 
The  unfortunate  disruption  occurred  between  our  Govern- 
ment and  that  of  Russia,  which  culminated  in  the  disastrous 
Crimean  War.  One  of  the  first  victims  was  Admiral 
Kornileff.  He  was  killed  by  one  of  our  first  shots  while 
engaged  in  placing  some  guns  for  the  defence  of  the 
entrance  to  the  harbour  of  Sebastopol. 


CHAPTER   XVIIL 

ASTRONOMICAL  PURSUITS. 

LET  me  turn  for  a  time  from  the  Foundry,  the  whirr  of  the 
self-acting  tools,  and  the  sound  of  the  steam  hammers,  to 
my  quieter  pursuits  at  home.  There  I  had  much  tranquil 
enjoyment  in  the  company  of  my  dear  wife.  I  had  many 
hobbies.  Drawing  was  as  familiar  to  me  as  language. 
Indeed,  it  was  often  my  method  of  speaking.  It  has 
always  been  the  way  in  which  I  have  illustrated  my 
thoughts.  In  the  course  of  my  journeys  at  home  and 
abroad  I  made  many  drawings  of  places  and  objects,  which 
were  always  full  of  interest,  to  me  at  least ;  and  they  never 
ceased  to  bring  up  a  store  of  happy  remembrances. 

Now  and  then  I  drew  upon  my  fancy,  and  with  pen 
and  ink  I  conjured  up  "The  Castle  of  Udolpho,"  "A  Bit 
of  Old  England,"  "  The  Fairies  are  Out,"  and  "  Everybody 
for  Ever."  The  last  is  crowded  with  thousands  of  figures 
and  heads,  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  condense  the 
drawing  into  a  small  compass.  To  these  I  added  "The 
Alchemist,"  "  Old  Mortality,"  "  Robinson  Crusoe,"  and  a 
bit  of  English  scenery,  which  I  called  "  Gathering  Sticks." 
I  need  not  say  with  how  much  pleasure  I  executed  these 
drawings  in  my  evening  hours.  They  were  not  "pub- 
lished," but  I  drew  them  with  lithographic  ink,  and  had 
them  printed  by  Mr.  Maclure.  I  afterwards  made  presents 
of  the  series  to  some  of  my  most  intimate  friends. 

In  remembrance  of  the  great  pleasure  which  I  had 
derived  from  the  perusal  of  Washington  living's  fascinat- 
ing works,  I  sent  him  a  copy  of  my  sketches.  His  answer 


CHAP.  xvin.     WASHINGTON  IRVING  &  LORD  DUNCAN.     311 

was  charming  and  characteristic.  His  letter  was  dated 
"  Sunny  side,"  %  Massachusetts,  where  he  lived.  He  said 
(17th  January  1859)  :-— 

"  DEAR  SIR — Accept  my  most  sincere  and  hearty  thanks  for 
the  exquisite  fancy  sketches  which  you  have  had  the  kindness 
to  send  me,  and  for  the  expressions  of  esteem  and  regard  in  the 
letter  which  accompanied  them.  It  is  indeed  a  heartfelt  grati- 
fication to  me  to  think  that  I  have  been  able  by  any  exercise 
of  my  pen  to  awaken  such  warm  and  delicate  sympathies,  and 
to  call  forth  such  testimonials  of  pleasure  and  approbation  from 
a  person  of  your  cultivated  taste  and  intellectual  elevation. 
With  high  respect  and  regard,  I  remain,  my  dear  sir,  your  truly 
obliged  friend,  WASHINGTON  IRVING." 

Viscount  Duncan,  afterwards  Earl  Camperdown,  also 
acknowledged  receipt  of  the  drawings  in  a  characteristic 
letter.  He  said : — "  We  are  quite  delighted  with  them, 
especially  with  '  The  Fairies,'  which  a  lady  to  whom  I 
showed  them  very  nearly  stole,  as  she  declared  that  it  quite 
realised  her  dreams  of  fairyland.  I  am  only  surprised 
that  amidst  your  numerous  avocations  you  have  found  time 
to  execute  such  detailed  works  of  art ;  and  I  shall  have 
much  pleasure  in  being  reminded  as  I  look  at  the  draw- 
ings that  the  same  hand  and  head  that  executed  them 
invented  the  steam  hammer,  and  many  other  gigantic 
pieces  of  machinery  which  will  tend  to  immortalise  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race." 

But  my  most  favourite  pursuit,  after  my  daily  exertions 
at  the  Foundry,  was  Astronomy.  There  were  frequently 
clear  nights  when  the  glorious  objects  in  the  Heavens  were 
seen  in  most  attractive  beauty  and  brilliancy.  I  cannot 
find  words  to  express  the  thoughts  which  the  impressive 
grandeur  of  the  Stars,  seen  in  the  silence  of  the  night, 
suggested  to  me  j  especially  when  I  directed  my  Telescope, 
even  at  random,  on  any  portion  of  the  clear  sky,  and  con- 
sidered that  each  Star  of  the  multitude  it  revealed  to  me, 
was  a  SUN  !  the  centre  of  a  system !  Myriads  of  such 
stars,  invisible  to  the  unassisted  eye,  were  rendered  per- 
fectly distinct  by  the  aid  of  the  telescope.  The  magnificence 


312  -DELIGHTS  OF  ASTRONOMY,  CHAP. 

of  the  sight  was  vastly  increased  when  the  telescope  was 
directed  to  any  portion  of  the  Milky  Way.  It  revealed 
such  countless  multitudes  of  stars  that  I  had  only  to  sit 
before  the  eyepiece,  and  behold  the  endless  procession  of 
these  glorious  objects  pass  before  me.  The  motion  of  the 
earth  assisted  in  changing  this  scene  of  inexpressible  mag- 
nificence, which  reached  its  climax  when  some  object  such 
as  the  "  Cluster  in  Hercules  "  came  into  sight  The  com- 
ponent stars  are  so  crowded  together  there  as  to  give  the 
cluster  the  appearance  of  a  gray  spot ;  but  when  examined 
with  a  telescope  of  large  aperture,  it  becomes  resolved  into 
such  myriads  of  stars  as  to  defy  all  attempts  to  count 
them.  Nothing  can  convey  to  the  mind,  in  so  awful  and 
impressive  a  manner,  the  magnificent  and  infinite  extent 
of  Creation,  and  the  inconceivable  power  of  its  Creator ! 

I  had  already  a  slight  acquaintance  with  Astronomy. 
My  father  had  implanted  in  me  the  first  germs.  He  was  a 
great  admirer  of  that  sublimest  of  sciences.  I  had  obtained 
a  sufficient  amount  of  technical  knowledge  to  construct 
in  1827  a  small  but  very  effective  reflecting  telescope 
of  six  inches  diameter.  Three  years  later  I  initiated  Mr. 
Maudslay  into  the  art  and  mystery  of  making  a  reflecting 
telescope.  I  then  made  a  speculum  of  ten  inches  diameter, 
and  but  for  the  unhappy  circumstance  of  his  death  in  1831, 
it  would  have  been  mounted  in  his  proposed  observatory  at 
Norwood.  After  I  had  settled  down  at  Fireside,  Patricroft, 
I  desired  to  possess  a  telescope  of  considerable  power  in 
order  to  enjoy  the  tranquil  pleasure  of  surveying  the  heavens 
in  their  impressive  grandeur  at  night. 

As  I  had  all  the  means  and  appliances  for  casting  specula 
at  the  factory,  I  soon  had  the  felicity  of  embodying  all  my 
former  self-acquired  skill  in  this  fine  art  by  producing  a 
very  perfect  casting  of  a  ten-inch  diameter  speculum.  The 
alloy  consisted  of  fifteen  parts  of  pure  tin  and  thirty-two 
parts  of  pure  copper,  with  one  part  of  arsenic.  It  was  cast 
with  perfect  soundness,  and  was  ground  and  polished  by  a 
machine  which  I  contrived  for  the  purpose.  The  speculum 
was  so  brilliant  that  when  my  friend  William  Lassell  saw 


xvni.  WILLIAM  LASSELL.  313 

it,  he  said  "  it  made  his  mouth  water."  It  was  about  this 
time  (1840)  that  I  had  the  great  happiness  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Lassell,  and  profiting  by  his  devotion 
to  astronomical  pursuits  and  his  profound  knowledge  of 
the  subject.1  He  had  acquired  much  technical  skill  in  the 
construction  of  reflecting  telescopes,  and  the  companionship 
between  us  was  thus  rendered  very  agreeable.  There  was 
an  intimate  exchange  of  opinions  on  the  subject,  and  my 
friendship  with  him  continued  during  forty  successive  years. 
I  was  perhaps  a  little  ahead  of  him  in  certain  respects.  I 
had  more  practical  knowledge  of  casting,  for  I  had  begun 
when  a  boy  in  my  bedroom  at  Edinburgh.  In  course  of 
time  I  contrived  many  practical  "  dodges "  (if  I  may  use 
such  a  word),  and  could  nimbly  vault  over  difficulties  of  a 
special  kind  which  had  hitherto  formed  a  barrier  in  the 
way  of  amateur  speculum  makers  when  fighting  their  way 
to  a  home-made  telescope. 

1  Mr.  Lassell  was  a  man  of  superb  powers.  Like  many  others  who 
have  done  so  mnch  for  astronomy,  he  started  as  an  amateur.  He  was 
first  apprenticed  to  a  merchant  at  Liverpool.  He  then  began  business 
as  a  brewer.  Eventually  he  devoted  himself  to  astronomy  and  astro- 
nomical mechanics.  When  in  his  twenty-first  year  he  began  con- 
structing reflecting  telescopes  for  himself.  He  proceeded  to  make 
a  Newtonian  of  nine  inches  aperture,  which  he  erected  in  an  observa- 
tory at  his  residence  near  Liverpool,  happily  named  "Starfield." 
With  this  instrument  he  worked  diligently,  and  detected  the  sixth 
star  in  the  trapezium  of  Orion.  In  1844  he  conceived  the  bold  idea  of 
constructing  a  reflector  of  two  feet  aperture,  and  twenty  feet  focal 
length,  to  be  mounted  equatorially.  Sir  John  Herschel,  in  mentioning 
Mr.  Lassell's  work,  did  me  the  honour  of  saying  "that  in  Mr.  Nasmyth 
he  was  fortunate  to  find  a  mechanist  capable  of  executing  in  the  highest 
perfection  all  his  conceptions,  and  prepared  by  his  own  love  of  astro- 
nomy and  practical  acquaintance  with  astronomical  observations,  and 
with  the  construction  of  specula,  to  give  them  their  full  effect."  With 
this  fine  instrument  Mr.  Lassell  discovered  the  satellite  of  Neptune. 
He  also  discovered  the  eighth  satellite  of  Saturn,  of  extreme  minute- 
ness, as  well  as  two  additional  satellites  of  Uranus.  But  perhaps  his 
best  work  was  done  at  Malta  with  a  much  larger  telescope,  four  feet  in 
aperture,  and  thirty-seven  feet  focus,  erected  there  in  1861.  He  re- 
mained at  Malta  for  three  years,  and  published  a  catalogue  of  600  new 
nebulae,  which  will  be  found  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Royal  Astronomical 
Society.  One  of  his  curious  sayings  was,  "  I  have  had  a  great  deal  to 
do  with  opticians,  some  of  them — like  Cooke  of  York — are  really 
opticians ;  but  the  greater  number  of  them  are  merely  shoptici&ns  ! " 


314  WARREN  DE  LA  RUE.  cHAf. 

I  may  mention  that  I  know  of  no  mechanical  pursuit  in 
connection  with  science,  that  offers  such  an  opportunity  for 
practising  the  technical  arts,  as  that  of  constructing  from 
first  to  last  a  complete  Newtonian  or  Gregorian  Reflecting 
Telescope.  Such  an  enterprise  brings  before  the  amateur  a 
succession  of  the  most  interesting  and  instructive  mechanical 
arts,  and  obliges  the  experimenter  to  exercise  the  faculty  of 
delicate  manipulation.  If  I  were  asked  what  course  of 
practice  was  the  best  to  instil  a  true  taste  for  refined 
mechanical  work,  I  should  say,  set  to  and  make  for  your- 
self from  first  to  last  a  reflecting  telescope  with  a  metallic 
speculum.  Buy  nothing  but  the  raw  material,  and  work 
your  way  to  the  possession  of  a  telescope  by  means  of  your 
own  individual  labour  and  skill.  If  you  do  your  work  with 
the  care,  intelligence,  and  patience  that  is  necessary,  you 
will  find  a  glorious  reward  in  the  enhanced  enjoyment  of  a 
night  with  the  heavens — all  the  result  of  your  own  ingenuity 
and  handiwork.  It  will  prove  a  source  of  abundant  pleasure 
and  of  infinite  enjoyment  for  the  rest  of  your  life. 

I  well  remember  the  visit  I  received  from  my  dear  friend 
Warren  do  la  Rue  in  the  year  1840.  I  was  executing 
some  work  for  him  with  respect  to  a  new  process  which  he 
had  contrived  for  the  production  of  white  lead.  I  was  then 
busy  with  the  casting  of  my  thirteen-inch  speculum.  He 
watched  my  proceedings  with  earnest  interest  and  most 
careful  attention.  He  told  me  many  years  after,  that  it  was 
the  sight  of  my  special  process  of  casting  a  sound  speculum 
that  in  a  manner  caused  him  to  turn  his  thoughts  to  practical 
astronomy,  a  subject  in  which  he  has  exhibited  such  noble 
devotion  as  well  as  masterly  skill.  Soon  after  his  visit  I 
had  the  honour  of  casting  for  him  a  thirteen-inch  speculum, 
which  he  afterwards  ground  and  polished  by  a  method  of 
his  own.  He  mounted  it  in  an  equatorial  instrument  of 
such  surpassing  excellence  as  enabled  him,  aided  by  his 
devotion  and  pure  love  of  the  subject,  to  record  a  series  of 
observations  and  results  which  will  hand  his  name  down  to 
posterity  as  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  patient  of  astro- 
nomical observers. 


XYIII.  A  GHOST  AT  PATRICROFT  !  315 

But  to  return  to  my  own  little  work  at  Patricroft.  I 
mounted  my  ten-inch  home-made  reflecting  telescope,  and 
began  my  survey  of  the  heavens.  Need  I  say  with  what 
exquisite  delight  the  harmony  of  their  splendour  filled  me. 
I  began  as  a  learner,  and  my  learning  grew  with  experience. 
There  were  the  prominent  stars,  the  planets,  the  Milky  Way 
— with  thousands  of  far-off  suns — to  be  seen.  My  obser- 
vations were  at  first  merely  general ;  by  degrees  they  be- 
came particular.  I  was  not  satisfied  with  enjoying  these 
sights  myself ;  I  made  my  friends  and  neighbours  sharers 
in  my  pleasure  ;  and  some  of  them  enjoyed  the  wonders  of 
the  heavens  as  much  as  I  did. 

In  my  early  use  of  the  telescope  I  had  fitted  the  specu- 
lum into  a  light  square  tube  of  deal,  to  which  the  eye-piece 
was  attached,  so  as  to  have  all  the  essential  parts  of  the 
telescope  combined  together  in  the  most  simple  and  portable 
form.  I  had  often  to  remove  it  from  place  to  place-in  my 
small  garden  at  the  side  of  the  Bridgewater  Canal,  in  order 
to  get  it  clear  of  the  trees  and  branches  which  intercepted 
some  object  in  the  heavens  which  I  wished  to  see.  How 
eager  and  enthusiastic  I  was  in  those  days  !  Sometimes  I 
got  out  of  bed  in  the  clear  small  hours  of  the  morning,  and 
went  down  to  the  garden  in  my  night-shirt.  I  would  take 
the  telescope  in  my  arms  and  plant  it  in  some  suitable  spot, 
where  I  might  get  a  peep  at  some  special  planet  or  star 
then  above  the  horizon. 

It  became  bruited  about  that  a  ghost  was"  seen  at  Patri- 
croft! A  barge  was  silently  gliding  along  the  canal  near 
midnight,  when  the  boatman  suddenly  saw  a  figure  in  white. 
"  It  moved  among  the  trees  with  a  coffin  in  its  arms  !"  The 
apparition  was  so  sudden  and  strange  that  he  immediately 
concluded  that  it  was  a  ghost.  The  weird  sight  was  reported 
at  the  stations  along  the  canal,  and  also  at  Wolverhampton, 
which  was  the  boatman's  headquarters.  He  told  the  people 
at  Patricroft  on  his  return  journey  what  he  had  seen,  and 
great  was  the  excitement  produced.  The  place  was  haunted : 
there  was  no  doubt  about  it !  After  all,  the  rumour  was 
founded  on  fact,  for  the  ghost  was  merely  myself  in  my 


316  OBSERVATION  OF  THE  MOON.  CHAP. 

night-shirt,  and  the  coffin  was  my  telescope,  which  I  was 
quietly  shifting  from  one  place  to  another  in  order  to  get  a 
clearer  sight  of  the  heavens  at  midnight. 

My  ambition  expanded.  I  now  resolved  to  construct 
a  reflecting  telescope  of  considerably  greater  power  than 
that  which  I  possessed.  I  made  one  of  twenty  inches 
diameter,  and  mounted  it  on  a  very  simple  plan,  thus 
removing  many  of  the  inconveniences  and  even  personal 
risks  that  attend  the  use  of  such  instruments.1  It  had 
been  necessary  to  mount  steps  or  ladders  to  get  at  the  eye- 
piece, especially  when  the  objects  to  be  observed  were  at  a 
high  elevation  above  the  horizon.  I  now  prepared  to  do 
some  special  work  with  this  instrument.  In  1842  I  began 
my  systematic  researches  upon  the  Moon.  I  carefully  and 
minutely  scrutinised  the  marvellous  details  of  its  surface,  a 
pursuit  which  I  continued  for  many  years,  and  still  continue 
with  ardour  until  this  day.  My  method  was  as  follows  :— 

I  availed  myself  of  every  favourable  opportunity  for 
carrying  on  the  investigation.  I  made  careful  drawings 
with  black  and  white  chalk  on  large  sheets  of  grey-tinted 
paper,  of  such  selected  portions  of  the  Moon  as  embodied 
the  most  characteristic  and  instructive  features  of  her 
wonderful  surface.  I  was  thus  enabled  to  graphically  re- 
present the  details  with  due  fidelity  as  to  form,  as  well  as 
with  regard  to  the  striking  effect  of  the  original  in  its 
masses  of  light  and  shade.  I  thus  educated  my  eye  for 
the  special  object  by  systematic  and  careful  observation, 
and  at  the  same  time  practised  my  hand  in  no  less  careful 
delineation  of  all  that  was  so  distinctly  presented  to  me  by 
the  telescope — at  the  side  of  which  my  sheet  of  paper  was 
handily  fixed.  I  became  in  a  manner  familiar  with  the 
vast  variety  of  those  distinct  manifestations  of  volcanic 
action,  which  at  some  inconceivably  remote  period  had  pro- 
duced these  wonderful  features  and  details  of  the  moon's 
surface.  So  far  as  could  be  observed,  there  was  an  entire 


1  For  illustration  of  the  plan  of  mounting  a  largo  telescope,  see  p. 
338. 


xviii.  STRUCTURE  OF  LUNAR  CRATERS.  317 

absence  of  any  agency  of  change,  so  that  their  formation 
must  have  remained  absolutely  intact  since  the  original 
cosmical  heat  of  the  moon  had  passed  rapidly  into  space. 
The  surface,  with  all  its  wondrous  details,  presents  the 
same  aspect  as  it  did  probably  millions  of  ages  ago. 

This  consideration  vastly  enhances  the  deep  interest  with 
which  we  look  upon  the  moon  and  its  volcanic  details.  It 
is  totally  without  an  atmosphere,  or  of  a  vapour  envelope, 
such  as  the  earth  possesses,  and  which  must  have  contributed 
to  the  conservation  of  the  cosmical  heat  of  the  latter  orb. 
The  moon  is  of  relatively  small  mass,  and  is  consequently 
inferior  in  heat-retaining  power.  It  must  thus  have  parted 
with  its  original  stock  of  cosmical  heat  with  such  rapidity 
as  to  bring  about  the  final  termination  of  those  surface 
changes  which  give  it  so  peculiar  an  aspect.  In  the  case 
of  the  earth  the  internal  heat  still  continues  in  operation, 
though  in  a  vastly  reduced  degree  of  activity.  Again  in 
the  case  of  the  moon,  the  total  absence  of  water  as  well  as 
atmosphere  has  removed  from  it  all  those  denudative  activi- 
ties which,  in  the  earth,  have  acted  so  powerfully  in  effect- 
ing changes  of  its  surfaces  as  well  as  in  the  distribution  of 
its  materials.  Hence  the  appearance  of  the  wonderful 
details  of  the  moon's  surface  presents  us  with  objects  of 
inconceivably  remote  antiquity. 

Another  striking  characteristic  of  the  moon's  surface  is 
the  enormous  magnitude  of  its  volcanic  crater  formations. 
In  comparison  with  these,  the  greatest  on  the  surface  of  the 
earth  are  reduced  to  insignificance.  Paradoxical  as  the 
statement  may  at  first  appear,  the  magnitude  of  the  remains 
of  the  primitive  volcanic  energy  in  the  moon  is  simply  due 
to  the  smallness  of  its  mass.  Being  only  about  one- 
eightieth  part  of  the  bulk  of  the  earth,  the  force  of  gravity 
on  the  moon's  surface  is  only  about  one-sixth.  And  as 
eruptive  force  is  quite  independent,  as  a  force,  of  the  law  of 
gravitation,  and  as  it  acted  with  its  full  energy  on  matter, 
which  in  the  moon  is  little  heavier  than  cork,  it  was  dis- 
persed in  divergent  flight  from  the  vent  of  the  volcanoes, 
free  from  any  atmospheric  resistance,  and  thus  secured  an 


818 


THE  CENTRAL  CONES. 


CHAP. 


enormously  wider  dispersion  of  the  ejected  scoriae.  Hence 
the  building  up  of  those  enormous  ring-formed  craters  which 
are  seen  in  such  vast  numbers  on  the  moon's  surface — some 
of  them  being  no  less  than  a  hundred  miles  in  diameter, 
with  which  those  of  Etna  and  Vesuvius  are  the  merest 
molehills  in  comparison.1 


GENERAL  STRUCTURE  OF  LUNAR  CRATERS. 

I  may  mention,  in  passing,  that  the  frequency  of  a  cen- 
tral cone  within  these  ring-shaped  lunar  craters  supplies  us 
with  one  of  the  most  distinct  and  unquestionable  evidences 
of  the  true  nature  and  mode  of  the  formation  of  volcanoes. 


1  The  illustration'  on  the  next  page  exhibits  a  class  of  volcanic 
formations  that  may  be  seen  on  many  portions  of  the  moon's  surt'ai v. 
They  are  what  I  would  term  exudative  volcanic  mountains,  the 
n 'suits  of  a  comparatively  gentle  discharge  of  volcanic  matter,  which 
has  resulted  in  heaped  up  eminences  ;  a  vast  group  of  which  were 
displayed  in  the  illustration  given  on  page  322,  some  of  them  being 
upwards  of  20,000  feet  high. 


XVIII, 


VOLCANIC  MOUNTAIN  PICO. 


019 


They  are  the  result  of  the  expiring  energy  of  the  volcanic 
discharge,  which,  when  near  its  termination,  not  having 
sufficient  energy  to  eject  the  matter  far  from  its  vent,  be- 
comes deposited  around  it,  and  thus  builds  up  the  central 
cone  as  a  sort  of  monument  to  commemorate  its  expiring 
efforts.  In  this  way  it  recalls  the  exact  features  of  our  own 


PICO,   AN  ISOLATED  LUNAR  MOUNTAIN  SOOO  FEET  HIGH. 

terrestrial  craters,  though  the  latter  are  infinitely  smaller 
in  comparison.  When  we  consider  how  volcanoes  are 
formed — by  the  ejection  and  exudation  of  material  from 
beneath  the  solid  crust — it  will  be  seen  how  the  lunar 
eminences  are  formed ;  that  is,  by  the  forcible  projection  of 
fluid  molten  matter  through  cracks  or  vents,  through  which 
it  makes  its  way  to  the  surface. 


320  SHRUNKEN  APPLE  AND  HAND.  CHAP. 

It  was  in  reference  to  this  very  interesting  subject  that 
I  made  a  drawing  of  the  great  isolated  volcanic  mountain 
Pico,  about  8000  feet  high.  It  exhibits  a  very  different 
appearance  from  that  of  our  mountain  ranges,  which  are 
for  the  most  part  the  result  of  a  tangential  action.  In  the 
case  of  the  earth,  the  hard  stratified  crust  had  to  adapt 
itself  to  the  shrunken  diameter  of  the  once  much  hotter 
globe.  This  tangential  action  is  illustrated  in  our  own 
persons,  when  age  causes  the  body  to  shrink  in  bulk,  while 
the  skin,  which  does  not  shrink  to  the  same  extent,  has 
to  accommodate  itself  to  the  shrunken  interior,  and  so 
forms  wrinkles — the  wrinkles  of  age.  This  theory  opens 
up  a  chapter  in  geology  and  physiology  well  worthy  of 
consideration.  It  may  alike  be  seen  in  the  structure 
of  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in  an  old  apple,  and  in  an 
old  hand.1 

While  earnestly  studying  the  details  of  the  moon's 
surface,  it  was  a  source  of  great  additional  interest  to  me 
to  endeavour  to  realise  in  the  mind's  eye  the  possible 
landscape  effect  of  its  marvellous  elevations  and  depres- 
sions. Here  my  artistic  faculty  came  into  operation.  I 
endeavoured  to  illustrate  the  landscape  scenery  of  the 
Moon,  in  like  manner  as  we  illustrate  the  landscape 
scenery  of  the  Earth.  The  telescope  revealed  to  me 
distinctly  the  volcanic  craters,  the  cracks,  and  the  ranges  of 
mountains — by  means  of  the  light  and  shade  on  the 
moon's  surface.  One  of  the  most  prominent  conditions  of 
the  awful  grandeur  of  lunar  scenery  is  the  brilliant  light 
of  the  sun,  far  transcending  that  which  we  experience 
upon  the  earth — enhanced  by  the  contrast  with  the  jet- 
black  background  of  the  lunar  heavens, — the  result  of 

1  The  shrunken  hand  on  the  other  side  is  that  of  Mr.  Nasmyth, 
photographed  by  himself.  According  to  The  Psychonomy  of  the  Hand, 
by  R.  Beamish,  F.R.S.,  author  of  The  Life  of  Sir  M.  I.  Brunei, 
it  exhibits  a  thoroughly  mechanical  hand,  as  well  as  the  hand  of 
a  delicate  manipulator  ;  illustrating  that  remarkable  expression  in 
the  Book  of  Job,  that  "in  the  hand  of  all  the  sons  of  men  (!'>d 
places  marks,  that  all  the  sous  of  men  may  know  their  own  works. " 
—ED. 


xvi  i  r. 


LUXAR  SCENERY. 


321 


the  total  absence  of  atmosphere.  One  portion  of  the  moon, 
on  which  the  sun  is  shining,  is  brilliantly  illuminated, 
while  all  in  shade  is  dark. 


SHRUNKEN   APPLE   AND   HAND.l 


1  These  illustrations  serve  to  illustrate  one  of  the  most  potent  of 
geological  agencies  which  has  given  the  earth's  surface  its  grandest 
characteristics.  I  mean  the  elevation  of  mountain  ranges  through  the 
contraction  of  the  globe  as  a  whole.  By  the  action  of  gravity  the 
former  larger  surface  crushes  down,  as  it  were,  the  contracting  interior  ; 
and  the  superfluous  matter,  which  belonged  to  a  bigger  globe,  arranges 
itself  by  tangential  displacement,  and  accommodates  itself  to  the 
altered  or  decreased  size  of  the  globe.  Hence  our  mountain  ranges, 
which  though  apparently  enormous  when  seen  near  at  hand  are  merely 
the  wrinkles  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 


322 


LUNAR  LIGHT  AND  SHADE. 


CHAP. 


While  the  disc  of  the  sun  appears  a  vast  electric  light 
of  overpowering  rayless  brilliancy,  every  star  and  planet 
in  the  black  vault  of  the  lunar  heavens  is  shining  with 


SCALE    OF   300    MILES 
LUNAR  MOUNTAINS  AND  EXTINCT  VOLCANIC  CRAT1 

steady  brightness  at  all  times;  as,  whether  the  Sun  be 
present  or  absent  during  the  long  fourteen  days'  length  of 
the  lunar  day  or  night,  no  difference  on  the  absolutely 
black  aspect  of  the  lunar  heavens  can  appear.  That  aspect 
inust  be  eternal  tlu-iv.  No  modification  of  the  darkness  of 


XVIIT.  USES  OF  THE  MOON.  323 

shadows  in  the  Moon  can  result  from  the  illuminative 
effect,  as  in  our  case  in  the  earth,  from  light  reflected  into 
shadows  by  the  blue  sky  of  our  earthly  day.1  The  inten- 
sity of  the  contrast  between  light  and  shade  must  thus 
lend  another  awful  aspect  to  the  scenery  of  the  Moon, 
while  deprived  of  all  those  charming  effects  which  artists 
term  "  aerial  perspective,"  by  which  relative  distances  are 
rendered  cognisable  with  such  tender  and  exquisite  beauty. 
The  absence  of  atmosphere  on  the  Moon  causes  the  most 
distant  objects  to  appear  as  close  as  the  nearest ;  while  the 
comparatively  rapid  curvature  of  the  moon,  owing  to  its 
being  a  globe  only  one-fourth  the  diameter  of  the  earth, 
must  necessarily  limit  very  considerably  the  range  of  view. 

It  is  the  combination  of  all  these  circumstances,  which 
we  know  with  absolute  certainty  must  exist  in  the  Moon, 
that  gives  to  the  contemplation  of  her  marvellous  surface, 
as  revealed  by  the  aid  of  powerful  telescopes, — one  of  the 
grandest  and  most  deeply  interesting  subjects  that  can 
occupy  our  thoughts ;  especially  when  we  regard  the 
physical  constitution  and  the  peculiar  structure  of  her 
surface,  as  that  of  our  nearest  planetary  neighbour,  and 
also  as  our  serviceable  attendant  by  night. 

Then  there  are  the  Tides,  so  useful  to  man,  preserving 
the  sanitary  condition  of  the  river  mouths  and  tide-swept 
shores.  We  must  be  grateful  for  the  Moon's  existence  on 
that  account  alone.  She  is  the  grand  scavenger  and 
practical  sanitary  commissioner  of  the  earth.  Then  con- 
sider the  work  she  does  !  She  moves  hundreds  of  ships  and 
barges,  filled  with  valuable  cargoes,  up  our  tidal  rivers,  to 
the  commercial  cities  on  their  banks.  She  thus  performs 
a  vast  amount  of  daily  and  nightly  mechanical  drudgery. 
She  is  the  most  effective  of  all  Tugs ;  and  now  that  we 
understand  the  convertibility  and  conservation  of  force,  we 
may  be  able  to  use  her  Tide-producing  powers  through  the 

1  A  small  degree  of  illumination  is,  however,  given  to  some  portions 
of  the  Moon's  surface  by  the  Earth-shine,  when  the  earth  is  in  such 
a  position  with  regard  to  the  Moon,  as  to  reflect  some  light  on  to  \t, 
as  the  Moon  does  to  the  earth. 


324  IS  THE  MOON  INHABITED  ?  CHAP. 

agency  of  electricity  for  mechanical  purposes.1  It  is  even 
possible  that  the  Tides  may  yet  light  our  streets  and  houses  ! 

Is  the  moon  inhabited  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  the  entire 
absence  of  atmosphere  and  water  forbids  the  supposition — 
at  least  of  any  form  of  life  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 
Add  to  this  adverse  condition,  the  fact  of  the  moon's  day 
being  equal  to  fourteen  of  our  days ;  the  sun  shining  with 
much  more  brilliancy  of  effect  in  the  moon  than  on  the 
earth,  where  atmosphere  and  moisture  act  as  an  important 
agent  in  modifying  its  scorching  rays ;  whilst  no  such 
agency  exists  in  the  moon.  The  sun  shines  there  without 
intermission  for  fourteen  days  and  nights.  During  that 
time  the  heat  must  accumulate  to  almost  the  melting  point 
of  lead ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  absence  of  the  sun 
for  an  equal  period  must  be  followed  by  a  period  of  intense 
cold,  such  as  we  have  no  experience  of,  even  in  the  Arctic 
regions.  The  highest  authorities  state  that  the  cold  during 
the  Moon's  long  night  must  reach  as  low  as  250  degrees 
below  the  freezing  point  of  water.  These  considerations, 
I  think,  reasonably  suggest  that  the  existence  of  any  form 
of  life  in  the  Moon  is  in  the  highest  degree  improbable. 

The  first  occasion  on  which  I  exhibited  my  scries  of 
drawings  of  the  Moon,  together  with  a  map  six  feet  in 
diameter  of  its  entire  visible  surface,  was  at  the  meeting  of 
the  British  Association  at  Edinburgh  in  1850.  I  always 
looked  forward  to  these  meetings  with  great  pleasure,  and 
attended  them  with  supreme  interest.  My  dear  wife 
always  accompanied  me.  It  was  our  scientific  holiday. 
It  was  also  our  holiday  of  friendship.  We  met  man)7' 
of  our  old  friends,  and  made  many  new  friends.  Alas, 
how  many  of  them  have  departed !  Herschel,  Faraday, 
Robinson,  Taylor,  Phillips,  Brewster,  Rosse,  Fairbairn, 
Lassell,  and  a  host  of  minor  stars,  who,  although  perhaps 
wanting  in  the  brightness  or  magnitude  of  those  I  have 

1  It  is  not  quite  a  century  since  London  was  in  part  supplied  with 
water  ly  the  Moon,  through  employing  the  tidal  action  by  the  waters 
at  Old  London  Bridge,  where  the  tide  mills  worked  the  water-supply- 
ing pumps. 


xviii.  EDINBURGH  REVISITED.  325 

named,  made  good  amends  by  the  warmth  of  their  cheerful 
rays.  We  saw  the  younger  lights  emerging  above  the 
horizon  :  the  men  who  still  continue  to  shed  their  glory 
over  the  meetings  of  the  Association. 

How  delightful  was  our  visit  to  Edinburgh  in  1850. 
It  was  "mine  own  romantic  town."  I  remembered  its 
striking  features  so  well.  There  was  the  broad  mass  of 
the  Old  Town,  with  its  endless  diversity  of  light  and  shade. 
There  was  the  grand  old  fortress,  with  its  towers  and 
turrets  and  black  portholes.  Towards  evening  the  distant 
glories  of  the  departing  sun  threw  forward,  in  dark  outline, 
the  wooded  hill  of  Corstorphine.  The  rock  and  Castle 
assumed  a  new  aspect  every  time  I  looked  at  them.  The 
long-drawn  gardens  filling  the  valley  between  the  Old 
Town  and  the  New,  and  the  thickly-wooded  scars  of  the 
Castle  rock,  were  a  charm  of  landscape  and  a  charm  of  art. 
Arthur's  Seat,  like  a  lion  at  rest,  seemed  perfect  witch- 
craft. And  from  the  streets  in  the  New  Town,  or  from 
Calton  Hill,  what  singular  glances  of  beauty  were  observed 
in  the  distance — the  gleaming  waters  of  the  Firth,  and  the 
blue  shadows  among  the  hills  of  Fife. 

I  remembered  it  all,  from  the  days  in  which  I  sat,  as  a 
child,  beside  the  lassies  watching  the  "  claes  "  on  the  Calton 
Hill,  and  hearing  the  chimes  of  St.  Giles's  tinkling  across 
the  Nor'  Loch  from  the  Old  Town ;  the  walks,  when  a  boy, 
in  the  picturesque  country  round  Edinburgh,  with  my 
father  and  his  scientific  and  artistic  friends ;  my  days  at 
the  High  School,  and  then  my  evenings  at  the  School  of 
Arts ;  my  castings  of  brass  in  my  bedroom,  and  the 
technical  training  I  enjoyed  in  the  workshop  of  my  old 
schoolfellow  '}  my  roadway  locomotive  and  its  success ;  and 
finally,  the  making  of  my  tools  and  machines  intended  for 
Manchester,  at  the  foundry  of  my  dear  old  friend  Douglass. 
It  all  came  back  to  me  like  a  dream.  And  now,  after 
some  twenty  years,  I  had  returned  to  Edinburgh  on  a  visit 
to  the  British  Association.  Many  things  had  been  changed 
— many  relatives  and  friends  had  departed — but  still 
Edinburgh  remained  to  me  as  fascinating  as  ever. 


326  BRITISH  ASSOCIATION  MEETING.  CHAP. 

The  excursions  formed  our  principal  source  of  enjoyment 
during  these  scientific  gatherings.  The  season  was  then  at 
its  happiest.  Nature  was  in  her  most  enjoyable  condition, 
and  the  excursionists  were  usually  in  their  holiday  mood. 
The  meeting  of  the  British  Association  at  Edinburgh  was 
presided  over  by  Sir  David  Brewster.  The  geologists 
visited  the  remarkable  displays  of  volcanic  phenomena  with 
which  the  neighbourhood  of  Edinburgh  singularly  abounds. 
Indeed,  Edinburgh  owes  much  of  its  picturesque  beauty  to 
volcanoes  and  earthquake  upheavings.  Our  excursions  cul- 
minated in  a  visit  to  the  Bass  Rock.  The  excursion  had  been 
carefully  planned,  and  was  successfully  carried  out.  The 
day  was  beautiful,  and  the  party  was  of  the  choicest.  After 
reaching  the  little  cove  of  Canty  Bay,  overlooked  by  the 
gigantic  ruins  of  Tantallon  Castle,  we  were  ferried  across  to 
the  Bass,  through  a  few  miles  of  that  capricious  sea,  the  Firth 
of  Forth,  near  to  where  it  joins  the  German  Ocean.  We  were 
piloted  by  that  fine  old  British  tar,  Admiral  Malcolm,  while 
the  commissariat  was  superintended  by  General  Pasley. 

We  were  safely  landed  on  that  magnificent  sea-girt  vol- 
canic rock — the  Bass.  After  inspecting  the  ruins  of  what 
was  once  a  castellated  State  prison,  where  the  Covenanters 
were  immured  for  conscience'  sake,  we  wandered  up  the  hill 
towards  the  summit.  There  we  were  treated  to  a  short 
lecture  by  Professor  Owen  on  the  Solan  Goose,  which  was 
illustrated  by  the  clouds  of  geese  flying  over  us.  They 
freely  exhibited  their  habits  on  land  as  well  as  in  mid-air, 
and  skimmed  the  dizzy  crags  with  graceful  and  apparently 
effortless  motions.  The  vast  variety  of  seafowl  screamed 
their  utmost,  and  gave  a  wonderfully  illustrative  chorus  to 
the  lecture.  It  was  a  most  impressive  scene.  We  were 
high  above  the  deep  blue  sea  of  the  German  Ocean,  the 
waves  of  which  leapt  up  as  if  they  would  sweep  us  away 
into  the  depths  below. 

Another  of  our  delightful  excursions  was  made  under 
the  guidance  of  my  old  and  dear  friend  Robert  Chambers.1 

1  I  cannot  pass  over  the  mention  of  Kobert  Chambers's  name  with- 
out adding  that  I  was  on  terms  of  the  most  friendly  intimacy  with  him 


XVIIL         ROCK-SCRATCHINGS  AND  BOULDER  CLAY.        327 

The  object  of  this  excursion  was  to  visit  the  remarkable 
series  of  grooved  and  scratched  rocks  which  had  been  dis- 
covered on  the  western  edge  of  the  cliff-like  boundary  of 
Corstorphine  Hill.1  The  glacial  origin  of  these  groovings 
on  the  rocks  was  then  occupying  the  attention  of  geologists. 
It  was  a  subject  that  Robert  Chambers  had  carefully 
studied,  in  the  Lowlands,  in  the  Highlands,  in  Rhine- 
land,  in  Switzerland,  and  in  Norway.  He  had  also  pub- 
lished his  Ancient  Sea  Margins  and  his  Tracings  of  the  North 
of  Europe  in  illustration  of  his  views.  He  was  now  enabled 
to  show  us  these  groovings  and  scratchings  on  the  rocks 
near  Edinburgh.  In  order  to  render  the  records  more 
accessible,  he  had  the  heather  and  mossy  turf  carefully 
removed — especially  from  some  of  the  most  distinct  evi- 
dences of  glacial  rock-grooving.  Thus  no  time  was  lost,  and 
we  immediately  saw  the  unquestionable  markings.  Such 
visits  as  these  are  a  thousand  times  more  instructive  and 
interesting  than  long  papers  read  at  scientific  meetings. 
They  afford  the  best  opportunity  for  interchange  of  ideas, 
and  directly  produce  an  emphatic  result ;  for  one  cannot 
cavil  about  what  he  has  seen  with  his  eyes  and  felt 
with  his  hands. 

We  returned  to  the  city  in  time  to  be  present  at  a  most 
interesting  lecture  by  Hugh  Miller  on  the  Boulder  Clay. 
He  illustrated  it  by  some  scratched  boulders  which  he  had 
collected  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Edinburgh.  He  brought 

from  a  very  early  period  of  his  life  to  its  termination  in  1871.  I  re- 
member when  he  made  his  first  venture  in  business  in  Leith  Walk. 
By  virtue  of  his  industry,  ability,  and  energy,  he  became  a  prosperous 
man.  I  had  the  happiness  of  enjoying  his  delightful  and  instructive 
society  on  many  occasions.  We  had  rare  cracks  on  all  subjects,  but 
especially  respecting  old  places  and  old  characters  whom  we  had 
known  at  Edinburgh.  His  natural  aptitude  to  catch  up  the  salient 
and  most  humorous  points  of  character,  with  the  quaint  manner  in 
which  he  could  describe  them,  gave  a  vast  charm  to  his  company  and 
conversation.  Added  to  which,  the  wide  range  and  accuracy  of  his 
information,  acquired  by  his  own  industry  and  quick-witted  penetra- 
tion, caused  the  hours  spent  in  his  society  to  remain  among  the 
brightest  points  in  my  memory. 

1  They  had  been  first  seen,  some  twenty  years  before,  by  Sir  James 
Hall,  one  of  the  geologic  lights  of  Edinburgh. 


328  VISIT  TO  INVERARY.  CHAP. 

the  subject  before  his  audience  in  his  own  clear  and  admir- 
able viva  voce  style.  The  Duke  of  Argyll  was  in  the  chair, 
and  a  very  animated  discussion  took  place  on  this  novel 
and  difficult  subject.  It  was  humorously  brought  to  a 
conclusion  by  the  Eev.  Dr.  Fleming,  a  shrewd  and  learned 
geologist.  Like  many  others,  he  had  encountered  great 
difficulties  in  arriving  at  definite  conclusions  on  this  mys- 
terious subject.  He  concluded  his  remarks  upon  it  by 
describing  the  influence  it  had  in  preventing  his  sleeping 
at  night.  He  was  so  restless  on  one  occasion  that  his  wife 
became  seriously  alarmed.  "What's  the  matter  wi'  ye, 
John?  are  ye  ilH"  "Ou  no,"  replied  the  doctor,  "it's 
only  that  confounded  Boulder  Clay!"  This  domestic  anec- 
dote brought  down  the  house,  and  the  meeting  terminated 
in  a  loud  and  hearty  laugh. 

I,  too,  contributed  my  little  quota  of  information  to  the 
members  of  the  British  Association.  I  had  brought  with 
me  from  Lancashire  a  considerable  number  of  my  large 
graphic  illustrations  of  the  details  of  the  Moon's  surface. 
I  gave  a  viva  voce  account  of  my  lunar  researches  at  a 
crowded  meeting  of  the  Physical  Section  A.  The  novel 
and  interesting  subject  appeared  to  give  so  much  satisfac- 
tion to  the  audience  that  the  Council  of  the  Association 
requested  me  to  repeat  the  account  at  one  of  the  special 
evenings,  when  the  members  of  all  the  various  sections 
were  generally  present.  It  was  quite  a  new  thing  for  me 
to  appear  as  a  public  lecturer  ;  but  I  consented.  The  large 
hall  of  the  Assembly  Rooms  in  George  Street  was  crowded 
with  an  attentive  audience.  The  Duke  of  Argyll  was  in 
the  chair.  It  is  a  difficult  thing  to  give  a  public  lecture — 
especially  to  a  scientific  audience.  To  see  a  large  number 
of  faces  turned  up,  waiting  for  the  words  of  the  lecturer,  is 
a  somewhat  appalling  sight.  But  the  novelty  of  the  sub- 
ject and  the  graphic  illustrations  helped  me  very  much.  I 
was  quite  full  of  the  Moon.  The  words  came  almost  un- 
sought ;  and  I  believe  the  lecture  went  off  very  well,  and 
tcnninatrd  with  "great  applause."  And  thus  the  meeting 
of  the  British  Association  at  Edinburgh  came  to  an  end. 


xvui.  GEOLOGICAL  PHENOMENA.  329 

This,  however,  was  not  the  end  of  our  visit  to  Scotland. 
I  was  strongly  urged  by  the  Duke  of  Argyll  to  pay  him  a 
visit  at  his  castle  at  Inverary.  I  had  frequently  before 
had  the  happiness  of  meeting  the  Duke  and  Duchess  at  the 
Earl  of  Ellesmere's  mansion  at  Worsley  Hall.  He  had 
made  us  promise  that  if  we  ever  came  to  Scotland  we  were 
not  to  fail  to  pay  him  a  visit.  It  was  accordingly  arranged 
at  Edinburgh  that  we  should  carry  out  our  promise,  and 
spend  some  days  with  him  at  Inverary  before  our  return 
home.  We  were  most  cordially  welcomed  at  the  castle, 
and  enjoyed  our  visit  exceedingly.  We  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  the  splendid  scenery  of  the  Western  Highlands — 
the  mountains  round  the  head  of  Loch  Fyne,  Loch  Awe, 
and  the  magnificent  hoary-headed  Ben  Cruachan,  requiring 
a  base  of  more  than  twenty  miles  to  support  him, — besides 
the  beautiful  and  majestic  scenery  of  the  neighbourhood. 

But  my  chief  interest  was  in  the  specimens  of  high 
geological  interest  which  the  Duke  showed  me.  He  had 
discovered  them  in  the  Island  of  Mull,  in  a  bed  of  clay 
shale,  under  a  volcanic  basaltic  cliff  over  eighty  feet  high, 
facing  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  He  found  in  this  bed  many 
beautifully  perfect  impressions  of  forest  tree  leaves,  chiefly 
of  the  plane-tree  class.  They  appeared  to  have  been  en- 
veloped in  the  muddy  bottom  of  a  lake,  which  had  been 
sealed  up  by  the  belching  forth  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth  of  molten  volcanic  basaltic  lava,  and  which  indeed 
formed  the  chief  material  of  the  Island  of  Mull.  This 
basaltic  cliff  now  fronts  the  Atlantic,  and  resists  its  waves 
like  a  rock  of  iron.  To  see  all  the  delicate  veins  and 
stalklets,  and  exact  forms  of  what  had  once  been  the  green 
fresh  foliage  of  a  remotely  primeval  forest,  thus  brought  to 
light  again,  as  preserved  in  their  clay  envelope,  after  they 
had  lain  for  ages  and  ages  under  what  must  have  been  the 
molten  outburst  of  some  tremendous  volcanic  discharge, 
and  which  now  formed  the  rock-bound  coast  of  Mull,  filled 
one's  mind  with  an  idea  of  the  inconceivable  length  of  time 
that  must  have  passed  since  the  production  of  these 
wonderful  geological  phenomena. 


330  THE  GREAT  EXHIBITION.  CHAP. 

I  felt  all  the  more  special  interest  in  these  specimens, 
as  I  had  many  years  before,  on  my  return  visit  from 
Londonderry,  availed  myself  of  the  nearness  of  the  Giant's 
Causeway  to  make  a  careful  examination  of  the  marvellous 
volcanic  columns  in  that  neighbourhood.  Having  scrambled 
up  to  a  great  height,  I  found  a  thick  band  of  hematitic  clay 
underneath  the  upper  bed  of  basalt,  which  was  about  sixty 
feet  thick.  In  this  clay  I  detected  a  rich  deposit  of  com- 
pletely charred  branches  of  what  had  once  been  a  forest 
tree.  The  bed  had  been  burst  through  by  the  outburst  of 
molten  basalt,  and  converted  the  branches  into  charcoal. 
I  dug  out  some  of  the  specimens,  and  afterwards  distri- 
buted them  amongst  my  geological  friends.  The  Duke 
was  interested  by  my  account,  which  so  clearly  confirmed 
his  own  discovery.  On  a  subsequent  occasion  I  revisited 
the  Giant's  Causeway  in  company  with  my  dear  wife.  I 
again  scrambled  up  to  the  hematitic  bed  of  clay  under  tho 
basaltic  cliff,  and  dug  out  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the 
charred  branches,  which  I  sent  to  the  Duke,  in  confirma- 
tion of  his  theory  as  to  the  origin  of  the  leaf -beds  at 
Mull.1 

In  the  year  following  the  meeting  of  the  British  Asso- 
ciation at  Edinburgh,  the  great  Exhibition  of  all  nations 
at  London  took  place.  The  Commissioners  appointed  for 
carrying  out  this  noble  enterprise  had  made  special  visits 

1  I  received  tho  following  reply  from  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  dated 
"Inverary,  Nov.  19,  1850"  :— 

"MY  DEAR  SIR— Am  I  right  in  concluding,  from  the  description 
which'you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  to  me,  that  the  lignite  bed,  with  its 
superincumbent  basalts,  lies  above  those  particular  columnar  basalts 
which  form  tho  far-famed  Giant's  Causeway  ?  I  see  from  your  sketch 
that  basalts  of  great  thickness,  and  in  some  views  beautifully  columnar, 
do  underlie  tho  lignite  bed  ;  but  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  these  colum- 
nar basalts  are  those  precisely  which  are  called  tho  Causeway.  I  had 
never  heard  before  that  tho  Giant's  Causeway  rested  on  chalk,  which 
all  tho  basalts  in  your  sketch  do. 

"  I  have  been  showing  your  drawing  of  '  Udolpho  Castle '  and  '  Tho 
Astrologer's  Tower'  to  tho  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  who  is  enchanted 
with  tho  beauty  of  the  architectural  details,  and  wishes  she  had  seen 
them  before  Dunrobin  was  finished  ;  for  hints  might  have  been  taki-n 
from  bits  of  your  work. — Very  truly  yours,  ARGYLL." 


XVIIL  STEAM  HAMMER  ENGINE.  331 

to  Manchester  and  the  surrounding  manufacturing  districts 
for  the  purpose  of  organising  local  committees,  so  that  the 
machinery  and  productions  of  each  might  be  adequately 
represented  in  the  World's  Great  Industrial  Exhibition. 
The  Commissioners  were  met  with  enthusiasm ;  and  nearly 
every  manufacturer  was  found  ready  to  display  the  results 
of  his  industry.  The  local  engineers  and  tool-makers  were 
put  upon  their  mettle,  and  each  endeavoured  to  do  his 
best.  Like  others,  our  firm  contributed  specimens  of  our 
special  machine  tools,  and  a  fair  average  specimen  of  the 
steam  hammer,  with  a  30  cwt.  hammer-block. 

I  also  sent  one  of  my  very  simple  and  compact  steam- 
engines,  in  the  design  of  which  I  had  embodied  the  form 
of  my  steam  hammer — placing  the  crank  where  the  anvil 
of  the  hammer  usually  stands.  The  simplicity  and  grace  of 
this  arrangement  of  the  steam-engine  were  much  admired. 
Its  merits  were  acknowledged  in  a  way  most  gratifying 
to  me,  by  its  rapid  adoption  by  engineers  of  every  class, 
especially  by  marine  engineers.  It  has  been  adopted 
for  driving  the  shafts  of  screw-propelled  steamships  of 
the  largest  kind.  The  comparatively  small  space  it  occu- 
pies, its  compactness,  its  get-at-dbility  of  parts,  and  the 
action  of  gravity  on  the  piston,  which,  working  vertically, 
and  having  no  undue  action  in  causing  wearing  of  the 
cylinder  on  one  side  (which  was  the  case  with  horizontal 
engines),  has  now  brought  my  Steam  Hammer  Engine  into 
almost  universal  use.1  The  Commissioners,  acting  on  the 
special  recommendation  of  the  jury,  awarded  me  a  medal 

1  Sir  John  Anderson,  in  his  Kcport  on  the  machine  tools,  textile, 
and  other  machinery  exhibited  at  Vienna  in  1873,  makes  the  following 
observations: — "Perhaps  the  finest  pair  of  marine  engines  yet  pro- 
duced by  France,  or  any  other  country,  were  those  exhibited  by 
Schneider  and  Company,  the  leading  firm  in  France.  These  engines 
were  not  large,  but  were  perfect  in  many  respects  ;  yet  comparatively 
few  of  those  who  were  struck  with  admiration  seemed  to  know  that 
the  original  of  this  style  of  construction  came  from  the  same  mind  as 
the  Steam  Hammer.  Nasmyth's  '  Infant  Hercules '  was  the  forerunner 
of  all  the  steam  hammer  engines  that  have  yet  been  made  from  that 
type,  which  is  now  being  so  extensively  employed  for  working  the 
screw  propeller  of  steam  vessels." 


832  DRAWINGS  OF  THE  MOON.  CHAP. 

for  the  construction  of  this  form  of  steam-engine.1  As  it 
was  merely  a  judicious  arrangement  of  the  parts,  and  not, 
in  any  correct  sense  of  the  term,  an  invention,  I  took  out 
no  patent  for  it,  and  left  it  free  to  work  its  own  way  into 
general  adoption.  It  has  since  been  used  for  high  as  well 
as  low-pressure  steam — an  arrangement  which  has  come 
into  much  favour  on  account  of  the  great  economy  of  fuel 
which  results  from  using  it. 

A  Council  Medal  was  also  awarded  to  me  for  the  Steam 
Hammer.  But  perhaps  what  pleased  me  most  was  the  Prize 
Medal  which  I  received  for  my  special  hobby — the  drawings 
of  the  Moon's  surface.  I  sent  a  collection  of  these,  with  a 
map,  to  the  Exhibition.  They  attracted  considerable'atten- 
tion,  not  only  because  of  their  novelty,  but  because  of  the 
accurate  and  artistic  style  of  their  execution.  The  Jurors, 
in  making  the  award,  gave  the  following  description  of 
them  :  "  Mr.  Nasmyth  exhibits  a  well-delineated  map  of  the 
Moon  on  a  large  scale,  which  is  drawn  with  great  accuracy, 
the  irregularities  upon  the  surface  being  shown  with  much 
force  and  spirit ;  also  separate  and  enlarged  representations 
of  certain  portions  of  the  Moon  as  seen  through  a  powerful 
telescope :  they  are  all  good  in  detail,  and  very  effective." 

My  drawings  of  the  Moon  attracted  the  special  notice 
of  the  Prince  Consort.  Shortly  after  the  closing  of  the 
Exhibition,  in  October  1851,  the  Queen  and  the  Prince 
made  a  visit  to  Manchester  and  Liverpool,  during  which 
time  they  were  the  guests  of  the  Earl  of  Ellesmere  at 
Worsley  Hall.  Finding  that  I  lived  near  at  hand,  the 
Prince  expressed  his  desire  to  the  Earl  that  I  should  ex- 
hibit to  Her  Majesty  some  of  my  graphic  lunar  studies. 

1  The  Council  of  the  Exhibition  thus  describe  the  engine  in  the 
awards:  —  "Nasmyth,  J.,  Patricroft,  Manchester,  a  small  portable 
direct-acting  steam-engine.  The  cylinder  is  fixed,  vertical  and  inverted, 
the  crank  being  placed  beneath  it,  and  the  piston  working  downwards. 
The  sides  of  the  frame  which  support  the  cylinder  servo  as  guides,  and 
the  bearings  of  the  crank-shaft  and  lly-wheel  are  firmly  fixed  in  the 
b'-d-plate  of  the  engine.  The  arrangement  is  compact  and  economical, 
and  the  workmanship  practically  good  and  durable."  (See  illustration 
of  the  design,  page  424.) 


xvin.  THE  QUEEN  AND  PRINCE  CONSORT.  333 

On  receiving  a  note  to  that  effect  from  the  Countess  of 
Ellesmere,  I  sent  a  selection  of  my  drawings  to  the  Hall, 
and  proceeded  there  in  the  evening.  I  had  then  the  honour 
of  showing  them  to  the  Queen  and  the  Prince,  and  explain- 
ing them  in  detail.  Her  Majesty  took  a  deep  interest  in 
the  subject,  and  was  most  earnest  in  her  inquiries.  The 
Prince  Consort  said  that  the  drawings  opened  up  quite  a 
new  subject  to  him,  which  he  had  not  before  had  the 
opportunity  of  considering.  It  was  as  much  as  I  could  do 
to  answer  the  numerous  keen  and  incisive  questions  which 
he  put  to  me.  They  were  all  so  distinct  and  cogent.  Their 
object  was,  of  course,  to  draw  from  me  the  necessary  ex- 
planations on  this  rather  recondite  subject.  I  believe,  how- 
ever, that  notwithstanding  the  presence  of  Royalty,  I  was 
enabled  to  place  all  the  most  striking  and  important  features 
of  the  Moon's  surface  in  a  clear  and  satisfactory  manner 
before  Her  Majesty  and  the  Prince. 

I  find  that  the  Queen  in  her  Diary  alludes  in  the  most 
gratifying  manner  to  the  evening's  interview.  In  the  Life 
of  the  Prince  Consort  (vol.  ii.  p.  398),  Sir  Theodore  Martin 
thus  mentions  the  subject : — "  The  evening  was  enlivened 
by  the  presence  of  Mr.  Nasmyth,  the  inventor  of  the  steam 
hammer,  who  had  extensive  works  at  Patricroft.  He 
exhibited  and  explained  the  map  and  drawings  in  which 
he  had  embodied  the  results  of  his  investigations  of  the 
conformations  of  the  surface  of  the  Moon.  The  Queen  in 
her  Diary  dwells  at  considerable  length  on  the  results  of 
Mr.  Nasmyth's  inquiries.  The  charm  of  his  manner,  in 
which  the  simplicity,  modesty,  and  enthusiasm  of  genius 
are  all  strikingly  combined,  are  warmly  dwelt  upon.  Mr. 
Nasmyth  belongs  to  a  family  of  painters,  and  would  have 
won  fame  for  himself  as  an  artist — for  his  landscapes  are 
as  true  to  Nature  as  his  compositions  are  full  of  fancy  and 
feeling — had  not  science  and  mechanical  invention  claimed 
him  for  their  own.  His  drawings  were  submitted  on  this 
occasion,  and  their  beauty  was  generally  admired."1 

1  In  his  lecture  on  the  "  Geological  Features  of  Edinburgh  and  its 


334  ANOTHER  VISIT  TO  EDINBURGH.  CHAP, 

The  next  time  I  visited  Edinburgh  was  in  the  autumn 
of  1853.  Lord  Cockburn,  an  old  friend,  having  heard  that 
I  was  sojourning  in  the  city,  sent  me  the  following  letter, 
dated  "Bonally,  3rd  September,"  inviting  me  to  call  a 
meeting  of  the  Faithful : — 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR — Instead  of  being  sketching,  as  I  thought,  in 
Switzerland,  I  was  told  yesterday  that  you  were  in  Auld  Reekie. 
Then  why  not  come  out  here  next  Thursday,  or  Friday,  or 
Saturday,  and  let  us  have  a  Hill  Day  ?  I  suppose  I  need  not 
write  to  summon  the  Faithful,  because  not  having  been  in 
Edinburgh  except  once  for  above  a  month,  I  don't  know  where 
the  Faithful  are.  But  you  must  know  their  haunts,  and  it  can't 
give  you  much  trouble  to  speak  to  them.  I  should  like  to  see 
Lauder  here.  And  don't  forget  the  Gaberlimzie. J — Ever, 

H.  COCKBURN." 

The  meeting  came  off.  I  collected  a  number  of  special 
friends  about  me,  and  I  took  my  wife  to  the  meeting  of 
the  Faithful.  There  were  present  David  Roberts,  Clarkson 
Stanfield,  Louis  and  Carl  Haag,  Sir  George  Harvey,  James 
BaJlantine,  and  D.  0.  Hill — all  artists.  We  made  our  way 
to  Bonny  Bonally,  a  charming  residence,  situated  at  the 
foot  of  the  Pentland  Hills.2  The  day  was  perfect — in  all 

Neighbourhood,"  in  the  following  year,  Hugh  Miller,  speaking  of  the 
Castle  Rock,  observed  : — "  The  underlying  strata,  though  geologically 
and  in  their  original  position  several  hundred  feet  higJier  than  those 
which  underlie  the  Castle  esplanade,  are  now,  with  respect  to  the  actual 
level,  nearly  200  feet  lower.  In  a  lecture  on  what  may  be  termed  the 
geology  of  the  Moon,  delivered  in  the  October  of  last  year  before  Her 
Majesty  and  Prince  Albert  by  Mr.  Nasmyth,  he  referred  to  certain 
appearances  on  the  surface  of  that  satellite  that  seemed  to  be  the  results, 
in  some  very  ancient  time,  of  the  sudden  falling  in  of  portions  of  an 
unsupported  crust,  or  a  retreating  nucleus  of  molten  matter ;  and  took 
occasion  to  suggest  that  some  of  the  great  slips  and  shifts  on  the 
surface  of  our  own  planet,  with  their  huge  downcasts,  may  have  had  a 
similar  origin.  The  suggestion  is  at  once  bold  and  ingenious." 

1  James  Ballantine,  author  of  Tlie  Gaberlunzie's  Wallet.  In 
August  1865  Mr.  Ballantine  wrote  to  me  saying  :  "  If  ever  you  are  in 
Auld  Reekie  I  should  feel  proud  of  a  call  from  you.  I  have  not  for- 
gotten the  delightful  day  we  spent  together  many  years  ago  at  Bonny 
Bonally  with  the  eagle-eyed  Henry  Cockburn  !" 

3  The  house  was  afterwards  occupied  by  the  lamented  Professor 
Hodgson,  the  well-known  Political  Economist. 


xviii.  MEETING  OF  THE  FAITHFUL.  335 

respects  "equal  to  bespoke."  With  that  most  genial  of 
men,  Lord  Cockburn,  for  our  guide,  we  wandered  far  up 
the  Pentland  Hills.  After  a  rather  toilsome  walk  we 
reached  a  favourite  spot.  It  was  a  semicircular  hollow  in 
the  hillside,  scooped  out  by  the  sheep  for  shelter.  It  was 
carpeted  and  cushioned  with  a  deep  bed  of  wild  thyme, 
redolent  of  the  very  essence  of  rural  fragrance. 

We  sat  down  in  a  semicircle,  our  guide  in  the  middle. 
He  said  in  his  quaint  peculiar  way,  "Here  endeth  the  first 
lesson."  After  gathering  our  breath,  and  settling  ourselves 
to  enjoy  our  well-earned  rest,  we  sat  in  silence  for  a  time. 
The  gentle  breeze  blew  past  us,  and  we  inhaled  the  fragrant 
air.  It  was  enough  for  a  time  to  look  on,  for  the  glorious 
old  city  was  before  us,  with  its  towers,  and  spires,  and  lofty 
buildings  between  us  and  the  distance.  On  one  side  Arthur's 
Seat,  and  on  the  other  the  Castle,  the  crown  of  the  city. 
The  view  extended  far  and  wide — on  to  the  waters  of  the 
Forth  and  the  blue  hills  of  Fife.  The  view  is  splendidly 
described  by  "  Delta  "  : — 

"  Traced  like  a  map,  the  landscape  lies 

In  cultured  beauty,  stretching  wide : 
Here  Pentland's  green  acclivities, — 

There  ocean,  with  its  swelling  tide, — 
There  Arthur's  Seat,  and  gleaming  through 
Thy  southern  wing,  Dun  Edin  blue  ! 
While,  in  the  Orient,  Lammer's  daughters, — 

A  distant  giant  range,  are  seen  ; 

North  Berwick  Law,  with  cone  of  green, 
And  Bass  amid  the  waters." 

Then  we  began  to  crack,  our  host  leading  the  way  with  his 
humorous  observations.  After  taking  our  fill  of  rest  and 
talk,  we  wended  our  way  down  again,  with  the  "  wimplin' 
burn  "  by  our  side,  fresh  from  the  pure  springs  of  the  hill, 
whispering  its  welcome  to  us. 

We  had  earned  a  good  appetite  for  dinner,  which  was 
shortly  laid  before  us.  The  bill  of  fare  was  national,  and 
included  a  haggis  : — 


336  DAVID  OSWALD  HILL.  CHAP,  xvin 

"  Fair  fa'  your  honest  sonsie  face, 
Great  chieftain  o'  the  puddin'  race  I 
Weel  are  ye  wordy  o'  a  grace 

As  lang's  my  arm  !" 

The  haggis  was  admirably  compounded  and  cooked,  and 
was  served  forth  by  our  genial  host  with  all  appropriate 
accompaniments.  But  the  most  enjoyable  was  the  con- 
versation of  Lord  Cockburn,  who  was  a  master  of  the 
art — quick,  ready,  humorous,  and  full  of  wit.  At  last, 
the  day  came  to  a  close,  and  we  wended  our  way  towards 
the  city. 

Let  me,  however,  before  concluding,  say  a  few  words 
in  reference  to  my  dear  departed  friend  David  Oswald 
Hill.  His  name  calls  up  many  recollections  of  happy 
hours  spent  in  his  company.  He  was,  in  all  respects,  the 
incarnation  of  geniality.  His  lively  sense  of  humour,  com- 
bined with  a  romantic  and  poetic  constitution  of  mind, 
and  his  fine  sense  of  the  beautiful  in  Nature  and  art,  to- 
gether with  his  kindly  and  genial  feeling,  made  him,  all 
in  all,  a  most  agreeable  friend  and  companion.  "  D.  0. 
Hill,"  as  he  was  generally  called,  was  much  attached  to 
my  father.  He  was  a  very  frequent  visitor  at  our  Edin- 
burgh fireside,  and  was  ever  ready  to  join  in  our  extem- 
porised walks  and  jaunts,  when  he  would  overflow  with 
his  kindly  sympathy  and  humour.  He  was  a  skilful 
draughtsman,  and  possessed  a  truly  poetic  feeling  for  art. 
His  designs  for  pictures  were  always  attractive,  from  the 
fine  feeling  exhibited  in  their  composition  and  arrange- 
ment. But  somehow,  when  he  came  to  handle  the  brush, 
the  result  was  not  always  satisfactory — a  defect  not  un- 
common with  artists.  Altogether,  he  was  a  delightful 
companion  and  a  staunch  friend,  and  his  death  made  a  sad 
blank  in  the  artistic  society  of  Edinburgh. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

MORE   ABOUT   ASTRONOMY. 

ASTRONOMY,  instead  of  merely  being  an  amusement,  be- 
came my  chief  study.  It  occupied  many  of  my  leisure 
hours.  Desirous  of  having  the  advantage  of  a  Reflecting 
Telescope  of  large  aperture,  I  constructed  one  of  twenty 
inches  diameter.  In  order  to  avoid  the  personal  risk  and 
inconvenience  of  having  to  mount  to  the  eye-piece  by  a 
ladder,  I  furnished  the  telescope  tube  with  trunnions,  like 
a  cannon,  with  one  of  the  trunnions  hollow  so  as  to  admit 
of  the  eye-piece.  Opposite  to  it  a  plain  diagonal  mirror 
was  placed,  to  transmit  the  image  to  the  eye.  The  whole 
was  mounted  on  a  turn-table,  having  a  seat  opposite  to 
the  eye-piece,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  engraving  on  the 
other  side. 

The  observer,  when  seated,  could  direct  the  telescope  to 
any  part  of  the  heavens  without  moving  from  his  seat. 
Although  this  arrangement  occasioned  some  loss  of  light, 
that  objection  was  more  than  compensated  by  the  great 
convenience  which  it  afforded  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
special  class  of  observations  in  which  I  was  engaged  ; 
namely,  that  of  the  Sun,  Moon,  and  Planets. 

I  wrote  to  my  old  friend  Sir  David  Brewster,  then 
living  at  St.  Andrews,  in  1849,  about  this  improvement, 
and  he  duly  congratulated  me  upon  my  devotion  to  astro- 
nomical science.  In  his  letter  to  me  he  brought  to 
mind  many  precious  memories. 

z 


THE  LARGE  TELESCOPE. 


CHAP. 


"  TRUNNION  VISION"  REFLECTING  TELESCOPE  OF  20-INCH  DIAMETER 
MOUNTED  ON  A  TURN-TABLE. 


xix.  LETTER  FROM  SIR  D.  BREWSTER.  339 

"  I  recollect,"  he  said,  "  with  much  pleasure  the  many  happy 
hours  that  I  spent  in  your  father's  house ;  and  ever  since  I  first 
saw  you  in  your  little  workshop  at  Edinburgh, — then  laying 
the  foundation  of  your  future  fortunes, — I  have  felt  a  deep 
interest  in  your  success,  and  rejoiced  at  your  progress  to  wealth 
and  reputation. 

"  I  have  perused  with  much  pleasure  the  account  you  have 
sent  me  of  your  plan  of  shortening  and  moving  large  tele- 
scopes, and  I  shall  state  to  you  the  opinion  which  I  have  formed 
of  it.  If  you  will  look  into  the  article  '  Optics '  in  the  Edin- 
burgh Encyclopedia  (vol.  xv.  p.  643),  you  will  find  an  account  of 
what  has  been  previously  done  to  reduce  by  one-half  the  length 
of  reflecting  telescopes.  The  advantage  of  substituting,  as  you 
propose,  a  convex  for  a  plane  mirror  arises  from  two  causes — 
that  a  spherical  surface  is  more  easily  executed  than  a  plane 
one  ;  and  that  the  spherical  aberration  of  the  larger  speculum, 
if  it  be  spherical,  will  be  diminished  by  the  opposite  aberration 
of  the  convex  one.  This  advantage,  however,  will  disappear 
if  the  plane  mirror  of  the  old  construction  is  accurately  plane  ; 
and  in  your  case,  if  the  large  speculum  is  parabolic  and  the 
small  one  elliptical  in  their  curvature. 

"  The  only  objection  to  your  construction  is  the  loss  of 
light ;  first  of  one-fourth  of  the  whole  incident  light  by  06- 
struction,  and  then  one-half  of  the  remainder  by  reflection  from 
the  convex  mirror,  thus  reducing  100  rays  of  incident  light  to 
37 \  before  the  pencil  is  thrown  out  of  the  tube  by  a  prism  or  a 
third  reflector.  This  loss  of  light,  it  is  true,  may  be  com- 
pensated by  an  additional  inch  or  two  to  the  margin  of  the 
large  speculum  ;  but  still  it  is  the  best  part  of  the  large  specu- 
lum that  is  made  unproductive  by  the  eclipse  of  it  by  the  convex 
speculum. 

"  With  regard  to  the  mechanical  contrivance  which  you 
propose  for  working  the  instrument,  I  think  it  is  singularly 
ingenious  and  beautiful,  and  will  compensate  for  any  imperfec- 
tion in  the  optical  arrangements  which  are  rendered  necessary 
for  its  adoption.  The  application  of  the  railway  turn-table  is 
very  happy,  and  not  less  so  is  the  extraction  of  the  image 
through  the  hollow  trunnions. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  beautiful  drawing  of 
the  apparatus  for  grinding  and  polishing  specula,  invented  by 
Mr.  Lassell  and  constructed  by  yourself.  I  shall  be  glad  to 


340  THE  TRUNNION  TURN-TABLE.  CHAP. 

hear  of  your  further  progress  in  the  construction  of  your  tele- 
scope ;  and  I  trust  that  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
you  and  Mr.  Lassell  at  the  Birmingham  meeting  of  the  British 
Association. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  year  (1849)  I  sent  a  model 
of  my  Trunnion  turn-table  telescope  for  exhibition  at  a 
lecture  at  the  Royal  Institution,  given  by  my  old  friend 
Edward  Cowper.  In  the  model  I  had  placed  a  neat  little 
figure  of  the  observer,  but  the  head  had  unfortunately 
been  broken  off  during  its  carriage  to  London.  Mrs. 
Nasmyth  had  made  the  wearing  apparel;  but  Edward 
Cowper  wrote  to  her,  before  the  lecture,  that  he  had  put 
"  Sir  Fireside  Brick "  all  to  rights  in  respect  of  his  garb. 
His  letter  after  the  lecture  was  quite  characteristic. 

"  The  lecture,"  he  said,  "  went  off  very  well  last  night.  All 
the  models  performed  their  duty,  and  were  duly  applauded  for 
doing  so.  My  new  equatorial  was  approved  of  by  astronomers 
and  by  instrument-makers.  The  last  gun  I  fired  was  a  howitzer, 
but  mounted  swivel-gun  fashion  ;  on  a  sort  of  revolving  plat- 
form, or  something  like  a  turn-table  proper — the  gunner  at 
the  side  of  the  carriage.  Do  you  know  anything  of  the  kind  1 
Bang  !  Invented  by  one  Nasmyth.  Bang  !  The  observer  is 
sitting  at  ease  ;  the  stars  are  brought  down  to  you  instead  of 
your  creeping  up  a  scaffolding  after  the  stars.  Well,  the  folks 
came  to  the  table  after  the  lecture,  and  *  The  Nasmyth  Telescope ' 
kept  banging  away  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  was  admired 
by  everybody.  The  loss  of  light  was  not  much  insisted  on,  but 
it  was  said  that  you  ran  the  risk  of  error  of  form  in  three 
surfaces  instead  of  two.  I  see  that  Sir  J.  South  states  that  Lord 
Rosse  would  increase  the  light  of  his  telescope  from  five  to  seven 
by  adopting  Herschel's  plan. 

"De  La  Rue  was  quite  delighted.  He  said,  'Well,  I  con- 
gratulate you  on  a  most  splendid  lecture — I  cannot  call  it 
anything  else.'  My  father,  who  takes  very  little  interest  in 
these  things,  said,  'Well,  Edward  has  made  me  understand 
more  about  telescopes  than  I  ever  did  in  my  life.'  The  theatre 
wus  full,  gallery  and  all.  They  were  very  attentive,  and  I  never 
felt  more  comfortable  in  a  lecture.  I  am  happy  to  say  that, 


xix.  PAPER  ON  SOLAR  LIGHT.  341 

having  administered  a  dose  of  cement  to  Mrs.  Nasmyth's  friend, 
Sir  Fireside  Brick  of  Green  Lanes,  he  is  now  in  a  convalescent 
state.  The  lecture  is  to  be  repeated  in  another  fortnight.  With 
many  thanks  for  your  kind  assistance,  yours  very  sincerely, 

"EDWARD  COWPER." 

In  the  course  of  my  astronomical  inquiries  I  had  occa- 
sion to  consider  the  causes  of  the  sun's  light.  I  observed 
the  remarkable  phenomena  of  the  variable  and  sometimes 
transitory  brightness  of  the  stars.  In  connection  with 
geology,  there  was  the  evidence  of  an  arctic  or  glacial 
climate  in  regions  where  such  cannot  now  naturally  exist ; 
thus  giving  evidence  of  the  existence  of  a  condition  of 
climate,  for  the  explanation  of  which  we  look  in  vain  for 
any  at  present  known  cause.  I  wrote  a  paper  on  the  sub- 
ject, which  I  sent  to  the  Astronomical  Society.  It  was 
read  in  May  1851.  In  that  paper  I  wrote  as  follows  : — 

"A  course  of  observations  on  the  solar  spots,  and  on  the 
remarkable  features  which  from  time  to  time  appear  on  the  sun's 
surface,  which  I  have  examined  with  considerable  assiduity  for 
several  years,  had  in  the  first  place  led  me  to  entertain  the  fol- 
lowing conclusion  :  namely,  that  whatever  be  the  nature  of  solar 
light,  its  main  source  appears  to  result  from  an  action  induced 
on  the  exterior  surface  of  the  solar  sphere, — a  conclusion  in  which 
I  doubt  not  all  who  have  attentively  pursued  observations  on 
the  structure  of  the  sun's  surface  will  agree. 

"  Impressed  with  the  correctness  of  this  conclusion,  I  was  led 
to  consider  whether  we  might  not  reasonably  consider  the  true 
source  of  the  latent  element  of  light  to  reside,  not  in  the  solar 
orb,  but  in  space  itself ;  and  that  the  grand  function  and  duty 
of  the  sun  was  to  act  as  an  agent  for  bringing  forth  into  vivid 
existence  its  due  portion  of  the  illuminating  or  luciferous  ele- 
ment, which  element  I  suppose  to  be  diffused  throughout  the 
boundless  regions  of  space,  and  which  in  that  case  must  be 
exhaustless. 

"  Assuming,  therefore,  that  the  sun's  light  is  the  result  of 
some  peculiar  action  by  which  it  brings  forth  into  visible  exist- 
ence the  element  of  light,  which  I  conceive  to  be  latent  in,  and 
diffused  throughout  space,  we  have  but  to  imagine  the  existence 


342  LIGHT  AND  HEAT  IN  SPACE.  CHAP. 

of  a  very  probable  condition,  namely,  the  unequal  diffusion  of 
this  light-yielding  element,  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  reason  why 
our  sun  may,  in  common  with  his  solar  brotherhood,  in  some 
portions  of  his  vast  stellar  orbit,  have  passed,  and  may  yet  have 
to  pass,  through  regions  of  space,  in  which  the  light-yielding 
element  may  either  abound  or  be  deficient,  and  so  cause  him  to 
beam  forth  with  increased  splendour,  or  fade  in  brilliancy,  just 
in  proportion  to  the  richness  or  poverty  of  this  supposed  light- 
yielding  element  as  may  occur  in  those  regions  of  space  through 
which  our  sun,  in  common  with  every  stellar  orb,  has  passed,  is 
now  passing,  or  is  destined  to  pass,  in  following  up  their  mighty 
orbits. 

"  Once  admit  that  this  light-yielding  element  resides  in  space, 
and  that  it  is  not  equally  diffused,  we  may  then  catch  a  glimpse 
of  the  cause  of  the  variable  and  transitory  brightness  of  stars, 
and  more  especially  of  those  which  have  been  known  to  beam 
forth  with  such  extraordinary  splendour,  and  have  again  so 
mysteriously  faded  away  ;  many  instances  of  which  abound  in 
historical  record. 

"  Finally,  in  reference  to  such  a  state  of  change  having  come 
over  our  sun,  as  indicated  by  the  existence  of  a  glacial  period, 
as  is  now  placed  beyond  doubt  by  geological  research,  it  appears 
to  me  no  very  wild  stretch  of  analogy  to  suppose  that  in  such 
former  periods  of  the  earth's  history  our  sun  may  have  passed 
through  portions  of  his  stellar  orbit  in  which  the  light-yielding 
element  was  deficient,  and  in  which  case  his  brilliancy  would 
have  suffered  the  while,  and  an  arctic  climate  in  consequence 
spread  from  the  poles  towards  the  equator,  and  thus  leave  the 
record  of  such  a  condition  in  glacial  handwriting  on  the  ever- 
lasting walls  of  our  mountain  ravines,  of  which  there  is  such 
abundant  and  unquestionable  evidence.  As  before  said,  it  is 
the  existence  of  such  facts  as  we  have  in  stars  of  transitory 
brightness,  and  the  above-named  evidence  of  an  arctic  climate 
existing  in  what  are  now  genial  climates,  that  renders  some 
adequate  cause  to  be  looked  for.  I  have  accordingly  hazarded 
the  preceding  remarks  as  suggestive  of  a  cause,  in  the  hope  that 
the  subject  may  receive  that  attention  which  its  deep  interest 
entitles  it  to  obtain. 

"  This  view  of  the  source  of  light,  as  respects  the  existence 
of  the  luciferous  element  throughout  space,  accords  with  the 
Mosaic  account  of  creation,  in  so  fur  as  that  light  is  described  as 


xrc.  THE  SOURCE  OF  LIGHT.  343 

having  been  created  in  the  first  instance  before  the  sun  was  called 
forth."1 

Soon  after  my  paper  was  read,  Lord  Murray  of 
Henderland,  an  old  friend,  then  a  Judge  on  the  Scottish 
Bench,  wrote  to  me  as  follows  : — "  I  shall  be  much  obliged 
to  you  for  a  copy,  if  you  have  a  spare  one,  of  your  printed 
note  on  Light.  It  is  expressed  with  great  clearness  and 
brevity.  If  you  wish  to  have  a  quotation  for  it,  you  may 
have  recourse  to  the  blind  Milton,  who  has  expressed  your 
views  in  his  address  to  Light : — 

"  *  Hail,  holy  Light !  offspring  of  heaven  first-born  ! 
Or  of  the  Eternal  co-eternal  beam 
May  I  express  thee  unblamed  ?  since  God  is  light, 
And  never  but  in  vmapproached  light 
Dwelt  from  eternity — dwelt  then  in  thee, 
Bright  effluence  of  bright  essence  increate  !'" 

1  Dr.  Siemens  read  a  paper  before  the  Royal  Society  in  March  1882, 
on  "  A  New  Theory  of  the  Sun."  His  views  in  many  respects  coincided 
with  mine.  Interstellar  space,  according  to  Dr.  Siemens,  is  filled  with 
attenuated  matter,  consisting  of  highly  rarefied  gaseous  bodies — in- 
cluding hydrogen,  oxygen,  nitrogen,  carbon,  and  aqueous  vapour  ;  that 
these  gaseous  compounds  are  capable  of  being  dissociated  by  radiant 
solar  energy  while  in  a  state  of  extreme  attenuation  ;  and  that  the 
vapours  so  dissociated  are  drawn  towards  the  sun  in  consequence  of 
solar  rotation,  are  flashed  into  flame  in  the  photosphere,  and  rendered 
back  into  space  in  the  condition  of  products  of  combustion.  With 
respect  to  the  influence  of  the  sun's  light  on  geology,  Dr.  Siemens 
says  :  "The  effect  of  this  continuous  outpour  of  solar  materials  could 
not  be  without  very  important  influences  as  regards  the  geological 
conditions  of  our  earth.  Geologists  have  long  acknowledged  the  diffi- 
culty of  accounting  for  the  amount  of  carbonic  acid  that  must  have 
been  in  our  atmosphere  at  one  time  or  another  in  order  to  form  with 
lime  those  enormous  beds  of  dolomite  and  limestone  of  which  the 
crust  of  our  earth  is  in  great  measure  composed.  It  has  been  cal- 
culated that  if  this  carbonic  acid  had  been  at  one  and  the  same  time 
in  our  atmosphere  it  would  have  caused  an  elastic  pressure  fifty  times 
that  of  our  present  atmosphere  ;  and  if  we  add  the  carbonic  acid  that 
must  have  been  absorbed  in  vegetation  in  order  to  form  our  coal-beds 
we  should  probably  have  to  double  that  pressure.  Animal  life,  of 
which  we  had  abundant  traces  in  these  'measures,'  could  not  have 
existed  under  such  conditions,  we  are  almost  forced  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  carbonic  acid  must  have  been  derived  from  an  external 


344  THE  WONDERS  OF  ASTRONOMY.  CHAP. 

About  the  same  time  Sir  Thomas  Mitchell,  Surveyor- 
General  of  Australia,  communicated  his  notions  on  the 
subject.  "  My  dear  Sir,"  he  wrote,  "  Your  kind  and  valu- 
able communications  are  as  welcome  to  me  as  the  sun's 
light,  and  I  now  thank  you  most  gratefully  for  the  last, 
with  its  two  enclosures.  These,  and  especially  your  views 
as  to  the  source,  of  light,  afford  me  new  scope  for  satis- 
factory thinking — a  sort  of  treasure  one  can  always  carry 
about,  and,  unlike  other  treasures,  is  most  valuable  in  the 
solitude  of  a  desert.  The  beauty  of  your  theory  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  source  of  light  is,  that  it  rather  supports  all 
preconceived  notions  respecting  the  soul,  heaven,  and  an 
immortal  state." 

I  still  continued  the  study  of  astronomy.  The  sun, 
moon,  and  planets  yielded  to  me  an  inexhaustible  source  of 
delight.  I  gazed  at  them  with  increasing  wonder  and  awe. 
Among  the  glorious  objects  which  the  telescope  reveals, 
the  most  impressive  is  that  of  the  starry  heavens  in  a  clear 
dark  night.  When  I  directed  my  20-inch  reflecting  tele- 
scope almost  at  random  to  any  part  of  the  firmament, 
especially  to  any  portion  of  the  Milky  Way,  the  sight  of 
myriads  of  stars  brought  into  view  within  the  field  of  the 
eye-piece  was  overpoweringly  sublime. 

When  it  is  considered  that  every  one  of  these  stars 
which  so  bewilderingly  crowd  the  field  of  vision  is,  accord- 
ing to  rational  probability,  and,  I  might  even  say,  absolute 
certainty,  are  Suns  as  vast  in  magnitude  as  that  which  gives 
light  to  our  globe,  and  yet  situated  so  inconceivably  deep 
in  the  abyss  of  space  as  to  appear  minute  points  of  light 
even  to  the  most  powerful  telescope,  it  will  be  felt  what 
a  sublime  subject  appears  before  us.  Turn  the  telescope 
to  any  part  of  the  heavens,  it  is  the  same. 

Let  us  suppose  ourselves  perched  upon  the  farthest  star 
which  we  are  enabled  to  see  by  the  aid  of  the  most  power- 
ful telescope.  There,  too,  we  should  see  countless  myriads 
of  Suns,  rolling  along  in  their  appointed  orbits,  and  thus 
on  and  on  throughout  eternity.  What  an  idea  of  the  limit- 
less extent  of  Creative  Power — filling  up  infinite  space 


xix.  MOVEMENTS  OF  CELESTIAL  BODIES.  345 

with  the  evidences  of  His  Almighty  Presence  !  The  human 
mind  feels  its  utter  impotency  in  endeavouring  to  grasp 
such  a  subject. 

I  also  turned  my  attention  to  the  microscope.  In  1851 
I  examined,  by  the  aid  of  this  instrument,  the  infusoria  in 
the  Bridgewater  Canal.  I  found  twenty-seven  of  them,  of 
the  most  varied  form,  colour,  and  movements.  This  was 
almost  as  remarkable  a  revelation  as  the  mighty  phenomena 
of  the  heavens.  I  found  these  living  things  moving  about 
in  the  minutest  drop  of  water.  The  sight  of  the  wonderful 
range  of  creative  power — from  the  myriads  of  suns  revealed 
by  the  telescope,  to  the  myriads  of  moving  organisms  re- 
vealed by  the  microscope — filled  me  with  unutterably 
devout  wonder  and  awe. 

Moreover,  it  seemed  to  me  to  confer  a  glory  even  upon 
the  instruments  of  human  skill,  which  elevated  man  to  the 
Unseen  and  the  Divine.  When  we  examine  the  most 
minute  organisms,  we  find  clear  evidence  in  their  voluntary 
powers  of  motion  that  these  creatures  possess  a  will,  and 
that  such  Will  must  be  conveyed  by  a  nervous  system  of 
an  infinitesimally  minute  description.  When  we  follow  out 
such  a  train  of  thought,  and  contrast  the  myriads  of  suns 
and  planets  at  one  extreme,  with  the  myriads  of  minute 
organised  atoms  at  the  other,  we  cannot  but  feel  inexpres- 
sible wonder  at  the  transcendent  range  of  Creative  Power. 

Shortly  after,  I  sent  to  the  Eoyal  Astronomical  Society 
a  paper  on  another  equally  wonderful  subject,  "The  Ro- 
tatory Movements  of  the  Celestial  Bodies." l  As  the  paper 
is  not  very  long,  and  as  I  endeavoured  to  illustrate  my 
ideas  in  a  familiar  manner,  I  may  here  give  it  entire : — 

"  What  first  set  me  thinking  on  this  subject  was  the  en- 
deavour to  get  at  the  reason  of  why  water  in  a  basin  acquires  a 
rotatory  motion  when  a  portion  of  it  is  allowed  to  escape  through 
a  hole  in  the  bottom.  Every  well- trained  philosophical  judg- 

1  "  Suggestions  respecting  the  Origin  of  the  Rotatory  Movements  of 
the  Celestial  Bodies  and  the  Spiral  Forms  of  the  Nebulae,  as  seen  in 
Lord  Rosse's  Telescope." 


346  ROTATION  OF  NEBULAE.  CHAP. 


ment  is  accustomed  to  observe  illustrations  of  the  most  sublime 
phenomena  of  creation  in  the  most  minute  and  familiar  opera- 
tions of  the  Creator's  laws,  one  of  the  most  characteristic  features 
of  which  consists  in  the  absolute  and  wonderful  integrity  main- 
tained in  their  action  whatsoever  be  the  range  as  to  magnitude 
or  distance  of  the  objects  on  which  they  operate. 

"For  instance,  the  minute  particles  of  dew  which  whiten 
the  grass-blade  in  early  morn  are  moulded  into  spheres  by  the 
identical  law  which  gives  to  the  mighty  sun  its  globular  form  ! 

"  Let  us  pass  from  the  rotation  of  water  in  a  basin  to  the 
consideration  of  the  particles  of  a  nebulous  mass  just  summoned 
into  existence  by  the  fiat  of  the  Creator — the  law  of  gravitation 
coexisting. 

"The  first  moment  of  the  existence  of  such  a  nebulous  mass 
would  be  inaugurated  by  the  election  of  a  centre  of  gravity,  and, 
instantly  after,  every  particle  throughout  the  entire  mass  of 
such  nebula)  would  tend  to  and  converge  towards  that  centre  of 
gravity. 

"  Now  let  us  consider  what  would  be  the  result  of  this.  It 
appears  to  me  that  the  inevitable  consequence  of  the  convergence 
of  the  particles  towards  the  centre  of  gravity  of  such  a  nebulous 
mass  would  not  only  result  in  the  formation  of  nucleus,  but  by 
reason  of  the  physical  impossibility  that  all  the  converging 
particles  should  arrive  at  the  focus  of  convergence  in  directions 
perfectly  radial  and  diametrically  opposite  to  each  other,  how- 
ever slight  the  degree  of  deviation  from  the  absolute  diamet- 
rically opposite  direction  in  which  the  converging  particles 
coalesce  at  the  focus  of  attraction,  a  twisting  action  would  result, 
and  Rotation  ensue,  which,  once  engendered,  be  its  intensity 
ever  so  slight,  from  that  instant  forward  the  nucleus  would 
continue  to  revolve,  and  all  the  particles  which  its  attraction 
would  subsequently  cause  to  coalesce  with  it,  would  do  so  in 
directions  tangential  to  its  surface,  and  not  diametrically  towards 
its  centre. 

"  In  due  course  of  time  the  entire  of  the  remaining  nebulous 
mass  would  become  affected  with  rotation  from  the  more  rapidly 
moving  centre,  and  would  assume  what  appears  to  me  to  be  their 
inherent  normal  condition,  namely,  spirality,  as  the  prevailing 
character  of  their  structure  ;  and  as  that  is  actually  the  aspect 
which  may  be  said  to  characterise  the  majority  of  those  marvel- 
lous nebulee,  as  revealed  to  us  by  Lord  Rosse's  magnificent  tele- 


xix.  PLANETARY  ROTATION.  347 

scope,  I  am  strongly  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  such 
reasons  as  I  have  assigned  have  been  the  cause  of  their  spiral 
aspect  and  arrangement. 

"  And  by  following  up  the  same  train  of  reasoning,  it  appears 
to  me  that  we  may  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  primeval  cause  of  the 
rotation  of  every  body  throughout  the  regions  of  space,  whether 
they  be  nebulae,  stars,  double  stars,  or  planetary  systems. 

"  The  primary  cause  of  rotation  which  I  have  endeavoured  to  de- 
scribe in  the  preceding  remarks  is  essentially  cosmical,  and  is  the 
direct  and  immediate  offspring  of  the  action  of  gravitation  on  matter 
in  a  diffused,  nebulous,  and,  as  such,  highly  mobile  condition. 

"  It  will  be  obvious  that  in  the  case  of  a  nebulous  mass,  whose 
matter  is  unequally  distributed,  that  in  such  a  case  several  sub- 
centres  of  gravity  would  be  elected,  that  is  to  say,  each  patch  of 
nebulous  matter  would  have  its  own  centre  of  gravity ;  but  these 
in  their  turn  subordinate  to  that  of  the  common  centre  of  gravity 
of  the  whole  system,  about  which  all  such  outlaying  parts  would 
revolve.  Each  of  the  portions  above  alluded  to  would  either  be 
attracted  by  the  superior  mass,  and  pass  in  towards  it  as  a  wisp 
of  nebulous  matter,  or  else  establish  perfect  individual  and  dis- 
tinct rotation  within  itself,  and  finally  revolve  about  the  great 
common  centre  of  gravity  of  the  whole. 

"  Bearing  this  in  mind,  and  referring  to  some  of  the  figures 
of  the  marvellous  spiral  nebulae  which  Lord  Rosse's  telescope 
has  revealed  to  us,  I  shall  now  bring  these  suggestions  to  a  con- 
clusion. I  have  avoided  expanding  them  to  the  extent  I  feel 
the  subject  to  be  worthy  and  capable  of ;  but  I  trust  such  as  I 
have  offered  will  be  sufficient  to  convey  a  pretty  clear  idea  of 
my  views  on  this  sublime  subject,  which  I  trust  may  receive  the 
careful  consideration  its  nature  entitles  it  to.  Let  any  one  care- 
fully reflect  on  the  reason  why  water  assumes  a  rotatory  motion 
when  a  portion  of  it  is  permitted  to  escape  from  an  aperture  in 
the  bottom  of  the  circular  vessel  containing  it ;  if  they  will  do 
so  in  the  right  spirit,  I  am  fain  to  think  they  will  arrive  at  the 
same  conclusion  as  the  contemplation  of  this  familiar  phenome- 
non has  brought  me  to. 

"BRIDGEWATER  FOUNDRY,  June  7,  1855." 

I  was  present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Geological  Society  at 
Manchester  in  1853,  in  the  discussions  of  which  I  took  part. 


348  A  BLESSED  GEOLOGICAL  ACCIDENT.  CHAP 

I  was  much  impressed  by  an  address  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Vaughan  (then  Principal  of  the  Independent  College  at 
Manchester),  which  is  as  interesting  now  as  it  was  then. 
After  referring  to  the  influence  which  geological  changes 
had  produced  upon  the  condition  of  nations,  and  the  moral 
results  which  oceans,  mountains,  islands,  and  continents 
have  had  upon  the  social  history  of  man,  he  went  on  to 
say:  "Is  not  this  island  of  ours  indebted  to  these  great 
causes  ?  Oh,  that  blessed  geological  accident  that  broke  up 
a  strait  between  Calais  and  Dover!  It  looks  but  a  little 
thing ;  it  was  a  matter  to  take  place ;  but  how  mighty  the 
moral  results  upon  the  condition  and  history  of  this  country, 
and,  through  this  country's  influence,  upon  humanity ! 
Bridge  over  the  space  between,1  and  you  have  directly  the 
huge  continental  barrack -yard  system  all  over  England. 
And  once  get  into  the  condition  of  a  great  continental  mili- 
tary power,  and  you  get  the  arbitrary  power ;  you  cramp 
down  the  people,  and  you  unfit  them  from  being  what  they 
ought  to  be — FREE  !  And  all  the  good  influences  together 
at  work  in  this  country  could  not  have  secured  us  against 
this,  but  for  that  blessed  separation  between  this  Isle  and 
the  Continent." 

In  1853  I  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Small  Arms 
Committee  for  the  purpose  of  remodelling  and,  in  fact,  re- 
establishing the  Small  Arms  Factory  at  Enfield.  The  won- 
derful success  of  the  needle  gun  in  the  war  between  Prussia 
and  Denmark  in  1848  occasioned  some  alarm  amongst  our 
military  authorities  as  to  the  state  of  affairs  at  home.  The 
Duke  of  Wellington  to  the  last  proclaimed  the  sufficiency 
of  "  Brown  Bess  "  as  a  weapon  of  offence  and  defence ;  but 
matters  could  no  longer  be  deferred.  The  United  States 
Government,  though  possessing  only  a  very  small  standing 
army,  had  established  atr  Springfield  a  small  arms  factory, 
where,  by  the  use  of  machine  tools  specially  designed  to 
execute  with  the  most  unerring  precision  all  the  details  of 
muskets  and  rifles,  they  were  enabled  to  dispense  with  mere 

1  Tunnels  were  not  thought  of  at  that  time. 


xix.  SMALL  ARMS  COMMITTEE.  349 

manual  dexterity,  and  to  produce  arms  to  any  amount.  It 
was  finally  determined  to  improve  the  musketry  and  rifle 
systems  of  the  English  army.  The  Government  resolved 
to  introduce  the  American  system,  by  which  Arms  might  be 
produced  much  more  perfectly,  and  at  a  great  diminution  of 
cost.  It  was  under  such  circumstances  that  the  Small 
Arms  Committee  was  appointed. 

Colonel  Colt  had  brought  to  England  some  striking 
examples  of  the  admirable  machine  tools  used  at  Springfield, 
and  he  established  a  manufactory  at  Pimlico  for  the  produc- 
tion of  his  well-known  revolvers.  The  committee  resolved 
to  make  a  personal  visit  to  the  United  States  Factory  at 
Springfield.  My  own  business  engagements  at  home  pre- 
vented my  accompanying  the  members  who  were  selected ; 
but  as  my  friend  John  Anderson  (now  Sir  John),  acted  as 
their  guide,  the  committee  had  in  him  a  most  able  and 
effective  helper.  He  directed  their  attention  to  the  most 
important  and  available  details  of  that  admirable  establish- 
ment. The  United  States  Government  acted  most  liberally, 
in  allowing  the  committee  to  obtain  every  information  on 
the  subject ;  and  the  heads  of  the  various  departments,  who 
were  intelligent  and  zealous,  rendered  them  every  attention 
and  civility. 

The  members  of  the  mission  returned  home  enthusias- 
tically delighted  with  the  results  of  their  inquiry.  The 
committee  immediately  proceeded  with  the  entire  remodel- 
ling of  the  Small  Arms  Factory  at  En  field.  The  workshops 
were  equipped  with  a  complete  series  of  special  machine 
tools,  chiefly  obtained  from  the  Springfield  factory.  The 
United  States  Government  also  permitted  several  of  their 
best  and  most  experienced  workmen  and  superintendents  to 
take  service  under  the  English  Government. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  Enfield  rifle.  The  weapon 
came  as  near  to  absolute  perfection  as  possible.  It  was 
perfect  in  action,  durable,  and  excellent  in  every  respect. 
Even  in  its  conversion  to  the  breechloader  it  is  still  one  of 
the  best  weapons.  It  is  impossible  to  give  too  much  praise 
to  Sir  John  Anderson  and  Colonel  Dixon  for  the  untiring 


350  SMALL  ARMS  FACTORY.  CHAP.  xrx. 

and  intelligent  zeal  with  which  they  carried  out  the  plans, 
as  well  as  for  the  numerous  improvements  which  they  in- 
troduced. These  have  rendered  the  Enfield  Small  Arms 
Factory  one  of  the  most  perfect  and  best  regulated  estab- 
lishments in  the  kingdom. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

RETIREMENT   FROM   BUSINESS. 

I  HAD  been  for  some  time  contemplating  the  possibility  of 
retiring  altogether  from  business.  I  had  got  enough  of 
the  world's  goods,  and  was  willing  to  make  way  for  younger 
men.  But  I  found  it  difficult  to  break  loose  from  old 
associations.  Like  the  retired  tallow-chandler,  I  might 
wish  to  go  back  "on  melting  days."  I  had  some  corre- 
spondence with  my  old  friend  David  Roberts,  Royal  Acade- 
mician, on  the  subject.  He  wrote  to  me  on  the  2d  June 
1853,  and  said  : — 

"  I  rejoice  to  learn,  from  the  healthy  tone  that  breathes 
throughout  your  epistle,,  that  you  are  as  happy  as  every  one 
who  knows  you  wishes  you  to  be,  and  as  prosperous  as  you 
deserve.  Knowing,  also,  as  I  do,  your  feeling  for  art  and 
all  that  tends  to  raise  and  dignify  man,  I  most  sincerely 
congratulate  you  on  the  prospect  of  your  being  able  to  re- 
tire, in  the  full  vigour  of  manhood,  to  follow  out  that  sub- 
lime pursuit,  in  comparison  with  which  the  painter's  art  is 
but  a  faint  glimmering.  '  The  Landscape  of  other  worlds ' 
you  alone  have  sketched  for  us,  and  enlightened  us  on  that 
with  which  the  ancient  world  but  gazed  upon  and  worshipped 
in  the  symbol  of  Astarte,  Isis,  and  Diana.  We  are  matter- 
of-fact  now,  and  have  outlived  childhood.  What  say  you 
to  a  photograph  of  those  wonderful  drawings  ?  It  may 
come  to  that."1 

1  It  did  indeed  "come  to  that,"  for  I  shortly  after  learned  the  art 
of  photography,  chiefly  for  this  special  purpose. 


352  IRON  PUDDLING.  CHAP. 

But  I  had  something  else  yet  to  do  in  my  special  voca- 
tion. In  1854  I  took  out  a  patent  for  puddling  iron  by 
means  of  steam.  Many  of  my  readers  may  not  know  that 
cast-iron  is  converted  into  malleable  iron  by  the  process  called 
puddling.  The  iron,  while  in  a  molten  state,  is  violently 
stirred  and  agitated  by  a  stiff  iron  rod,  having  its  end  bent 
like  a  hoe  or  flattened  hook,  by  which  every  portion  of  the 
molten  metal  is  exposed  to  the  oxygen  of  the  air,  and  the 
supercharge  of  carbon  which  the  cast  iron  contains  is  thus 
"  burnt  out."  When  this  is  effectually  done  the  iron  be- 
comes malleable  and  weldable. 

This  state  of  the  iron  is  indicated  by  a  general  loss  of 
fluidity,  accompanied  by  a  tendency  to  gather  together  in 
globular  masses.  The  puddler,  by  his  dexterous  use  of  the 
end  of  the  rabbling  bar,  puts  the  masses  together,  and,  in 
fact,  welds  the  new-born  particles  of  malleable  iron  into 
puddle -balls  of  about  three-quarters  of  a  hundredweight 
each.  These  are  successively  removed  from  the  pool  of  the 
puddling  furnace,  and  subjected  to  the  energetic  blows  of 
the  steam  hammer,  which  drives  out  all  the  scoriae  lurking 
within  the  spongy  puddle-balls,  and  thus  welds  them  into 
compact  masses  of  malleable  iron.  When  reheated  to  a 
welding  heat,  they  are  rolled  out  into  flat  bars  or  round 
rods,  in  a  variety  of  sizes,  so  as  to  be  suitable  for  the 
consumer. 

The  manual  and  physical  labour  of  the  puddler  is  tedi- 
ous, fatiguing,  and  unhealthy.  The  process  of  puddling 
occupies  about  an  hour's  violent  labour,  and  only  robust 
young  men  can  stand  the  fatigue  and  violent  heat.  I  had 
frequent  opportunities  of  observing  the  labour  and  un- 
healthiness  of  the  process,  as  well  as  the  great  loss  of  time 
required  to  bring  it  to  a  conclusion.  It  occurred  to  me  that 
much  of  this  could  be  avoided  by  employing  some  other 
means  for  getting  rid  of  the  superfluous  carbon,  and  bring- 
ing the  molten  cast-iron  into  a  malleable  condition. 

The  method  that  occurred  to  me  was  the  substitution  of 
a  small  steam  pipe  in  the  place  of  the  puddler's  rabbling 
bar.  By  having  the  end  of  this  steam  pipe  bent  downwards, 


xi  MK.  BESSEMER'S  PATENT.  353 

so  as  to  reach  the  bottom  of  the  pool,  and  then  to  discharge 
a  current  of  steam  beneath  the  surface  of  tJie  molten  cast  iron, 
I  thought  that  I  should  by  this  simple  means  supply  a 
most  effective  carbon-oxidating  agent,  at  the  same  time  that 
I  produced  a  powerful  agitating  action  within  the  pool. 
Thus  the  steam  would  be  decomposed  and  supply  oxygen  to 
the  carbon  of  the  cast-iron,  while  the  mechanical  action  of 
the  rush  of  steam  upwards  would  cause  so  violent  a  com- 
motion throughout  the  pool  of  melted  iron  as  to  exceed  the 
utmost  efforts  of  the  labour  of  the  puddler.  All  the  gases 
would  pass  up  the  chimney  of  the  puddling  furnace,  and  the 
puddler  would  not  be  subject  to  their  influence.  Such  was 
the  method  specified  in  my  patent  of  1854.1 

My  friend,  Thomas  Lever  Rushtou,  proprietor  of  the 
Bolton  Ironworks,  was  so  much  impressed  with  the  sound- 
ness of  the  principle,  as  well  as  with  the  great  simplicity  of 
carrying  the  invention  into  practical  effect,  that  he  urged 
me  to  secure  the  patent,  and  he  soon  after  gave  me  the 
opportunity  of  trying  the  process  at  his  works.  The  results 
were  most  encouraging.  There  was  a  great  saving  of  labour 
and  time  compared  with  the  old  puddling  process ;  and  the 
malleable  iron  produced  was  found  to  be  of  the  highest  order 
as  regarded  strength,  toughness,  and  purity.  My  process 
was  soon  after  adopted  by  several  iron  manufacturers  with 
equally  favourable  results.  Such,  however,  was  the  energy 
of  the  steam,  that  unless  the  workmen  were  most  careful  to 
regulate  its  force  and  the  duration  of  its  action,  the  waste 
of  iron  by  undue  oxidation  was  such  as  in  a  great  measure 
to  neutralise  its  commercial  gain  as  regarded  the  superior 
value  of  the  malleable  iron  thus  produced. 

Before  I  had  time  or  opportunity  to  remove  this  com- 
mercial difficulty,  Mr.  Bessemer  had  secured  his  patent  of 
the  17th  of  October,  1855.  By  this  patent  he  employed  a 
blast  of  air  to  do  the  same  work  as  I  had  proposed  to 
accomplish  by  means  of  a  blast  of  steam,  forced  up  beneath 


1  Specification  of  James  Nasmyth — Employment  of  steam  in  the 
process  of  puddling  iron.     May  4,  1854  ;  No.  1001. 

2A 


354  DISCUSSION  AT  CHELTENHAM.  CHAP. 

the  surface  of  the  molten  cast  iron.  He  added  some  other 
improvements,  with  that  happy  fertility  of  invention  which 
has  always  characterised  him.  The  results  were  so  magni- 
ficently successful  as  to  totally  eclipse  my  process,  and  to 
cast  it  comparatively  into  the  shade.  At  the  same  time  I 
may  say  that  I  was  in  a  measure  the  pioneer  of  his  inven- 
tion, that  I  initiated  a  new  system,  and  led  up  to  one  of  the 
most  important  improvements  in  the  manufacture  of  iron 
and  steel  that  has  ever  been  given  to  the  world. 

Mr.  Bessemer  brought  the  subject  of  his  invention 
before  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  at  Cheltenham 
in  the  autumn  of  1856.  There  he  read  his  paper  "  On  the 
Manufacture  of  Iron  into  Steel  without  Fuel."  I  was  pre- 
sent on  the  occasion,  and  listened  to  his  statement  with 
mingled  feelings  of  regret  and  enthusiasm — of  regret,  be- 
cause I  had  been  so  clearly  superseded  and  excelled  in  my 
performances  ;  and  of  enthusiasm — because  I  could  not  but 
admire  and  honour  the  genius  who  had  given  so  great  an 
invention  to  the  mechanical  world.  I  immediately  took 
the  opportunity  of  giving  my  assent  to  the  principles  which 
he  had  propounded.  My  words  were  not  reported  at  the 
time,  nor  was  Mr.  Bessemer's  paper  printed  by  the  Associa- 
tion, perhaps  because  it  was  thought  of  so  little  importance.1 
But,  on  applying  to  Mr.  (now  Sir  Henry)  Bessemer,  he  was 
so  kind  as  to  give  me  the  following  as  his  recollection  of 
the  words  which  I  used  on  the  occasion. 

"  I  shall  ever  feel  grateful,"  says  Sir  Henry,  "  for  the 
noble  way  in  which  you  spoke  at  the  meeting  at  Chelten- 
ham of  my  invention.  If  I  remember  rightly,  you  held  up 


1  On  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  the  paper  was  to  be  read, 
Mr.  Bessemer  was  sitting  at  breakfast  at  his  hotel,  when  an  ironmaster 
(to  whom  he  was  unknown)  said,  laughing,  to  a  friend  within  his  hear- 
ing, "Do  you  know  that  there  is  somebody  come  down  from  London 
to  read  us  a  paper  on  making  steel  from  cast  iron  without  fuel  t  Did 
you  ever  hear  of  such  nonsense  ?"  The  title  of  the  paper  was  perhaps 
a  misnomer,  but  the  correctness  of  the  principles  on  which  the  pig  iron 
was  converted  into  malleable  iron,  as  explained  by  the  inventor,  was 
generally  recognised,  and  there  seemed  every  reason  to  anticipate  that 
the  process  would  before  long  come  into  general  use. 


xx.  SIR  HENRY  BESSEMER'S  LETTER.  .  355 

a  piece  of  my  malleable  iron,  saying  words  to  this  effect : 
'  Here  is  a  true  British  nugget !  Here  is  a  new  process 
that  promises  to  put  an  end  to  all  puddling ;  and  I  may 
mention  that  at  this  moment  there  are  puddling  furnaces  in 
successful  operation  where  my  patent  hollow  steam  Rabbler 
is  at  work,  producing  iron  of  superior  quality  by  the  intro- 
duction of  jets  of  steam  in  the  puddling  process.  I  do  not, 
however,  lay  any  claim  to  this  invention  of  Mr.  Bessemer ; 
but  I  may  fairly  be  entitled  to  say  that  I  have  advanced 
along  the  road  on  which  he  has  travelled  so  many  miles, 
and  has  effected  such  unexpected  results  that  I  do  not 
hesitate  to  say  that  I  may  go  home  from  this  meeting  and 
tear  up  my  patent,  for  my  process  of  puddling  is  assuredly 
superseded.' " 

After  giving  an  account  of  the  true  origin  of  his  process, 
in  which  he  had  met  with  failures  as  well  as  successes,  but 
at  last  recognised  the  decarburation  of  pig  iron  by  atmos- 
pheric air,  Sir  Henry  proceeds  to  say : — 

"  I  prepared  to  try  another  experiment,  in  a  crucible  having 
no  hole  in  the  bottom,  but  which  was  provided  with  an  iron 
pipe  put  through  a  hole  in  the  cover,  and  passing  down  nearly 
to  the  bottom  of  the  crucible.  The  small  lumps  and  grains  of 
iron  were  packed  around  it,  so  as  nearly  to  fill  the  crucible.  A 
blast  of  air  was  to  be  forced  down  the  pipe  so  as  to  rise  up 
among  the  pieces  of  granular  iron  and  partially  decarburise 
them.  The  pipe  could  then  be  withdrawn,  and  the  fire  urged 
until  the  inetal  with  its  coat  of  oxyde  was  fused,  and  cast  steel 
thereby  produced. 

"While  the  blowing  apparatus  for  this  experiment  was  being 
fitted  up,  I  was  taken  with  one  of  those  short  but  painful  ill- 
nesses to  Which  I  was  subject  at  that  time.  I  was  confined  to 
my  bed,  and  it  was  then  that  my  mind,  dwelling  for  hours 
together  on  the  experiment  about  to  be  made,  suggested  that 
instead  of  trying  to  decarburise  the  granulated  metal  by  forcing 
the  air  down  the  vertical  pipe  among  the  pieces  of  iron,  the  air 
would  act  much  more  energetically  and  more  rapidly  if  I  first 
melted  the  iron  in  the  crucible,  and  forced  the  air  down  the  pipe 
below  the  surface  of  the  fluid  metal,  and  thus  burn  out  the  carboft 
and  silicum  which  it  contained. 


356  A  GENEROUS  OFFER.  CHAV; 

"This  appeared  so  feasible,  and  in  every  way  so  great  an 
improvement,  that  the  experiment  on  the  granular  pieces  was  at 
once  abandoned,  and,  as  soon  as  I  was  well  enough,  I  proceeded 
to  try  the  experiment  of  forcing  the  air  under  the  fluid  metal. 
The  result  was  marvellous.  Complete  decarburation  was 
effected  in  half  an  hour.  The  heat  produced  was  immense,  but, 
unfortunately  more  than  half  the  metal  was  blown  out  of  the 
pot.  This  led  to  the  use  of  pots  with  large  hollow  perforated 
covers,  which  effectually  prevented  the  loss  of  metal.  These 
experiments  continued  from  January  to  October  1855.  I  have 
by  me  on  the  mantelpiece  at  this  moment,  a  small  piece  of  rolled 
bar  iron  which  was  rolled  at  Woolwich  arsenal,  and  exhibited  a 
year  later  at  Cheltenham. 

"  I  then  applied  for  a  patent,  but  before  preparing  my  pro- 
visional specification  (dated  October  17,  1855),  I  searched  for 
other  patents  to  ascertain  whether  anything  of  the  sort  had  been 
done  before.  I  then  found  your  patent  for  puddling  with  the 
steam  rabble,  and  also  Martin's  patent  for  the  use  of  steam  in 
gutters  while  molten  iron  was  being  conveyed  from  the  blast 
furnace  to  a  finery,  there  to  be  refined  in  the  ordinary  way 
prior  to  puddling.  , 

"  I  then  tried  steam  in  my  cast  steel  process,  alone,  and  also 
mixed  with  air.  I  found  that  it  cooled  the  metal  very  much, 
and  of  itself  could  not  be  used,  as  it  always  produced  solidifica- 
tion. I  was  nevertheless  advised  to  claim  the  use  of  steam  as 
well  as  air  in  my  particular  process  (lest  it  might  be  used  against 
me),  at  the  same  time  disclaiming  its  employment  for  any  pur- 
pose except  in  the  production  of  fluid  malleable  iron  or  steel. 
And  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  to  this  fact  that  I  referred  when 
speaking  to  you  on  the  occasion  you  mention.  I  have  deemed 
it  best  that  the  exact  truth — so  far  as  a  short  history  can  give 
it — should  be  given  at  once  to  you,  who  are  so  true  and  candid. 
Had  it  not  been  for  you  and  Martin  I  should  probably  never 
have  proposed  the  use  of  steam  in  my  process,  but  the  use  of 
air  came  by  degrees,  just  in  the  way  I  have  described." 

It  was  thoroughly  consistent  with  Mr.  Bessemer'^ 
kindly  feelings  towards  me,  that,  after  our  meeting  at 
Cheltenham,  lie  made  me  an  offer  of  one-third  share  of  the 
value  of  his  patent.  This  would  have  been  another  fortune 
tome.  But  I  had  already  made  money  enough.  I  was  just 


xx.  PREPARE  TO  RETIRE  FROM  BUSINESS.  35? 

then  taking  down  my  signboard  and  leaving  business.  I  did 
not  need  to  plunge  into  any  such  tempting  enterprise,  and 
I  therefore  thankfully  declined  the  offer. 

Many  long  years  of  pleasant  toil  and  exertion  had  done 
their  work.  A  full  momentum  of  prosperity  had  been 
given  to  my  engineering  business  at  Patricroft.  My  share 
in  the  financial  results  accumulated  with  accelerated 
rapidity  to  an  amount  far  beyond  my  most  sanguine  hopes. 
But  finding,  from  long  continued  and  incessant  mental 
efforts,  that  my  nervous  system  was  beginning  to  become 
shaken,  especially  in  regard  to  an  affection  of  the  eyes, 
which  in  some  respects  damaged  my  sight,  I  thought  the 
time  had  arrived  for  me  to  retire  from  commercial  life. 

Some  of  my  friends  advised  me  to  "  slack  off,"  and  not, 
to  retire  entirely  from  Bridgewater  Foundry.  But  to  do. 
so  was  not  in  my  nature.  I  could  not  be  indifferent  to 
any  concern  in  which  I  was  engaged.  I  must  give  my 
mind  and  heart  to  it  as  before.  I  could  not  give  half  to 
leisure,  and  half  to  business.  I  therefore  concluded  that  a 
final  decision  was  necessary.  Fortunately  I  possessed  an 
abundant  and  various  stock  of  hobbies.  I  held  all  these 
in  reserve  to  fall  back  upon.  They  would  furnish  me  with 
an  almost  inexhaustible  source  of  healthy  employment. 
They  might  give  me  occupation  for  mind  and  body  as 
long  as  I  lived.  I  bethought  me  of  the  lines  of  Burns : — > 

"  Wi'  steady  aim  some  Fortune  chase  ; 
Keen  hope  does  ev'ry  sinew  brace  ; 
Thro'  fair,  thro'  foul,  they  urge  the  race, 

And  seize  the  prey  : 
Then  cannie,  in  some  cosy  place, 

They  close  the  day." l 

It  was  no  doubt  a  great  sorrow  for  me  and  my  dear 
wife  to  leave  the  Home  in  which  we  had  been  so  happy 
and  prosperous  for  so  many  years.  It  was  a  cosy  little 
cottage  at  Patricroft.  We  had  named  it  "  Fireside."  It 
was  small,  but  suitable  for  our  requirements.  We  never 

1  "Letter  to  James  Smith,"  18th  verse. 


358  LEAVING  "FIRESIDE"!  CHAP. 

needed  to  enlarge  it,  for  we  had  no  children  to  accom- 
modate. It  was  within  five  minutes'  walk  of  the  Foundry, 
and  I  was  scarcely  ever  out  of  reach  of  the  Fireside,  where 
we  were  both  so  happy.  It  had  been  sanctified  by  our 
united  love  for  thirteen  years.  It  was  surrounded  by  a 
niee  garden,  planted  with  trees  and  shrubs.  Though 
close  to  the  Bridgewater  Canal,  and  a  busy  manufacturing 
population  was  not  far  off,  the  cottage  was  perfectly  quiet. 
It  was  in  this  garden,  when  I  was  arranging  the  telescope 
at  night,  that  I  had  been  detected  by  the  passing  boatman 
as  "  The  Patricroft  Ghost." 

When  we  were  about  to  leave  Patricroft,  the  Countess 
of  Ellesmere,  who,  as  well  as  the  Earl,  had  always  been 
our  attached  friends,  wrote  to  my  wife  as  follows : — 
"  I  can  well  understand  Mr.  Nasmyth's  satisfaction  at  the 
emancipation  he  looks  forward  to  in  December  next.  But 
I  hope  you  do  not  expect  us  to  share  it !  for  what  is  so 
much  natural  pleasure  to  you  is  a  sad  loss  and  privation  to 
us.  I  really  don't  know  how  we  shall  get  on  at  Worsley 
without  you.  You  have  nevertheless  my  most  sincere  and 
hearty  good  wishes  that  the  change  may  be  as  grateful  to 
you  both  as  anything  in  this  world  can  be." 

Yet  we  had  to  tear  ourselves  away  from  this  abode  of 
peace  and  happiness.  I  had  given  notice  to  my  partner 1 
that  it  was  my  intention  to  retire  from  business  at  the  end 
of  1856.  The  necessary  arrangements  were  accordingly 
made  for  carrying  on  the  business  after  my  retirement. 
All  was  pleasantly  and  satisfactorily  settled  several  months 
before  I  finally  left ;  and  the  character  and  prosperity  of 
the  Bridgewater  Foundry  have  been  continued  to  the 
present  day. 

But  where  was  I  to  turn  to  for  a  settled  home  1  Many 
years  before  I  had  seen  a  charming  picture  by  my  brother 
Patrick  of  "  A  Cottage  in  Kent."  It  took  such  a  hold  of 

1  The  "Partner"  here  referred  to,  was  my  excellent  friend  Henry 
Garnett,  Esq.,  of  Wyre  Side,  near  Lancaster.  He  had  been  my  sleep- 
ing partner  or  "Co."  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  the  most  perfect 
harmony  always  existed  between  us. 


xx.  THE  "COTTAGE  IN  KENT."  359 

my  memory  and  imagination  that  I  never  ceased  to 
entertain  the  longing  and  ambition  to  possess  such  a 
cottage  as  a  cosy  place  of  refuge  for  the  rest  of  my  life. 
Accordingly,  about  six  months  before  my  final  retirement, 
I  accompanied  my  wife  in  a  visit  to  the  south.  In  the 
first  place  we  made  a  careful  selection  from  the  advertise- 
ments in  the  Times  of  "  desirable  residences "  in  Kent. 
One  in  particular  appeared  very  tempting.  We  set  out  to 
view  it.  It  seemed  to  embody  all  the  conditions  that  we 
had  pictured  in  our  imagination  as  necessary  to  fulfil  the 
idea  of  our  "  Cottage  in  Kent."  It  had  been  the  property 
of  F.  R.  Lee,  the  Royal  Academician.  With  a  few  altera- 
tions and  additions  it  would  entirely  answer  our  purpose. 
So  we  bought  the  property. 

I  may  mention  that  when  I  retired  from  business,  and 
took  out  of  it  the  fortune  that  had  accumulated  during 
my  twenty- two  years  of  assiduous  attention  and  labour, 
I  invested  the  bulk  of  it  in  Three  per  cent  Consols.  The 
rate  of  interest  was  not  high,  but  it  was  nevertheless 
secure.  High  interest,  as  every  one  knows,  means  riskful 
security.  I  desired  to  have  no  anxiety  about  the  source  of 
my  income,  such  as  might  hinder  my  enjoying  the  rest  of 
my  days  in  the  active  leisure  which  I  desired.  I  had  for 
some  time  before  my  retirement  been  investing  in  consols, 
which  my  dear  wife  termed  "  the  true  antibilious  stock," 
and  I  have  ever  since  had  good  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
that  safe  and  tranquillising  investment.  All  who  value 
the  health-conserving  influence  of  the  absence  of  financial 
worry  will  agree  with  me  that  this  antibilious  stock  is 
about  the  best. 

The  "  Cottage  in  Kent "  was  beautiful,  especially  in  its 
rural  surroundings.  The  view  from  it  was  charming,  and 
embodied  all  the  attractive  elements  of  happy -looking 
English  scenery.  The  noble  old  forest  trees  of  Penshurst 
Park  were  close  alongside,  and  the  grand  old  historic  man- 
sion of  Penshurst  Place  was  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile's 
distance  from  our  house.  There  were  many  other  beauti- 
ful parks  and  country  residences  in  our  neighbourhood ; 


360 


JIAMMERFIELD,  PENSHURST. 


the  railway  station,  which  was  within  thirty-five  minutes' 
pleasant  walk,  enabling  us  to  be  within  reach  of  London, 
with  its  innumerable  attractions,  in  little  more  than  an  hour 
and  a  quarter.  Six  acres  of  garden-ground  at  first  sur- 
rounded our  cottage,  but  these  were  afterwards  expanded 
to  sixteen  ;  and  the  whole  was  made  beautiful  by  the  plant- 
ing of  trees  and  shrubs  over  the  grounds.  In  all  this  my 
wife  and  myself  took  the  greatest  delight. 


HAMMERFIELD,  PENSHURST. 

From  my  hereditary  regard  for  hammers — two  broken 
hammer-shafts  being  the  crest  of  our  family  for  1  mini  ml  s 
of  years — I  named  the  place  "  Hammer  field  ;"  and  so  it 
remains  to  this  day.  The  improvements  and  additions  to 
the  house  and  the  grounds  were  considerable.  A  green- 
house was  built,  120  feet  long  by  32  feet  wide.  Roomy 
apartments  were  added  to  the  house.  The  trees  and 
shrubs  planted  about  the  grounds  were  carefully  select. -d. 
The  coniferte  class  were  my  special  favourites.  I  arranged 


xx.  MUSICAL  COMPOSITION.  361 

them  so  that  their  natural  variety  of  tints  should  form  the 
most  pleasing  contrasts.  In  this  respect  I  introduced  the 
beech-tree  with  the  happiest  effect.  It  is  bright  green  in 
spring,  and  in  the  autumn  it  retains  its  beautiful  ruddy- 
tinted  leaves  until  the  end  of  winter,  when  they  are  again 
repLiced  by  the  new  growth. 

The  warm  tint  of  the  beech  contrasts  beautifully  with 
the  bright  green  of  the  coniferse,  especially  of  the  Lawson- 
iania  and  the  Douglassi — the  latter  being  one  of  the  finest 
accessions  to  our  list  of  conifers.  It  is  graceful  in  form, 
and  perfectly  hardy.  I  also  interspersed  with  these  several 
birch-trees,  whose  slender  and  graceful  habit  of  growth 
forms  so  fine  a  contrast  to  the  dense  foliage  of  the  conifers. 
To  thus  paint,  as  it  were,  with  trees,  is  a  high  source  of 
pleasure  in  gardening.  Among  my  various  enjoyments 
this  has  been  about  the  greatest. 

During  the  time  that  the  alterations  and  enlargements 
were  in  progress  we  rented  a  house  for  six  months  at 
Sydcnham,  close  to  the  beautiful  grounds  of  the  Crystal 
Palace.  This  was  a  most  happy  episode  in  our  lives,  for, 
besides  the  great  attractions  of  the  place,  both  inside  and 
out,  there  were  the  admirable  orchestral  daily  concerts, 
at  which  we  were  constant  attendants.  We  had  the 
pleasure  of  listening  to  the  noble  compositions  of  the  great 
masters  of  music,  the  perfectly  trained  band  being  led  by 
Herr  Manns,  who  throws  so  much  of  his  fine  natural  taste 
and  enthusiastic  spirit  into  the  productions  as  to  give  them 
every  possible  charm. 

From  a  very  early  period  of  my  life  I  have  derived  the 
highest  enjoyment  from  listening  to  music,  especially  to 
melody,  which  is  to  me  the  most  pleasing  form  of  com- 
position. When  I  have  the  opportunity  of  listening  to 
such  kind  of  music,  it  yields  me  enjoyment  that  transcends 
all  others.  It  suggests  ideas,  and  brings  vividly  before  the 
mind's  eye  scenes  that  move  the  imagination.  This  is,  to 
me,  the  highest  order  of  excellence  in  musical  composition. 

I  used  long  ago,  and  still  continue,  to  whistle  a  bit, 
especially  when  engaged  in  some  pleasant  occupation.  I 


362  MY  TREASURED  OLD  TOOLS.  CHAP. 

can  draw  from  my  mental  repository  a  vast  number  of  airs 
and  certain  bits  of  compositions  that  I  had  once  heard.  I 
possess  that  important  qualification  for  a  musician — "a 
good  ear;"  and  I  always  worked  most  successfully  at  a 
mechanical  drawing  when  I  was  engaged  in  whistling  some 
favourite  air.  The  dual  occupation  of  the  brain  had 
always  the  best  results  in  the  quick  development  of  the 
constructive  faculty.  And  even  in  circumstances  where 
whistling  is  not  allowed  I  can  think  airs,  and  enjoy  them 
almost  as  much  as  when  they  are  distinctly  audible.  This 
power  of  the  brain,  I  am  fain  to  believe,  indicates  the 
natural  existence  of  the  true  musical  faculty.  But  I  had 
been  so  busy  during  the  course  of  my  life  that  I  had  never 
any  opportunity  of  learning  the  practical  use  of  any  musical 
instrument.  And  here  I  must  leave  this  interesting  subject. 

So  soon  as  I  was  in  due  possession  of  my  house,  I  had 
speedily  transported  thither  all  my  art  treasures — my  tele- 
scopes, my  home  stock  of  tools,  the  instruments  of  my 
own  construction,  made  from  the  very  beginning  of  my 
career  as  a  mechanic,  and  associated  with  the  most  in- 
teresting and  active  parts  of  my  life.  I  lovingly  treasured 
them,  and  gave  them  an  honoured  place  in  the  workshop 
which  I  added  to  my  residence.  There  they  are  now,  and 
I  often  spend  a  busy  and  delightful  hour  in  handling  my 
tools.  It  is  curious  how  the  mere  sight  of  such  objects 
brings  back  to  the  memory  bygone  incidents  and  recollec- 
tions. Friends  long  dead  seem  to  start  up  while  looking 
at  them.  You  almost  feel  as  if  you  could  converse  with 
the  departed.  I  do  not  know  of  anything  so  touchingly 
powerful  in  vividly  bringing  back  the  treasured  incidents 
and  memories  of  one's  life  as  the  sight  of  such  humble 
objects.  Every  one  has,  no  doubt,  a  treasured  store  of 
such  material  records  of  a  well-remembered  portion  of  his 
past  life.  These  strike,  as  it  were,  the  keynote  to  thoughts 
that  bring  back  in  vivid  form  the  most  cherished  re- 
membrances of  our  lives. 

On  many  occasions  I  have  seen  at  sale  rooms  long 
treasured  hoards  of  such  objects  thrown  together  in  a 


xx.  OUR  PLEASANT  OCCUPATIONS.  363 

heap  as  mere  rubbish.  And  yet  these  had  been  to  some 
the  sources  of  many  pleasant  thoughts  and  recollections. 
But  the  last  final  break-up  has  come,  and  the  personal 
belongings  of  some  departed  kind  heart  are  scattered  far 
and  wide.  These  touching  relics  of  a  long  life,  which  had 
almost  become  part  of  himself,  are  "knocked  down"  to 
the  lowest  class  of  bidders.  It  is  a  sad  sight  to  witness 
the  uncared-for  dispersion  of  such  objects — objects  that 
had  been  lovingly  stored  up  as  the  most  valued  of  personal 
treasures.  I  could  have  wished  that,  as  was  the  practice 
in  remote  antiquity,  such  touching  relics  were  buried  with 
the  dead,  as  their  most  fitting  repository.  Then  they 
might  have  left  some  record,  instead  of  being  desecrated 
by  the  harpies  who  wait  at  sales  for  such  "job  lots." 

Behold  us,  then,  settled  down  at  Hammerfield  for  life. 
We  had  plenty  to  do.  My  workshop  was  fully  equipped. 
My  hobbies  were  there,  and  I  could  work  them  to  my 
heart's  content.  The  walls  of  our  various  rooms  were  soon 
hung  with  pictures,  and  other  works  of  art,  suggestive  of 
many  pleasant  associations  of  former  days.  Our  library 
book-case  was  crowded  with  old  friends,  in  the  shape  of 
books  that  had  been  read  and  re-read  many  times,  until 
they  had  become  almost  part  of  ourselves.  Old  Lancashire 
friends  made  their  way  to  us  when  "up  in  town,"  and 
expressed  themselves  delighted  with  our  pleasant  house 
and  its  beautiful  surroundings. 

The  continuous  planting  of  the  shrubs  and  trees  gave 
us  great  pleasure.  Those  already  planted  had  grown 
luxuriantly,  fed  by  the  fertile  soil  and  the  pure  air.  In- 
deed, in  course  of  time  they  required  the  judicious  use  of 
the  axe  in  order  to  allow  the  fittest  to  survive  and  grow 
at  their  own  free  will.  Trees  contrive  to  manage  their 
own  affairs  without  the  necessity  of  much  labour  or  inter- 
ference. The  "survival  of  the  fittest"  prevails  here  as 
elsewhere.  It  is  always  a  pleasure  to  watch  them.  There 
are  many  ordinary  old-fashioned  roadside  flowering  plants 
which  I  esteem  for  their  vigorous  beauty,  and  I  enjoy 
seeing  them  assume  the  careless  grace  of  Nature. 


384  TITE  GREENHOUSE.  CHAP.  xx. 

The  greenhouse  is  also  a  source  of  pleasure,  especially 
to  my  dear  wife.  It  is  full  of  flowers  of  all  kinds,  of 
which  she  is  devotedly  fond.  They  supply  her  with  sub- 
jects for  her  brush  or  her  needle.  She  both  paints  them 
and  works  them  by  her  needle  in  beautiful  forms  and 
groups.  This  is  one  of  her  many  favourite  hobbies.  All 
this  is  suitable  to  our  fireside  employments,  and  makes  the 
days  and  the  evenings  pass  pleasantly  away. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

ACTIVE   LEISURE. 

WHEN  James  Watt  retired  from  business  towards  the  close 
of  his  useful  and  admirable  life,  he  spoke  to  his  friends  of 
occupying  himself  with  "  ingenious  trifles/'  and  of  turning 
"  some  of  his  idle  thoughts "  upon  the  invention  of  an 
arithmetical  machine  and  a  machine  for  copying  sculpture. 
These  and  other  useful  works  occupied  his  attention  for 
many  years. 

It  was  the  same  with  myself.  I  had  good  health 
(which  Watt  had  not)  and  abundant  energy.  When  I 
retired  from  business  I  was  only  forty-eight  years  old, 
which  may  be  considered  the  prime  of  life.  But  I  had 
plenty  of  hobbies,  perhaps  the  chief  of  which  was  Astro- 
nomy. No  sooner  had  I  settled  at  Hammerfield  than  I 
had  my  telescopes  brought  out  and  mounted.  The  fine  clear 
skies  with  which  we  were  favoured,  furnished  me  with 
abundant  opportunities  for  the  use  of  my  instruments.  I 
began  again  my  investigations  on  the  Sun  and  the  Moon, 
and  made  some  original  discoveries,  of  which  more  anon. 

Early  in  the  year  1858  I  received  a  pressing  invitation 
from  the  Council  of  the  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Society 
to  give  a  lecture  before  their  members  on  the  Structure  of 
the  Lunar  Surface.  As  the  subject  was  a  favourite  one 
with  me,  and  as  I  had  continued  my  investigations  and 
increased  my  store  of  drawings  since  I  had  last  appeared 
before  an  Edinburgh  audience,  I  cheerfully  complied  with 
their  request.  I  accordingly  gave  my  lecture  before  a 
crowded  meeting  in  the  Queen  Street  Lecture  Hall. 


366  LECTURE  ON  THE  MOON.  CHAP. 

The  audience  appeared  to  be  so  earnestly  interested  by 
the  subject  that  I  offered  to  appear  before  them  on  two 
successive  evenings  and  give  any  viva  voce  explanations 
about  the  drawings  which  those  present  might  desire.  This 
deviation  from  the  formality  of  a  regular  lecture  was 
attended  with  the  happiest  results.  Edinburgh  always 
supplies  a  highly -intelligent  audience,  and  the  cleverest 
and  brightest  were  ready  with  their  questions.  I  was 
thus  enabled  to  elucidate  the  lecture  and  to  expand  many 
of  the  most  interesting  points  connected  with  the  moon's 
surface,  such  as  might  formerly  have  appeared  obscure. 
These  questioning  lectures  gave  the  highest  satisfaction. 
They  satisfied  myself  as  well  as  the  audience,  who  went 
away  filled  with  the  most  graphic  information  I  could  give 
them  on  the  subject. 

But  not  the  least  interesting  part  of  my  visit  to  Edin- 
burgh on  this  occasion  was  the  renewed  intercourse  which 
I  enjoyed  with  many  of  my  old  friends.  Among  these 
were  my  venerable  friend  Professor  Pillans,  Charles  Mac- 
laren  (editor  of  the  Scotsman),  and  Robert  Chambers.  We 
had  a  long  "  dander " x  together  through  the  Old  Town, 
our  talk  being  in  broad  Scotch.  Pillans  was  one  of  the 
fine  old  Edinburgh  Liberals,  who  stuck  to  his  principles 
through  good  report  and  through  evil.  In  his  position  as 
Rector  of  the  High  School,  he  had  given  rare  evidence  of 
his  excellence  as  a  classical  scholar.  He  was  afterwards 
promoted  to  be  a  Professor  in  the  University.  He  had  as 
his  pupils  some  of  the  most  excellent  men  of  my  time. 
Amongst  his  intimate  friends  were  Sydney  Smith, 
Brougham,  Jeffrey,  Cockburn — men  who  gave  so  special 
a  character  to  the  Edinburgh  society  of  that  time. 

We  had  a  delightful  stroll  through  some  of  the  most 
remarkable  parts  of  the  Old  Town,  with  Robert  Chambers 
as  our  guide.  We  next  mounted  Arthur's  Seat  to  observe 
some  of  the  manifestations  of  volcanic  action,  which  had 
given  such  a  remarkable  structure  to  the  mountain.  On 

1  Dander— to  saunter,  to  roam,  to  go  from  place  to  place. 


xxi.  PROFESSOR  PILLANS.  367 

this  subject,  Charles  Maclaren  was  one  of  the  best  living 
expounders.  He  was  an  admirable  geologist,  and  had 
closely  observed  the  features  of  volcanic  action  round  his 
native  city.  Robert  Chambers  then  took  us  to  see  the 
glacial  grooved  rocks  on  another  part  of  the  mountain. 
On  this  subject  he  was  a  master.  It  was  a  vast  treat  to 
me  to  see  those  distinct  evidences  of  actions  so  remotely 
separated  in  point  of  geological  time  —  in  respect  to 
which  even  a  million  of  years  is  a  humble  approximate 
unit.1 

What  a  fine  subject  for  a  picture  the  group  would  have 
made  !  with  the  great  volcanic  summit  of  the  mountain 
behind,  the  noble  romantic  city  in  the  near  distance,  and 
the  animated  intelligent  countenances  of  the  demonstra- 
tors, with  the  venerable  Pillans  eagerly  listening — for  the 
Professor  was  then  in  his  eighty-eighth  year.  I  had  the 
happiness  of  receiving  a  visit  from  him  at  Hainmerfield  in 
the  following  year.  He  was  still  hale  and  active ;  and 
although  I  was  comparatively  a  boy  to  him,  he  was  as 
bright  and  clear-headed  as  he  had  been  forty  years  before. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  year  I  accompanied  my  wife 
and  my  sister  Charlotte  on  a  visit  to  the  Continent.  It 
was  their  first  sojourn  in  foreign  parts.  I  was  able,  in 
some  respects,  to  act  as  their  guide.  Our  visit  to  Paris 
was  most  agreeable.  During  the  three  weeks  we  were 
there,  we  visited  the  Louvre,  the  Luxembourg,  Versailles, 
and  the  parts  round  about.  We  made  many  visits  to  the 
Hotel  Cluny,  and  inspected  its  most  interesting  contents, 

1  "  It  is  to  our  ever-dropping  climate,  with  its  hundred  and  fifty- two 
days  of  annual  rain,  that  we  owe  our  vegetable  mould  with  its  rich 
and  beauteous  mantle  of  sward  and  foliage.  And  next,  stripping 
from  off  the  landscape  its  sands  and  gravels,  we  see  its  underlying 
boulder-clays,  dingy  and  gray,  and  here  presenting  their  vast  ice-borne 
stones,  and  there  its  iceberg  pavements.  And  these  clays  in  turn 
stripped  away,  the  bare  rocks  appear,  various  in  colour  and  uneven  in 
surface,  but  everywhere  grooved  and  polished,  from  the  sea  level  and 
beneath  it,  to  the  height  of  more  than  a  thousand  feet,  by  evidently 
the  same  agent  that  careered  along  the  pavements  and  transported  the 
great  stones." — HUGH  MILLER'S  Geological  Features  of  Edinburgh  znd 
its  Neighbourhood. 


368  VISIT  TO  THE  CONTINENT.  CHAP. 

as  well  as  the  Roman  baths  and  that  part  of  the  building 
devoted  to  Roman  antiquities.  We  were  especially  de- 
lighted with  the  apartments  of  the  Archbishop  of  Paris, 
now  hung  with  fine  old  tapestry  and  provided  with 
authentic  specimens  of  mediaeval  furniture.  The  quaint 
old  cabinets  were  beautiful  studies;  and  many  artists 
were  at  work  painting  them  in  oil.  Everything  was  in 
harmony.  When  the  sun  shone  in  through  the  windows  in 
long  beams  of  coloured  light,  illuminating  portions  of  the 
antique  furniture,  the  pictures  were  perfect.  We  were 
much  interested  also  by  the  chapel  in  which  Mary  Queen 
of  Scots  was  married  to  the  Dauphin.  It  is  still  in  com- 
plete preservation.  The  Gothic  details  of  the  chapel  are 
quite  a  study ;  and  the  whole  of  these  and  the  contents 
of  this  interesting  Museum  form  a  school  of  art  of  the 
best  kind. 

From  Paris  we  paid  a  visit  to  Chartres,  which  contains 
one  of  the  most  magnificent  cathedrals  in  France.  Its 
dimensions  are  vast,  its  proportions  are  elegant,  and  its 
painted  glass  is  unequalled.  Nothing  can  be  more  beauti- 
ful than  its  three  rose-windows.  But  I  am  not  writing  a 
guide-book,  and  I  must  forbear.  After  a  few  days  more 
at  Paris  we  proceeded  south,  and  visited  Lyons,  Avignon, 
and  Nismes,  on  our  way  to  Marseilles.  I  have  already 
described  Nismes  in  my  previous  visit  to  France.  I 
revisited  the  Roman  amphitheatre,  the  Maison  Quarre",  that 
perfect  Roman  temple,  which,  standing  as  it  does  in  an 
open  square,  is  seen  to  full  advantage.  We  also  went  to 
see  the  magnificent  Roman  aqueduct  at  Pont  du  Gard. 
The  sight  of  the  noble  structure  well  repays  a  visit.  It 
consists  of  three  tiers  of  arches.  Its  magnitude,  the  skil- 
ful fitting  of  its  enormous  blocks,  makes  a  powerful  im- 
pression on  the  mind.  It  has  stood  there,  in  that 
solitary  wooded  valley,  for  upwards  of  sixteen  centuries ; 
and  it  is  still  as  well  fitted  for  conveying  its  aqueduct  of 
water  as  ever.  I  have  seen  nothing  to  compare  with  it, 
oven  at  Rome.  It  throws  all  our  architectural  buildings 
into  the  shade.  On  our  way  back  from  Marseilles  to 


xxi.  AftT  OF  PHOTOGRAPHY.  369 

Paris  we  visited  Grenoble  and  its  surrounding  beautiful 
Alpine  scenery.  Then  to  Chambery,  and  afterwards  to 
Chamounix,  where  we  obtained  a  splendid  view  of  Mont 
Blanc.  We  returned  home  by  way  of  Geneva  and  Paris, 
vastly  delighted  with  our  most  enjoyable  journey. 

I  return  to  another  of  my  hobbies.  I  had  an  earnest 
desire  to  acquire  the  art  and  mystery  of  practical  photo- 
graphy. I  bought  the  necessary  apparatus,  together  with 
the  chemicals ;  and  before  long  I  became  an  expert  in  the 
use  of  the  positive  and  negative  collodion  process,  includ- 
ing the  printing  from  negatives,  in  all  the  details  of  that 
wonderful  and  delightful  art.  To  any  one  who  has  some 
artistic  taste,  photography,  both  in  its  interesting  processes 
and  glorious  results,  becomes  a  most  attractive  and  almost 
engrossing  pursuit.  It  is  a  delightful  means  of  educat- 
ing the  eye  for  artistic  feeling,  as  well  as  of  educating  the 
hands  in  delicate  manipulation.  I  know  of  nothing  equal 
to  photography  as  a  means  of  advancing  one's  knowledge 
in  these  respects.  I  had  long  meditated  a  work  "  On  the 
Moon,"  and  it  was  for  this  purpose  more  especially  that  I 
was  earnest  in  endeavouring  to  acquire  the  necessary  prac- 
tical skill.  I  was  soon  enabled  to  obtain  photographic 
copies  of  the  elaborate  models  of  parts  of  the  moon's 
surface,  which  I  had  long  before  prepared.  These  copies 
were  hailed  by  the  highest  authorities  in  this  special  de- 
partment of  astronomical  research  as  the  best  examples  of 
the  moon's  surface  which  had  yet  been  produced. 

In  reference  to  this  subject,  as  well  as  to  my  researches 
into  the  structure  of  the  sun's  surface,  I  had  the  inestim- 
able happiness  of  securing  the  friendship  of  that  noble 
philosopher,  Sir  John  Herschel.  His  visits  to  me,  and  my 
visits  to  him,  have  left  in  my  memory  the  most  cherished 
and  happy  recollections.  Of  all  the  scientific  men  I 
have  had  the  happiness  of  meeting,  Sir  John  stands 
supremely  at  the  head  of  the  list.  He  combined  profound 
knowledge  with  perfect  humility.  He  was  simple,  earnest, 
and  companionable.  He  was  entirely  free  from  assump- 
tions of  superiority,  and,  still  learning,  would  listen  atten- 

2B 


370  SPOTS  ON  THE  SUN'S  SURFACE.  CHAP. 

tively  to  the  humblest  student.  He  was  ready  to  counsel 
and  instruct,  as  well  as  to  receive  information.  He  would 
sit  down  in  my  workshop,  and  see  me  go  through  the 
various  technical  processes  of  casting,  grinding,  and  polish- 
ing specula  for  reflecting  telescopes.  That  was  a  pleasure 
to  him,  and  a  vast  treat  to  me. 

I  had  been  busily  occupied  for  some  time  in  making 
careful  investigations  into  the  dark  spots  upon  the  Sun's 
surface.  These  spots  are  of  extraordinary  dimensions,  some- 
times more  than  10,000  miles  in  diameter.  Our  world 
might  be  dropped  into  them.  1  observed  that  the  spots 
were  sometimes  bridged  over  by  a  streak  of  light,  formed 
of  willow-leaf-shaped  objects.  They  were  apparently  pos- 
sessed of  voluntary  motion,  and  moved  from  one  side  of  the 
spot  to  the  other.  These  flakes  were  evidently  the  immed- 
iate sources  of  the  solar  light  and  heat.  I  wrote  a  paper  on 
the  subject,  which  I  sent  to  the  Literary  and  Philosophical 
Society  of  Manchester.1  The  results  of  my  observations 
were  of  so  novel  a  character  that  astronomers  for  some  time 
hesitated  to  accept  them  as  facts.  Yet  Sir  John  Herschel, 
the  chief  of  astronomers,  declared  them  to  be  "a  most 
wonderful  discovery." 

I  received  a  letter  from  Sir  John,  dated  Collingwood, 
21st  of  May  1861,  in  which  he  said : 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  note,  and  by  the 
sight  of  your  drawings,  which  Mr.  Maclaren  was  so  kind  as  to 
bring  over  here  the  other  day.  I  suppose  there  can  be  no  doubt 


1  Memoirs  of  Hie  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society  of  Mancliester, 
3d  scries,  vol.  i.  p.  407.  My  first  discovery  of  the  "Willow -leaf" 
objects  on  the  Sun's  surface  was  made  in  June  1860.  I  afterwards 
obtained  several  glimpses  of  them  from  time  to  time.  But  the  occa- 
sions are  very  rare  when  the  bright  sun  can  be  seen  in  a  tranquil 
atmosphere  free  from  vibrations,  and  when  the  delicate  objects  on  its 
surface  can  be  clearly  defined.  It  was  not  until  the  5th  of  June  1864 
that  I  obtained  the  finest  sight  of  the  Sun's  spots  and  the  Willow-leaf 
objects  ;  it  was  then  that  I  made  a  careful  drawing  of  them,  from  which 
the  annexed  faithful  engraving  has  been  produced.  Indeed  I  never 
li:ul  a  better  sight  of  this  extraordinary  aspect  of  the  Sun  than  on 
that  day. 


GROUP  OF   SUN   SPOTS   AS  SEEN   BY   JAMES  NASMYTH,  5TH  JUNE   1864. 

Sooo  loooo  2ooco  Soooo 

SCALE    OP    30000    MILES 


xxi.  SIR  JOHN  HERSCHEL.  371 

as  to  the  reality  of  the  willow-leaved  flakes,  and  in  that  case 
they  certainly  are  the  most  marvellous  phenomena  that  have 
yet  turned  up — I  had  almost  said  in  all  Nature — certainly  in 
all  Astronomy. 

"What  can  they  be  ?  Are  they  huge  phosphorised  fishes  1 
If  so,  what  monsters !  Or  are  they  crystals  ?  a  kind  of  igneous 
snow-flakes  ?  floating  in  a  fluid  of  their  own,  or  very  nearly 
their  own,  specific  gravity  1  Some  kind  of  solidity  or  coherence 
they  must  liave,  or  they  would  not  retain  their  shape  in  the 
violent  movements  of  the  atmosphere  which  the  change  of  the 
spots  indicate. 

"  I  observe  that  in  the  bridges  all  their  axes  have  an  approxi- 
mate parallelism,  and  that  in  the  penumbra  they  are  dispersed, 
radiating  from  the  inside  and  the  outside  of  the  spot,  giving  rise 
to  that  striated  appearance  which  is  familiar  to  all  observers  of 
the  spots. 

"  I  am  very  glad  that  you  have  pitched  your  tent  in  this  part 
of  the  world,  and  I  only  wish  it  were  a  little  nearer.  You  will 
anyhow  have  the  advantage  at  Penslmrst  of  a  much  clearer 
atmosphere  than  in  the  north;  but  here,  nearer  the  coast,  I 
think  we  arc  still  better  off. 

"  Mr.  Maclaren  holds  out  the  prospect  of  our  meeting  you  at 
Pachley  at  no  distant  period,  and  I  hope  you  will  find  your  way 
ere  long  to  Collingwood.  I  have  no  instruments  or  astronomical 
apparatus  to  show  you,  but  a  remarkably  pretty  country,  which 
is  beginning  to  put  on  (rather  late)  its  gala  dress  of  spring." 

Sir  John  afterwards  requested  my  permission  to  insert 
in  his  Outlines  of  Astronomy,  of  which  a  new  edition  was 
about  to  appear,  a  representation  of  "the  willow-leaved 
structure  of  the  Sun's  surface," — which  had  been  published 
in  the  Manchester  transactions, — to  which  I  gladly  gave  my 
assent.  Sir  John  thus  expresses  himself  on  the  subject: 
— "  The  curious  appearance  of  the  '  pores '  of  the  Sun's 
surface  has  lately  received  a  most  singular  and  unex- 
pected interpretation  from  the  remarkable  discovery  of  Mr. 
J.  Nasmyth,  who,  from  a  series  of  observations  made  with 
a  reflecting  telescope  of  his  own  construction  under  very 
high  magnifying  powers,  and  under  exceptional  circum- 
stances of  tranquillity  and  definition,  has  come  to  the  con- 


372  E.  J.  STONE'S  CONFIRMATION.  CHAP. 

elusion  that  these  pores  are  the  polygonal  interstices  be- 
tween certain  luminous  objects  of  an  exceedingly  definite 
shape  and  general  uniformity  of  size,  whose  form  (at  least 
as  seen  in  projection  in  the  central  portions  of  the  disc)  is 
that  of  the  oblong  leaves  of  a  willow  tree.  These  cover 
the  whole  disc  of  the  Sun  (except  in  the  space  occupied  by 
spots)  in  countless  millions,  and  lie  crossing  each  other  in 
every  imaginable  direction.  .  .  .  This  most  astonishing 
revelation  has  been  confirmed  to  a  certain  considerable 
extent,  and  with  some  modifications  as  to  the  form  of  the 
objects,  their  exact  uniformity  of  size  and  resemblance  of 
figure,  by  Messrs.  De  la  Rue,  Pritchard,  and  Stone  in 
England,  and  M.  Secchi  in  Rome." 

On  the  25th  of  February  1864,  I  received  a  communi- 
cation from  Mr.  E.  J.  Stone,  first  assistant  at  the  Royal 
Observatory,  Greenwich. 

"  The  Astronomer-Royal,"  he  said,  "  has  placed  in  my  hands 
your  letter  of  February  20.  Your  discovery  of  the  'willow 
leaves '  on  the  Solar  photosphere  having  been  brought  forward 
at  one  of  the  late  meetings  of  the  Royal  Astronomical  Society, 
my  attention  was  attracted  to  the  subject.  At  my  request,  the 
Astronomer-Royal  ordered  of  Mr.  J.  Simms  a  reflecting  eye-piece 
for  our  great  equatorial.  The  eye-piece  was  completed  about 
the  end  of  January  last,  and  at  the  first  good  opportunity  I 
turned  the  telescope  on  the  Sun. 

"  I  may  state  that  my  impression  was,  and  it  appears  to  have 
been  the  impression  of  several  of  the  assistants  here,  that  the 
willow  leaves  stand  out  dark  against  the  luminous  photosphere. 
On  looking  at  the  Sun,  I  was  at  once  struck  with  the  apparent 
resolvability  of  its  mottled  appearance.  The  whole  disc  of  the 
Sun,  so  far  as  I  examined  it,  appeared  to  be  covered  over  with 
relatively  bright  rice-like  particles,  and  the  mottled  appearance 
seemed  to  be  produced  by  the  interlacing  of  these  particles. 

"  I  could  not  observe  any  particular  arrangement  of  the 
particles,  but  they  appeared  to  be  more  numerous  in  some  parts 
than  in  others.  I  have  used  the  word  'rice-like'  merely  to 
convey  a  rough  impression  of  their  form.  I  have  seen  them  on 
two  occasions  since,  but  not  so  well  as  on  the  first  day,  when 
the  definition  was  exceedingly  good. 


xxi.  DE  LA  RUE'S  LETTER.  373 

"On  the  first  day  that  I  saw  them  I  called  Mr.  Dunkin's 
attention  to  them.  He  appears  to  have  seen  them.  He  says, 
however,  that  he  should  not  have  noticed  them  if  his  attention 
had  not  been  called  to  them." 

The  Astronomer-Eoyal,  in  his  report  to  the  Admiralty 
on  my  discovery,  said : 

"An  examination  of  the  Sun's  surface  with  the  South-East 
Equatorial,  under  favourable  circumstances,  has  convinced  me 
of  the  accuracy  of  the  description,  which  compares  it  with  inter- 
lacing willow  leaves  or  rice  grains." 

In  March  1864  I  received  a  letter  from  my  friend  De 
la  Rue,  dated  from  his  observatory  at  Granford,  Middlesex, 
in  which  he  said  :  "  I  like  good  honest  doubting.  Before  I 
had  seen  wifti  my  own  eyes  your  willow  leaves,  I  doubted 
their  real  existence,  but  I  did  not  doubt  your  having  seen 
what  you  had  drawn.  But  when  I  actually  saw  them  for 
the  first  time,  I  could  not  restrain  the  exclamation,  '  Why, 
here  are  Nasmyth's  willow  leaves !'  It  requires  a  very 
fine  state  of  the  atmosphere  to  permit  of  their  being  seen, 
as  I  have  seen  them  on  three  or  four  occasions,  when  their 
substantial  reality  can  no  longer  be  doubted."  x 

Sir  John  Herschel  confirmed  this  information  in  a 
letter  which  I  received  from  him  in  the  following  May. 
He  said  "that  Mr.  De  la  Rue  and  a  foreign  gentleman, 
Hugo  Miiller,  had  been  very  successful  in  seeing  and  de- 
lineating the  '  willow  leaves.'  They  are  represented  by  Mr. 
M.  as  packed  together  on  the  edge  of  a  spot,  and  appear 
rather  like  a  bunch  of  bristles  or  thorns.  In  other  respects 

1  Let  nie  give  another  letter  from  my  friend,  dated  the  Observatory, 
Cranford,  Middlesex,  October  26,  1864.  He  said: — "I  am  quite 
pleased  to  learn  that  you  like  the  large  photograph.  The  first  given 
to  any  friend  was  destined  for  and  sent  to  you.  No  one  has  so  great 
a  claim  on  the  fruit  of  my  labours  ;  for  you  inoculated  me  with  the 
love  of  star-gazing,  and  gave  me  invaluable  aid  and  advice  in  figuring 
specula.  I  daresay  you  may  remember  the  first  occasion  on  which  I 
saw  a  reflecting  telescope,  which  was  then  being  tried  on  the  sun  in  a 
pattern  loft  at  Patricroft.  You  may  also  recall  the  volumes  you  wrote 
in  answer  to  my  troublesome  questions. — Yours  very  sincerely,' 

WARREN  DE  LA  RUE." 


374  VISIT  FROM  SIR  J.  HERSCIIEL.  CHAP. 

the  individual  forms  agree  very  well  with  your  delineations." 
Another  observer  had  discovered  a  marvellous  resemblance 
between  the  solar  spots  and  the  hollows  left  by  the  break- 
ing and  subsidence  of  bubbles,  which  rise  when  oil-varnish, 
which  has  moisture  in  it,  is  boiled,  and  the  streaky  channels 
are  left  by  the  retiring  liquid.  "I  cannot  help,"  adds 
Sir  John,  "fancying  a  bare  possibility  of  some  upward 
outbreak,  followed  by  a  retreat  of  some  gaseous  matter,  or 
some  dilated  portion  of  the  general  atmosphere  struggling 
upwards,  and  at  the  same  time  expanding  outwards.  I  can 
conceive  of  an  up-surge  of  some  highly-compressed  matter, 
which,  relieved  of  pressure,  will  dilate  laterally  and  upwards 
to  an  enormous  extent  (as  Poullett  Scrope  supposes  of  his 
lavas  full  of  compressed  gases  and  steam),  producing  the 
spots,  and,  in  that  case,  the  furrows  might  equally  well 
arise  in  the  origination  as  in  the  closing  in  of  a  spot." 

I  had  the  honour  and  happiness  of  receiving  a  visit 
from  Sir  John  Herschel  at  my  house  at  Hammerfield  in 
the  summer  of  1864.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  daughter. 
They  spent  several  days  with  us.  The  weather  was  most 
enjoyable.  I  had  much  conversation  with  Sir  John  as  to 
the  Sun  spots  and  willow-leaf-shaped  objects  on  the  Sun's 
surface,  as  well  as  about  my  drawings  of  the  Moon.  I 
exhibited  to  him  my  apparatus  for  obtaining  sound  castings 
of  specula  for  reflecting  telescopes.  I  compounded  the 
alloy,  melted  it,  and  cast  a  10-inch  speculum  on  my  peculiar 
common-sense  system.  I  introduced  the  molten  alloy, 
chilled  it  in  a  metal  mould,  by  which  every  chance  of  flaws 
;m<l  imperfections  is  obviated.  I  also  showed  him  the 
action  and  results  of  my  machine,  by  which  I  obtained  the 
most  exquisite  polish  and  figure  for  the  speculum.  Sir 
John  was  in  the  highest  degree  cognisant  of  the  importance 
of  these  details,  as  contributing  to  the  final  excellent  result. 
It  was  therefore  with  great  pleasure  that  I  could  exhibit 
these  practical  details  before  so  competent  a  judge. 

We  had  a  great  set-to  one  day  in  blowing  iridescent 
soap  bubbles  from  a  mixture  of  soap  and  glycerine.  Some 
of  the  bubbles  were  of  about  fifteen  inches  diameter.  15 


xxi.  BLOWING  IRIDESCENT  BUBBLES.  375 

carefully  covering  them  with  a  bell  glass,  we  kept  them 
for  about  thirty-six  hours,  while  they  went  through  their 
changes  of  brilliant  colour,  ending  in  deep  blue.  I  con- 
trived this  method  of  preserving  them  by  placing  a  dish 
of  water  below,  within  the  covering  bell  glass,  by  means 
of  which  the  dampness  of  the  air  prevented  evaporation  of 
the  bubble.  This  dodge  of  mine  vastly  delighted  Sir  John, 
as  it  allowed  him  to  watch  the  exquisite  series  of  iridescent 
tints  at  his  tranquil  leisure. 

I  had  also  the  pleasure  of  showing  him  my  experiment 
of  cracking  a  glass  globe  filled  with  water  and  hermetically 
sealed.  The  water  was  then  slightly  expanded,  on  which 
the  glass  cracked.  This  was  my  method  of  explaining  the 
nature  of  the  action  which,  at  some  previous  period  of  the 
cosmical  history  of  the  Moon,  had  produced  those  bright 
radiating  lines  that  diverge  from  the  lunar  volcanic  craters. 
Sir  John  expressed  his  delight  at  witnessing  my  practical 
illustration  of  this  hitherto  unexplained  subject,  and  he 
considered  it  quite  conclusive.  I  also  produced  my  en- 
larged drawings  of  the  Moon's  surface,  which  I  had  made 
at  the  side  of  my  telescope.  These  greatly  pleased  him, 
and  he  earnestly  urged  me  to  publish  them,  accompanied 
with  a  descriptive  account  of  the  conclusions  I  had  arrived 
at.  I  then  determined  to  proceed  with  the  preparations 
which  I  had  already  made  for  my  long  contemplated  work. 

Among  the  many  things  that  I  showed  Sir  John  while 
at  Hammerfield,  was  a  piece  of  white  calico  on  which  I  had 
got  printed  one  million  spots.  This  was  for  the  purpose  of 
exhibiting  one  million  in  visible  form.  In  astronomical 
subjects  a  million  is  a  sort  of  unit,  and  it  occurred  to  me 
to  show  what  a  million  really  is.  Sir  John  was  delighted 
and  astonished  at  the  sight.  He  went  carefully  over  the 
outstretched  piece  with  his  rule,  measured  its  length  and 
breath,  and  verified  its  correctness.1  I  also  exhibited 

1  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Metropolitan  Railway  Company  I  ex- 
hibited one  million  of  letters,  in  order  to  show  the  number  of  passengers 
(thirty-seven  millions)  that  had  been  conveyed  during  the  previous 
twelve  months.  This  number  was  so  vast  that  my  method  only  helped 


376  DIAGRAM  OF  THE  EARTH'S  CURVE.  CHAP. 

to  him  a  diagram,  which  I  had  distributed  amongst  the 
geologists  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  at 
Ipswich  in  1851,  showing  a  portion  of  the  earth's  curve, 
to  the  scale  of  one-tenth  of  an  inch  to  a  mile.  I  set  out 


FROM  A  PHOTOGRAPH  OF  THE  MOON,  EXHIBITING  THE  BUIUUT  RADIAL  LINES. 

the  height  of  Mont  Blanc,  Etna,  and  also  the  depth  of  the 
deepest  mine,  as  showing  the  almost  incredible  minimum 

the  meeting  to  understand  what  lia«l  been  done  in  the  way  of  convey - 
aiirr.  Mr.  Macdonald,  of  the  Tinifg,  supplied  me  with  one  million 
type  impressions,  contained  in  sixty  average  columns  of  tho  Times 
newspaper. 


XXI. 


GEOLOGICAL  DIAGRAM. 


377 


of  knowledge  we  possess  about  even  the  merest  surface  of 
the  globe.  This  diagram  was  hailed  by  many  as  of  much 
value,  as  conveying  a  correct  idea  of  the  relative  magnitude 
of  geological  phenomena  in  comparison  with  that  of  the 
earth  itself. 


GLASS  GLOBE  CRACKED   BY    INTERNAL  PRESSURE,  IN  ILLUSTRATION   OF  THE  CAUSE   OF 
THE   BRIGHT   RADIAL   LINES   SEEN   ON  THE   MOON. 

On  this  subject  Sir  Thomas  Mitchell,  Surveyor-General 
of  Australia,  wrote  to  me  at  the  time  :  "  I  will  not  obtrude 
upon  you  any  crude  notions  of  my  own,  but  merely  say 
that  you  could  not  have  sent  the  'Geological  Standard 


378  FATHER  SECCHI  AT  ROME.  CHAP 

Scale '  to  one  who  better  deserved  it,  if  the  claim  in  such 
favour  is,  as  I  suppose,  to  be  estimated  by  the  amount  of 
the  time  of  one  whole  life,  applied  to  the  survey  of  great 
mountain  ranges,  and  coasts,  rivers,  etc.  By  this  long 
practice  of  mine,  you  may  know  how  appreciable  this 
satisfactory  standard  scale  is  to  your  humble  servant." 

In  the  winter  of  1865  I  visited  Italy.  While  at  Eome, 
in  April,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Otto  W.  von 
Struve,  the  celebrated  Russian  astronomer.  He  invited 
me  to  accompany  him  on  a  visit  to  Father  Secchi  at  his 
fine  observatory  of  the  Collegio  Romano.  I  accepted  the 
invitation  with  pleasure.  We  duly  reached  the  Observatory, 
when  Struve  introduced  me  to  the  Father.  Secchi  gave 
me  a  most  cordial  and  unlooked-for  welcome.  "  This,"  he 
said,  "  is  a  most  extraordinary  interview ;  as  I  am  at  this 
moment  making  a  representation  of  your  willow-leaf-shaped 
constituents  of  the  Solar  surface  !"  He  then  pointed  to  a 
large  black  board,  which  he  had  daubed  over  with  glue, 
and  was  sprinkling  over  (when  we  came  in)  with  rice  grains. 
"  That,"  said  he,  "  is  what  I  feel  to  be  a  most  excellent 
representation  of  your  discovery  as  I  see  it,  verified  by  the 
aid  of  my  telescope."  It  appeared  to  Father  Secchi  so 
singular  a  circumstance  that  I  should  come  upon  him  in 
this  sudden  manner,  while  he  was  for  the  first  time  engaged 
in  representing  what  I  had  (on  the  spur  of  the  moment  when 
first  seeing  them)  described  as  willow- leaf -shaped  objects. 
I  thought  that  his  representation  of  them,  by  scattering 
rice  grains  over  his  glue-covered  black  board,  was  apt  and 
admirable;  and  so  did  Otto  Struve.  This  chance  meeting 
with  these  two  admirable  astronomers  was  one  of  the  little 
bits  of  romance  in  my  life. 

I  returned  to  England  shortly  after.  Among  our 
visitors  at  Hammerfield  was  Lord  Lyndhurst.  He  was  in 
his  ninetieth  year  when  he  paid  a  visit  to  Tunbridge  Wells. 
Charles  Greville,  Secretary  to  the  Privy  Council,  wrote  to 
me,  saying  that  his  Lordship  complained  much  of  the  want 
of  society,  and  asked  me  to  call  upon  him.  I  did  so,  and 
found  him  cheerful  and  happy.  I  afterwards  sent  him  a 


xxi.  SIR  J.  HERSCHEL'S  LAST  LETTER.  379 


present  of  some  of  my  drawings.  He  answered :  "  A  thou- 
sand thanks  for  the  charming  etchings.  I  am  especially 
interested  in  Kobinson  Crusoe.  He  looks  very  comfortable, 
but  I  can't  see  his  bed,  which  troubles  me.  The  election 
('Everybody  for  ever!')  is  wonderful.  I  should  not  like 
to  be  there.  I  hope  we  shall  go  to  you  again  one  of  these 
days,  and  have  another  peep  into  that  wonderful  telescope." 

To  return  to  Sir  John  Herschel.  We  returned  his  visit 
at  his  house  at  Collingwood,  near  Hawkhurst.  I  found 
him  in  the  garden,  down  upon  his  knees,  collecting  crocus 
bulbs  for  next  year's  planting.  Like  myself,  he  loved 
gardening,  and  was  never  tired  of  it.  I  mention  this  as 
an  instance  of  his  simple  zeal  in  entering  practically  into 
all  that  interested  him.  At  home  he  was  the  happy  father 
and  lover  of  his  family.  One  of  his  favourite  pastimes, 
Avhen  surrounded  by  his  children  in  the  evening,  was  telling 
them  stories.  He  was  most  happy  and  entertaining  in  this 
tranquil  occupation.  His  masterly  intellect  could  grasp 
the  world  and  all  its  visible  contents,  and  yet  descend 
to  entertain  his  children  with  extemporised  tales.  He 
possessed  information  of  the  most  varied  kind,  which  he 
communicated  with  perfect  simplicity  and  artlessness.  His 
profound  astronomical  knowledge  was  combined  with  a 
rich  store  of  mechanical  and  manipulative  faculty,  which 
enabled  him  to  take  a  keen  interest  in  all  the  technical  arts 
which  so  materially  aid  in  the  progress  of  science.  I  shall 
never  forget  the  happy  days  that  he  spent  with  me  in  my 
workshop.  His  visits  have  left  in  my  mind  the  most 
cherished  recollections.  Our  friendly  intercourse  continued 
unbroken  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

The  following  is  the  last  letter  I  received  from  him  : — 

COLLINGWOOD,  March  10,  1871. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR — A  great  many  thanks  for  the  opportunity 
of  seeing  your  most  exquisite  photographs  from  models  of  lunar 
mountains.  I  hope  you  will  publish  them.  They  will  create 
quite  an  electric  sensation.  Would  not  one  or  two  specimens 
of  the  apparently  nonvolcanic  mountain  ranges,  bordering  on 
the  great  plains,  add  to  the  interest  ?  Excuse  my  writing  more, 


380  PUBLICATION  OF  "THE  MOON."  CHAP. 

as  I  pen  this  lying  on  my  back  in  bed,  to  which  a  fierce  attack 
of  bronchitis  condemns  me.  With  best  regards  to  Mrs.  Nasmyth, 
believe  me  yours  very  truly,  "  J.  F.  W.  HERSCHEL." 

„  Scientific  knowledge  seems  to  travel  slowly.  It  was  not 
until  the  year  1875,  more  than  fourteen  years  after  my 
discovery  of  the  willow-leaved  bridges  over  the  Sun's  spots 
that  I  understood  they  had  been  accepted  in  America.  I 
learned  this  from  my  dear  friend  William  Lassell.  His 
letter  was  as  follows : — "  I  see  the  Americans  are  appre- 
ciating your  solar  observations.  A  communication  I  have 
lately  received  from  the  Alleghany  Observatory  remarks 
4  that  he  (Mr.  Nasymth)  appears  to  have  been  the  first  to 
distinctly  call  attention  to  the  singular  individuality  of  the 
minute  components  of  the  photosphere ;  and  this  seems  in 
fairness  to  entitle  him  to  the  credit  of  an  important  dis- 
covery, with  which  his  name  should  remain  associated.'" 

I  proceeded  to  do  that  which  Sir  John  Herschel  had  so 
earnestly  recommended,  that  is,  to  write  out  my  observa- 
tions on  the  Moon.  It  was  a  very  serious  matter,  for  I 
had  never  written  a  book  before.  It  occupied  me  many 
years,  though  I  had  the  kind  assistance  of  my  friend 
James  Carpenter,  then  of  the  Royal  Observatory,  Green- 
wich. The  volcanoes  and  craters,  and  general  landscape 
scenery  of  the  Moon,  had  to  be  photographed  and  engraved, 
and  this  caused  great  labour. 

At  length  the  book,  entitled  The  Moon,  considered  as  a 
Planet,  a  IPorld,  and  a  Satellite,  appeared  in  November 
1874.  It  was  received  with  much  favour  and  passed  into  a 
second  edition.  A  courteous  and  kind  review  of  the  book 
appeared  in  the  Edinburgh;  and  the  notices  in  other 
periodicals  were  equally  favourable.  I  dedicated  the 
volume  to  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  because  I  had  been  so  long 
associated  with  him  in  geological  affairs,  and  also  because 
of  the  deep  friendship  which  I  entertained  for  his  Grace. 
I  presented  the  volume  to  him  as  well  as  to  many  other  of 
my  astronomical  friends.  I  might  quote  their  answers  at 
i^reat  length,  from  the  Astronomer- Royal  downwards. 
But  I  will  quote  two — one  from  a  Royal  Academician  and 


xxi.  CARDINAL  MANNING.  381 


another  from  a  Cardinal.     The  first  was  from  Philip  H. 
Calderon.     He  said  : — 

"  Let  me  thank  you  many  times  for  your  kind  letter,  and 
for  your  glorious  book.  It  arrived  at  twelve  to-day,  and  there 
has  been  no  painting  since.  Once  having  taken  it  up,  attracted 
by  the  illustrations,  I  could  not  put  it  down  again.  I  forgot 
everything  ;  and,  indeed,  I  have  been  up  in  the  Moon.  As 
soon  as  these  few  words  of  thanks  are  given,  I  am  going  up 
into  the  Moon  again.  What  a  comfort  it  is  to  read  a  scientific 
work  which  is  quite  clear,  and  what  a  gift  it  is  to  write  thus  ! 

"The  photographs  took  my  breath  away.  I  could  not 
understand  how  you  did  them,  and  your  explanation  of  how 
you  built  the  models  from  your  drawings  only  changed  the 
wonder  into  admiration.  Only  an  artist  could  have  said  what 
you  say  about  the  education  of  the  eye  and  of  the  hand.  You 
may  well  understand  how  it  went  home  to  me.  Ever  gratefully 
yours,  PHILIP  H.  CALDERON." 

I  now  proceed  to  the  Cardinal.  I  was  present  at  one 
of  the  receptions  of  the  President  of  the  Royal  Society  at 
Burlington  House,  when  I  was  introduced  to  Cardinal 
Manning  as  "  The  S'team  Hammer ! "  After  a  cordial 
reception  he  suddenly  said,  "But  are  you  not  also  the 
Man  in  the  Moon  ?"  "  Yes,  your  Eminence  !  I  have  written 
a  book  about  the  Moon,  and  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will 
accept  a  copy  of  it?"  "By  all  means,"  he  said,  "and  I 
thank  you  for  the  offer  very  much."  I  accordingly  sent 
the  copy,  and  received  the  following  answer  : — 

"  MY  DEAR  MR.  NASMYTH — When  I.  asked  you  to  send  me 
your  book  on  the  Moon,  I  had  no  idea  of  its  bulk  and  value, 
and  I  feel  ashamed  of  my  importunity,  yet  more  than  half 
delighted  at  my  sturdy  begging. 

"  I  thank  you  for  it  very  sincerely.  My  life  is  one  of  end- 
less work,  leaving  me  few  moments  for  reading.  But  such 
books  as  yours  refresh  me  like  a  clover  field. 

"  I  hope  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of  renewing  our  conver- 
sation. Believe  me  always  truly  yours, 

HENRY,  CARDINAL  MANNING." 


382  WILLIAM  LASSELL.  CHAP. 


I  may  also  mention  that  I  received  a  charming  letter 
from  Miss  Herschel,  the  daughter  of  the  late  Astronomer. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  she  said,  "  that  this  beautiful  book  is  de- 
stined by  you  as  a  gift  to  my  most  unworthy  self  ?  I  do  not 
know,  indeed,  how  sufficiently  to  thank  you,  or  even  to  express 
my  delight  in  being  possessed  of  so  exquisite  and  valuable  a 
work,  made  so  valuable,  too,  by  the  most  kind  inscription  on 
the  first  page  !  I  fear  I  shall  be  very  very  far  from  understand- 
ing the  theories  developed  in  the  book,  though  we  have  been  en- 
deavouring to  gather  some  faint  notion  of  them  from  the 
reviews  we  have  seen  ;  but  it  will  be  of  the  greatest  interest 
for  us  to  try  and  follow  them  under  your  guidance,  and  with 
the  help  of  these  perfectly  enchanting  photographs,  which,  I 
think,  one  could  never  be  tired  of  looking  at. 

"  How  well  I  remember  the  original  photographs,  and  the 
oil  painting  which  you  sent  for  dear  papa's  inspection,  and 
which  he  did  so  enjoy  !  and  also  the  experiment  with  the  glass 
globe,  in  which  he  was  so  interested,  at  your  own  house.  We 
cannot  but  think  how  he  would  have  appreciated  your  researches, 
and  what  pleasure  this  lovely  book  would  have  given  him. 
Indeed,  I  shall  treasure  it  especially  as  a  remembrance  of  that 
visit,  which  is  so  completely  connected  in  my  thoughts  with 
him,  as  well  as  with  your  cordial  kindness,  as  a  precious  souvenir, 
of  which  let  me  once  more  oiler  you  my  heartfelt  thanks.  I 
remain,  my  dear  sir,  yours  very  truly  and  gratefully, 

"  ISABELLA  HERSCHEL." 

I  cannot  refrain  from  adding  the  communication  I 
received  from  my  dear  old  friend  William  Lassell.  "  I  do 
not  know,"  he  said,  "how  sufficiently  to  thank  you  for 
your  most  kind  letter,  and  the  superb  present  which  almost 
immediately  followed  it.  My  pleasure  was  greatly  en- 
hanced by  the  consideration  of  how  far  this  splendid  work 
must  add  to  your  fame  and  gratify  the  scientific  world. 
The  illustrations  are  magnificent,  and  I  am  persuaded  that 
no  book  has  ever  been  published  before  which  gives  so 
faithful,  accurate,  and  comprehensive  a  picture  of  the 
surface  of  the  Moon.  The  work  must  have  cost  you  much 
time,  thought,  and  labour,  and  I  doubt  not  you  will  now 
receive  a  gratifying,  if  not  an  adequate  reward" 


xxi.  MY  WINDMILL.  383 

After  reading  the  book  Mr.  Lassell  again  wrote  to  me. 
"I  am  indebted  to  your  beautiful  book,"  he  said,  "for  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  Moon  than  I  ever  felt  before.  .  .  . 
I  see  many  of  your  pictures  have  been  taken  when  the 
Moon  was  waning,  which  tells  me  of  many  a  shivering 
exposure  you  must  have  had  in  the  early  mornings.  .  .  . 
I  was  sorry  to  find  from  your  letter  that  you  had  a  severe 
cold,  which  made  you  very  unwell.  I  hope  you  have  ere 
this  perfectly  recovered.  I  suppose  maladies  of  this  kind 
must  be  expected  to  take  rather  severe  hold  of  us  now,  as 
we  are  botli  past  the  meridian  of  life.  I  am,  however, 
very  thankful  for  the  measure  of  health  I  enjoy,  and  the 
pleasure  mechanical  pursuits  give  me.  I  fully  sympathise 
with  you  in  the  contempt  (shall  I  say  ?)  which  you  feel  for 
the  taste  of  so  many  people  who  find  their  chief  pleasure 
in  'killing  something,'  and  how  often  their  pleasures  are 
fatal !  Two  distinguished  men  killed  only  the  other  daj 
in  hunting.  For  my  part  I  would  rather  take  to  the 
bicycle  and  do  my  seventeen  miles  within  the  hour." 

He  proceeds :  "  I  have  no  doubt  your  windmill  is  very 
nicely  contrived,  and  has  afforded  you  much  pleasure  in 
constructing  it.  The  only  drawback  to  it  is,  that  in  this 
variable  climate  it  is  apt  to  strike  work,  and  in  the  midst 
of  a  job  of  polishing  I  fear  no  increase  of  wages  would 
induce  it  to  complete  its  task  !  If  water  were  plentiful, 
you  might  make  it  pump  up  a  quantity  when  the  wind 
served,  to  be  used  as  a  motive  power  when  you  chose." 

This  reference  alludes  to  a  windmill  which  I  erected  on 
the  top  of  my  workshop,  to  drive  the  apparatus  below.  It 
was  the  mirror  of  a  reflecting  telescope  which  was  in  pro- 
gress. The  windmill  went  on  night  and  day,  and  polished 
the  speculum  while  I  slept.  In  the  small  hours  of  the 
morning  I  keeked  through  the  corner  of  the  window  blinds 
and  saw  it  hard  at  work.  I  prefer,  however,  a  small  steam- 
engine,  which  works  much  more  regularly. 

It  is  time  to  come  to  an  end  of  my  Recollections.  I 
have  endeavoured  to  give  a  brief  r6sum&  of  my  life  and 


884 


DIAL  OF  LIFE. 


CHAP. 


labours.  I  hope  they  may  prove  interesting  as  well  as 
useful  to  others.  Thanks  to  a  good  constitution  and  a 
frame  invigorated  by  work,  I  continue  to  lead,  with  my 
dear  wife,  a  happy  life.  I  still  take  a  deep  interest  in 
mechanics,  in  astronomy,  and  in  art.  It  is  a  pleasure  to 
me  to  run  up  to  London  and  enjoy  the  collections  at 
the  National  Gallery,  South  Kensington,  and  the  Royal 
Academy.  The  Crystal  Palace  continues  to  attract  a  share 
of  my  attention,  though,  since  the  fire,  it  lias  been  greatly 
altered.  I  miss,  too,  many  of  the  dear  accustomed  faces 
of  the  old  friends  we  used  to  meet  there.  Still  we  visit  it, 
and  leave  to  memory  the  filling  up  of  what  is  gone.  All 
things  change,  and  we  with  them. 

The  following  Dial  of  Life  gives  a  brief  summary  of  my 


AUGI9I8UO 


THF.    DIAL    OF    LIKE. 


career.  It  shows  the  brevity  of  life,  and  indicates  the  tale 
that  is  soon  told.  The  first  part  of  the  semicircle  includes 
the  passage  from  infancy  to  boyhood  and  manhood.  While 
that  period  lasts,  time  seems  to  pass  very  slowly.  We 
long  to  be  men,  and  doing  men's  work.  What  I  have 


XXI. 


A  BRIEF  RECORD  OF  MY  LIFE. 


385 


called  The  Tableland  of  Life  is  then  reached.  Ordinary 
observation  shows  that  between  thirty  and  fifty  the  full 
strength  of  body  and  mind  is  reached  ;  and  at  that  period 
we  energise  our  faculties  to  the  utmost. 

Those  who  are  blessed  with  good  health  and  a  sound 
constitution  may  prolong  the  period  of  energy  to  sixty  or 
even  seventy ;  but  Nature's  laws  must  be  obeyed,  and  the 
period  of  decline  begins,  and  goes  on  with  accelerated 
rapidity.  Then  comes  Old  Age ;  and  as  we  descend  the 
semicircle  towards  eighty,  we  find  that  the  remnant  of  life 
becomes  vague  and  cloudy.  By  shading  off,  as  I  have 
done,  the  portion  of  the  area  of  the  diagram  according  to 
the  individual  age,  every  one  may  see  how  much  of  life  is 
consumed,  and  what  is  left — D.V. 

Here  is  my  brief  record : — 

AGE.          YEAR. 

1808.     BORN  19TH  AUGUST. 

9.     1817.     WENT  TO  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL,  EDINBURGH. 
13.     1821.     ATTENDED  THE  SCHOOL  OP  ARTS. 
21.     1829.     WENT  TO  LONDON,  TO  MAUDSLAY'S. 
23.     1831.     RETURNED   TO   EDINBURGH,    TO    MAKE   MY   EN- 
GINEERS' TOOLS. 

26.     1834.     WENT  TO  MANCHESTER,  TO  BEGIN  BUSINESS. 
28.     1836.     REMOVED  TO  PATRICROFT,  AND  BUILT  THE  BRIDGE- 
WATER  FOUNDRY. 

31.  1839.     INVENTED  THE  STEAM  HAMMER. 

32.  1840.     MARRIAGE. 

34.  1842.     FIRST  VISIT  TO  FRANCE  AND  ITALY. 

35.  1843.     VISIT  TO  ST.  PETERSBURG,  STOCKHOLM,  DANNE- 

MORA. 
37.     1845.     APPLICATION  OF  THE  STEAM  HAMMER  TO  PILE* 

DRIVING. 
48.     1856.     KETIRED  FROM  BUSINESS,  TO  ENJOY  THE  REST  OF 

MY  LIFE  IN  THE  ACTIVE  PURSUIT  OF  MY  MOST 

FAVOURITE  OCCUPATIONS. 


I  have  not  in  this  list  referred  to  my  investigations  in 
connection  with  astronomy.    All  this  will  be  found  referred 

2c 


386  THE  TALE  ENDED.  CHAP.  xxi. 

to  in  the  text.  It  only  remains  for  me  to  say  that  I  ap- 
pend a  rdsumd  of  my  inventions,  contrivances,  and  work- 
shop "dodges,"  to  give  the  reader  a  summary  idea  of  the 
Active  Life  of  a  working  mechanic.  And  with  this  I  end 
my  tale. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  LIST  OF 

MECHANICAL  INVENTIONS  AND  TECHNICAL 
CONTRIVANCES. 

By  JAMES  NASMYTH. 

1825.  A  mode  of  applying  Steam  Power,  for  the  Traction  of 
Canal  Barges,  without  injury  to  tJie  Canal  Banks. 

A  CANAL  having  been  formed  to  connect  Edinburgh  with  the 
Forth  and  Clyde  Canal,  and  so  to  give  a  direct  waterway  com- 
munication between  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  I  heard  much  talk 
about  the  desirableness  of  substituting  Steam  for  Horse  power 
as  the  means  of  moving  the  boats  and  barges  along  the  canal. 
But,  as  the  action  of  paddle  wheels  had  been  found  destructive 
to  the  canal  banks,  no  scheme  of  that  nature  could  be  enter- 
tained. Although  a  tyro  in  such  matters,  I  made  an  attempt 
to  solve  the  problem,  and  accordingly  prepared  drawings,  with 
a  description  of  my  design,  for  employing  Steam  power  as  the 
tractive  agency  for  trains  of  canal  barges,  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  obviate  all  risk  of  injury  to  the  banks. 

The  scheme  consisted  in  laying  a  chain  along  the  bottom  of 
the  canal,  and  of  passing  any  part  of  its  length  between  three 
grooved  and  notched  pulleys  or  rollers,  made  to  revolve  with 
suitable  velocity  by  means  of  a  small  steam-engine  placed  in  a 
tug-boat,  to  the  stern  of  which  a  train  of  barges  was  attached.1 

The  steam-engine  could  thus  warp  its  way  along  the  chain, 
taking  it  up  between  the  rollers  of  the  bow  of  the  tug-boat,  and 
dropping  it  into  the  water  at  the  stern,  so  as  to  leave  the  chain 
at  the  service  of  the  next  following  tug-boat  with  its  attached 

1  Had  this  simple  means  of  "  tugging  "  vessels  through  water-ways  been 
employed  in  our  late  attempts  to  ascend  the  rapids  of  the  Nile,  some  very 
important  results  might  have  issued  from  its  adoption. 


388 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.   CUROX.  LIST. 


train  of  barges.  By  this  simple  mode  of  employing  the  power 
of  a  steam-engine  for  canal  boat  traction,  all  risk  of  injury  to 
the  banks  would  be  avoided,  as  the  chain  and  not  the  water  of 
the  canal  was  the  fulcrum  or  resistance  which  the  steam-engine 
on  the  tug-boat  operated  upon  in  thus  warping  its  way  along 
the  chain ;  and  thus  effectually,  without  slip  or  other  waste  of 
power,  dragging  along  the  train  of  barges  attached  to  the  stern 
of  the  steam-tug.  I  had  arranged  for  two  separate  chains,  so 
as  to  allow  trains  of  barges  to  be  conveyed  along  the  canal  in 
opposite  directions,  without  interfering  with  each  other. 


I  submitted  a  complete  set  of  drawings,  and  a  full  descrip- 
tion of  my  design  in  all  its  details,  to  the  directors  of  the  Canal 
Company ;  and  I  received  a  complimentary  acknowledgment  of 
them  in  writing.  But  such  was  the  prejudice  that  existed,  in 
consequence  of  the  injury  to  the  caual  banks  resulting  from  the 
use  of  paddle  wheels,  that  it  extended  to  the  use  of  steam 
power  in  any  form,  as  a  substitute  for  ordinary  horse  traction ; 
and  ul though  I  had  taken  every  care  to  point  out  the  essential 
dillcrence  of  my  system  (as  above  indicated)  by  which  all  Mich 
objections  were  obviated,  my  design  was  at  length  courteously 
declined,  and  the  old  system  of  horse  traction  continued. 

In  1845  I  had  the  pleasure  to  see  this  simple  mode  of 
moving  vessels  along  a  definite  course  in  most  successful  action 
;'t  the  I'crry  across  the  Hamoaze  at  Devonport,  in  which  my 
system  of  employing  the  power  of  a  steam-engine  on  board  the 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  389 


ferry  boat,  to  warp  its  way  along  a  submerged  chain  lying  along 
the  bottom  of  the  channel  from  side  to  side  of  the  ferry,  was 
most  ably  carried  out  by  my  late  excellent  friend,  James 
Rendell,  Esq.,  C.E.,  and  is  still,  I  believe,  in  daily  action, 
giving  every  satisfaction. 


1826.  An  Instrument  for  Measuring  the  Total  and  Compara- 
tive Expansion  of  all  Solid  Bodies. 

My  kind  friend  and  patron,  Professor  Leslie,  being  engaged 
in  some  investigations  in  which  it  was  essential  to  know  the 
exact  comparative  total  expansion  in  bulk  of  metals  and  other 
solid  bodies,  under  the  same  number  of  degrees  of  heat,  men- 
tioned the  subject  in  the  course  of  conversation.  The  instru- 
ment at  that  time  in  use  was  defective  in  principle  as  well  as 
in  construction,  and  the  results  of  its  application  were  untrust- 
worthy. As  the  Professor  had  done  me  the  honour  to  request 
me  to  assist  him  in  his  experiments,  I  had  the  happiness  to 
suggest  an  arrangement  of  apparatus  which  I  thought  might 
obviate  the  sources  of  error ;  and,  with  his  approval,  I  proceeded 
to  put  it  in  operation. 

My  contrivance  consisted  of  an  arrangement  by  means  of 
which  the  metal  bar  or  other  solid  substance,  whose  total  ex- 
pansion under  a  given  number  of  degrees  of  heat  had  to  be 
measured,  was  in  a  manner  itself  converted  into  a  thermometer. 
Absolutely  equal  bulks  of  each  solid  were  placed  inside  a  metal 
tube  or  vessel,  and  surrounded  with  an  exact  equal  quantity  of 
water  at  one  and  the  same  normal  temperature.  A  cap  or 
cover,  having  a  suitable  length  of  thermometer  tube  attached 
to  it,  was  then  screwed  down,  and  the  water  of  the  index  tube 
was  adjusted  to  the  zero  point  of  the  scale  attached  to  it,  the 
whole  being  at  say  50°  of  heat,  as  the  normal  temperature  in 
each  case.  The  apparatus  was  then  heated  up  to  say  200°  by 
immersion  in  water  at  that  temperature.  The  expansion  of  the 
enclosed  bar  of  metal  or  other  solid  substance  under  experiment 
caused  the  water  to  rise  above  the  zero,  and  it  was  accordingly 
so  indicated  on  the  scale  attached  to  the  cap  tube.  In  this  way 
we  had  a  thermometer  whose  bulb  was  for  the  time  being  filled 
with  the  solid  under  investigation, — the  water  surrounding  it 
simply  acting  as  the  means  by  which  the  expansion  of  each 


390  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHRON.  LIST 


solid  under  trial  was  rendered  visible,  and  its  amount  capable 
of  being  ascertained  and  recorded  with  the  utmost  exactness,  as 
the  expansion  of  the  water  was  in  every  case  the  same,  and 
also  that  of  the  instrument  itself  which  was  "  a  constant 
quantity." 

In  this  way  we  obtained  the  correct  relative  amount  of  ex- 
pansion in  bulk  of  all  the  solid  substances  experimented  upon. 
That  each  bar  of  metal  or  other  solid  substance  was  of  abso- 
lutely equal  bulk,  was  readily  ascertained  by  finding  that  each, 
when  weigJied  in  water,  lost  the  exact  same  weight.  The  figure 
of  this  simple  instrument  will  be  found  in  the  text  (p.  116). 
My  friend,  Sir  David  Brewster,  was  so  much  pleased  with  the 
instrument  that  he  published  a  drawing  and  description  of  it 
in  the  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Journal,  of  which  he  was  then 
editor. 


1827.  A  Method  of  increasing  the  Effectiveness  of  Steam  by 
super-Jieating  it  on  its  Passage  from  the  Boiler  to 
the  Engine. 

One  of  the  earliest  mechanical  contrivances  which  I  made 
was  for  preventing  water,  in  a  liquid  form,  from  passing  along 
with  the  steam  from  the  boiler  to  the  cylinder  of  the  steam- 
engine.  The  first  steam-engine  I  made  was  employed  in  grind- 
ing oil  colours  for  my  father's  use  in  his  paintings.  When  I 
set  this  engine  to  work  for  the  first  time  I  was  annoyed  by 
slight  jerks  which  now  and  then  disturbed  the  otherwise  smooth 
and  regular  action  of  the  machine.  After  careful  examination 
I  found  that  these  jerks  were  caused  by  the  small  quantities  of 
water  that  were  occasionally  carried  along  with  the  current  of 
the  steam,  and  deposited  in  the  cylinder,  where  it  accumulated 
above  and  below  the  piston,  and  thus  produced  the  jerks. 

In  order  to  remove  the  cause  of  these  irregularities,  I  placed 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  length  of  the  pipe  which  conveyed 
the  steam  from  the  boiler  to  the  engine  within  the  highly  heated 
side  flue  of  the  boiler,  so  that  any  portion  of  water  in  the  liquid 
form  which  might  chance  to  pass  along  with  the  steam,  ini.uht, 
ere  it  reached  the  cylinder,  traverse  this  highly-heated  steam 
]>ipo,  and,  in  doing  so,  be  converted  into  perfectly  dry  steam, 
and  in  that  condition  enter  the  cylinder.  On  carrying  this 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  391 

simple  arrangement  into  practice,  I  found  the  result  to  be  in 
every  way  satisfactory.  The  active  little  steam-engine  thence- 
forward performed  its  work  in  the  most  smooth  and  regular 
manner. 

So  far  as  I  am  aware,  this  early  effort  of  mine  at  mechanical 
contrivance  was  the  first  introduction  of  what  has  since  been 
termed  "  super -heated  steam  " — a  system  now  extensively 
employed,  and  yielding  important  results,  especially  in  the  case 
of  marine  steam-engines.  Without  such  means  of  supplying 
dry  steam  to  the  engines,  the  latter  are  specially  liable  to 
"  break-downs,"  resulting  from  water,  in  the  liquid  form,  passing 
into  the  cylinders  along  with  the  steam. 

1828.  A  Met/tod  of  "chucking"  delicate  Metal-work,  in  order 
that  it  may  be  turned  ivith  perfect  truth. 

In  fixing  portions  of  work  in  the  turning-lathe,  one  of  the 
most  important  points  to  attend  to  is,  that  while  they  are  held 
with  sufficient  firmness  in  order  to  be  turned  to  the  required 
form,  they  should  be  free  from  any  strain  which  might  in  any 
way  distort  them.  In  strong  and  ponderous  objects  this  can 
be  easily  accomplished  by  due  care  on  the  part  of  an  intelligent 
workman.  It  is  in  operating  by  the  lathe  on  delicate  and 
flexible  objects  that  the  utmost  care  is  requisite  in  the  process 
of  chucking,  as  they  are  easily  strained  out  of  shape  by  fasten- 
ing them  by  screws  and  bolts,  or  suchlike  ordinary  means. 
This  is  especially  the  case  with  disc-like  objects.  As  I  had  on 
several  occasions  to  operate  in  the  lathe  with  this  class  of  work 
I  contrived  a  method  of  chucking  or  holding  them  firm  while 
receiving  the  required  turning  process,  which  has  in  all  cases 
proved  most  handy  and  satisfactory. 

This  method  consisted  of  tinning  three,  or,  if  need  be,  more 
parts  of  the  work,  and  laying  them  down  on  a  tinned  face-plate 
or  chuck,  which  had  been  heated  so  as  just  to  cause  the  solder 
to  flow.  As  soon  as  the  solder  is  cooled  and  set,  the  chuck  with 
its  attached  work  may  then  be  put  in  the  lathe,  and  the  work 
proceeded  with  until  it  is  completed.  By  again  heating  the 
chuck,  by  laying  upon  it  a  piece  of  red-hot  iron,  the  work,  how- 
ever delicate,  can  be  simply  lifted  off,  and  will  be  found  perfectly 
free  from  all  distortion. 


392  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.    CHRON.  LIST. 

I  have  been  the  more  particular  in  naming  the  use  of  three 
points  of  attachment  to  the  chuck  or  face-plate,  as  that  number 
is  naturally  free  from  any  risk  of  distortion.  I  have  on  so 
many  occasions  found  the  great  value  of  this  simple  yet  most 
secure  mode  of  fixing  delicate  work  in  the  lathe,  that  I  feel  sure 
that  any  one  able  to  appreciate  its  practical  value  will  be  highly 
pleased  with  the  results  of  its  employment. 

The  same  means  can,  in  many  cases,  be  employed  in  fixing 
delicate  work  in  the  planing-machine.  All  that  is  requisite  is 
to  have  a  clean-planed  wrought-iron  or  brass  fixing-plate,  to 
which  the  work  in  hand  can  be  attached  at  a  few  suitable  parts 
with  soft  solder,  as  in  the  case  of  the  turning  lathe  above  described. 

1828.  A  Method  of  casting  Specula  for  Reflecting  Telescopes, 
so  as  to  ensure  perfect  Freeness  from  Defects,  at 
the  same  time  enhancing  the  Brilliancy  of  the 
Alloy. 

My  father  possessed  a  very  excellent  achromatic  spy-glass 
of  2  inches  diameter.  The  object-glass  was  made  by  the  cele- 
brated Kamsden.  When  I  was  about  fifteen  I  used  it  to  gaze  at 
the  moon,  planets,  and  sun-spots.  Although  this  instrument 
revealed  to  me  the  general  characteristic  details  of  these  grand 
objects,  my  father  gave  me  a  wonderful  account  of  what  he 
had  seen  of  the  moon's  surface  by  means  of  a  powerful  reflect- 
ing telescope  of  12  inches  diameter,  made  by  Short  —  that 
justly  celebrated  pioneer  of  telescope-making.  It  had  been 
erected  in  a  temporary  observatory  on  the  Calton  Hill,  Edin- 
burgh. These  descriptions  of  my  father's  so  fired  me  with  the 
desire  to  obtain  a  sight  of  the  glorious  objects  in  the  heavens 
through  a  more  powerful  instrument  than  the  spy-glass,  that 
I  determined  to  try  and  make  a  reflecting  telescope  which  I 
hoped  might  in  some  degree  satisfy  my  ardent  desires. 

I  accordingly  searched  for  the  requisite  practical  instruction 
in  the  pages  of  the  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  and  in  other 
books  that  professed  to  give  the  necessary  technical  informa- 
tion on  the  subject.  I  found,  however,  that  the  information 
given  in  books — at  least  in  tho  books  to  which  I  had  access — 
was  meagre  and  unsatisfactory.  Nevertheless  I  set  to  work 
with  nil  earnestness,  and  began  by  compounding  the  requisite 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  893 

alloy  for  casting  a  speculum  of  8  inches  diameter.  This  alloy 
consisted  of  32  parts  of  copper,  15  parts  of  grain  tin,  and  1 
part  of  white  arsenic.  These  ingredients,  when  melted  to- 
gether, yielded  a  compound  metal  which  possessed  a  high 
degree  of  brilliancy.  Having  made  a  wooden  pattern  for  my 
intended  8-inch  diameter  speculum,  and  moulded  it  in  sand,  I 
cast  this  my  first  reflecting  telescope  speculum  according  to  the 
best  book  instructions.  I  allowed  my  casting  to  cool  in  the 
mould  in  the  slowest  possible  manner ;  for  such  is  the  excessive 
brittleness  of  this  alloy  (though  composed  of  two  of  the  toughest 
of  metals)  that  in  any  sudden  change  of  temperature,  or  want 
of  due  delicacy  in  handling  it,  it  is  very  apt  to  give  way,  and 
a  fracture  more  or  less  serious  is  sure  to  result.  Even  glass, 
brittle  though  it  be,  is  strong  in  comparison  with  speculum 
metal  of  the  above  proportions,  though,  as  I  have  said,  it  yields 
the  most  brilliant  composition. 

Notwithstanding  the  observance  of  all  due  care  in  respect 
of  the  annealing  of  the  casting  by  slow  cooling,  and  the  utmost 
care  and  delicate  handling  of  it  in  the  process  of  grinding  the 
surface  into  the  requisite  curve  and  smoothness  suitable  to 
receive  the  final  polish, — I  was  on  more  than  one  occasion  in- 
expressibly mortified  by  the  sudden  disruption  and  breaking  up 
of  my  speculum.  Thus  many  hours  of  anxious  care  and  labour 
proved  of  no  avail.  I  had  to  begin  again  and  proceed  da  capo. 
I  observed,  however,  that  the  surplus  alloy  that  was  left  in  the 
crucible,  after  I  had  cast  my  speculum,  when  again  melted  and 
poured  out  into  a  metal  ingot  mould,  yielded  a  cake  that, 
brittle  though  it  might  be,  was  yet  strong  in  comparison  with 
that  of  the  speculum  cast  in  the  sand  mould ;  and  that  it  was 
also,  judging  from  the  fragments  chipped  from  it,  possessed  of 
even  a  higher  degree  of  brilliancy. 

The  happy  thought  occurred  to  me  of  substituting  an  open 
metal  mould  for  the  closed  sand  one.  I  soon  had  the  metal 
mould  ready  for  casting.  It  consisted  of  a  base  plate  of  cast- 
iron,  on  the  surface  of  which  I  placed  a  ring  or  hoop  of  iron 
turned  to  fully  the  diameter  of  the  intended  speculum,  so  as 
to  anticipate  the  contraction  of  the  alloy.  The  result  of  the 
very  first  trial  of  this  simple  metal  mould  was  most  satisfac- 
tory. It  yielded  me  a  very  perfect  casting :  and  it  passed 
successively  through  the  ordeal  of  the  first  rough  grinding,  and 
eventually  through  the  processes  of  polishing,  until  in  the  end 


394 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHRON.  LIST. 


it  exhibited  a  brilliancy  that  far  exceeded  that  of  the  sand 
mould  castings. 

The  only  remaining  difficulty  that  I  had  to  surmount  was 
the  risk  of  defects  iii  the  surface  of  the  speculum.  These 
sometimes  result  from  the  first  splash  of  the  melted  metal  as 
it  is  poured  into  the  ring  mould.  The  globules  sometimes  got 
oxidised  before  they  became  incorporated  with  the  main  body 
of  the  inflowing  molten  alloy :  and  dingy  spots  in  the  other- 
wise brilliant  alloy  were  thus  produced.  I  soon  mastered  this, 
the  only  remaining  source  of  defect,  by  a  very  simple  arrange- 
ment. In  place  of  pouring  the  melted  alloy  direct  into  the 

A.  Chill  plate  of  cast  iron  turned  to  the 
curve  of  the  speculum.  B.  Turned  hoop 
of  wrought  iron  with  opening  at  O.  C. 
Pouring  pocket.  D.  Counterpoise,  "by 
which  the  chill  plate  is  tilted  up.  The 
largest  figure  in  the  engraving  is  the  an- 
nealing tub  of  cast  iron  filled  with  saw- 
dust, where  the  speculum  is  placed  to  cool 
as  slowly  as  possible. 


ring  mould,  I  attached  to  the  side  of  it  what  I  termed  a 
"  pouring  pocket ;"  which  communicated  with  an  opening  at 
the  lower  edge  of  the  ring,  and  by  a  self-acting  arrangement 
by  which  the  mould  plate  was  slightly  tilted  up,  the  influx  of 
the  molten  alloy  advanced  in  one  unbroken  tide.  As  soon  as 
the  entire  surface  of  the  mould  plate  was  covered  by  the  alloy, 
its  weight  overcame  that  of  my  up-tilting  counterpoise,  and 
allowed  the  entire  apparatus  to  resume  its  exact  level.  The 
resulting  speculum  was,  by  these  simple  arrangements,  abso- 
lutely perfect  in  soundness.  It  was  a  perfect  casting,  in  all 
respects  worthy  of  the  care  and  labour  which  I  invested  in 
its  future  grinding  and  polishing,  and  enabled  it  to  perform  its 


CHROX.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  395 


glorious  duties  as  the  grand  essential  part  of  a  noble  reflecting 
telescope ! 

The  rationale  of  the  strength  of  specula  cast  in  this  metal- 
mould  system,  as  compared  with  the  treacherous  brittleness  of 
those  cast  in  sand  moulds,  arises  simply  from  the  consolidation 
of  the  molten  metal  pool  taking  place  first  at  the  lower  surface, 
next  the  metal  base  of  the  mould — the  yet  fluid  alloy  above 
satisfying  the  contractile  requirements  of  that  immediately 
beneath  it ;  and  so  on  in  succession,  until  the  last  to  consoli- 
date is  the  top  or  upper  stratum.  Thus  all  risk  of  contractile 
tension,  which  is  so  dangerously  eminent  and  inherent  in  the 
case  of  sand-mould  castings,  made  of  so  exceedingly  brittle  an 
alloy  as  that  of  speculum  metal,  is  entirely  avoided.  By  the 
employment  of  these  simple  and  effective  improvements  in  the 
art  of  casting  the  specula  for  reflecting  telescopes,  and  also  by 
the  contrivance  and  employment  of  mechanical  means  for 
grinding  and  polishing  them,  I  at  length  completed  my  first 
8-inch  diameter  speculum,  and  mounted  it  according  to  the 
Newtonian  plan.  I  was  most  amply  rewarded  for  all  the 
anxious  labour  I  had  gone  through  in  preparing  it,  by  the 
glorious  views  it  yielded  me  of  the  wonderful  objects  in  the 
heavens  at  night.  My  enjoyment  was  in  no  small  degree 
enhanced  by  the  pleasure  it  gave  to  my  father,  and  to  many 
intimate  friends.  Amongst  these  was  Sir  David  Brewster, 
who  took  a  most  lively  and  special  interest  in  all  my  labours 
on  this  subject. 

In  later  years  I  resumed  my  telescope-making  enjoyments, 
as  a  delightful  and  congenial  relaxation  from  the  ordinary  run 
of  my  business  occupations.  I  constructed  several  reflecting 
telescopes,  of  sizes  from  10-inch  to  20-inch  diameter  specula. 
I  had  also  the  pleasure  of  assisting  other  astronomical  friends, 
by  casting  and  grinding  specula  for  them.  Among  these  I  may 
mention  my  late  dear  friend  William  Lassell,  and  my  excellent 
friend  Warren  de  la  Rue,  both  of  whom  have  indelibly  re- 
corded their  names  in  the  annals  of  astronomical  science.  I 
know  of  no  subject  connected  with  the  pursuit  of  science  which 
so  abounds  with  exciting  and  delightful  interest  as  that  of 
constructing  reflecting  telescopes.  It  brings  into  play  every 
principle  of  constructive  art,  with  the  inexpressibly  glorious 
reward  of  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  sublime 
wonders  of  the  heavens. 


396  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHTION.  LIST. 

I  communicated  in  full  detail  all  my  improvements  in  the 
art  of  casting,  grinding,  and  polishing  the  specula  of  reflecting- 
telescopes,  to  the  Literary  and  Philosophical  Society  of  Man- 
chester, illustrating  my  paper  with  many  drawings.  But  as 
my  paper  was  of  considerable  length,  and  as  the  illustrations 
would  prove  costly  to  engrave,  it  was  not  published  in  the 
Society's  Transactions.  They  are  still,  however,  kept  in  the 
library  for  reference  by  those  who  take  a  special  interest  in  the 
subject. 


1829.  A  Mode  of  transmitting  Rotary  Motion  l>y  means  of  a 
Flexible  Shaft,  formed  of  a  Coiled  Spiral  Wire 
or  Rod  of  Steel 

While  assisting  Mr.  Maudslay  in  the  execution  of  a  special 
piece  of  machinery,  in  which  it  became  necessary  to  have  some 
holes  drilled  in  rather  inaccessible  portions  of  the  work  in 
hand,  and  where  the  employment  of  the  ordinary  drill  was 
impossible,  it  occurred  to  me  that  a  flexible 
shaft,  formed  of  a  closely  coiled  spiral  of 
steel  wire,  might  enable  us  to  transmit  the 
requisite  rotary  motion  to  a  drill  attached 
to  the  end  of  this  spiral  shaft.  Mr.  Mauds- 
lay  was  much  pleased  with  the  notion,  and 
I  speedily  put  it  in  action  by  a  close  coiled 
spiral  wire  of  about  two  feet  in  length. 
This  was  found  to  transmit  the  requisite  rotary  motion  to  the 
drill  at  the  end  of  the  spiral  with  perfect  and  faithful  efficiency. 
The  difficulty  was  got  over,  to  Mr.  Maudslay's  great  satisfaction. 
So  far  as  I  am  aware,  such  a  mode  of  transmitting  rotary 
motion  was  new  and  original.  The  device  was  useful,  and 
proved  of  essential  service  in  other  important  applications.  By 
a  suitably  close  coiled  spiral  steel  wire  I  have  conveyed  rotary 
motion  quite  round  an  obstacle,  such  as  is  indicated  in  the 
annexed  figure.  It  has  acted  with  perfect  faithfulness  from  the 
winch  handle  at  A  to  the  drill  at  B.  Any  ingenious  mechanic 
will  be  able  to  appreciate  the  value  of  such  a  flexible  shaft  in 
many  applications. 

Four  years  ago  I  saw  the  same  arrangement  in  action  at  a 
dentist's  operating-room,  when  a  drill  was  worked  in  the  mouth 


CHROX.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  397 

of  a  patient  to  enable  a  decayed  tooth  to  be  stopped.  It  was 
said  to  be  the  last  thing  out  in  "  Yankee  notions."  It  was 
merely  a  replica  of  my  flexible  drill  of  1829. 

1829.  A  Mode  of  cutting  Square  or  Hexagonal  Collared  Nuts 
or  Bolt -Heads  by  means  of  a  Revolving  File  or 
Cutter. 

This  method  is  referred  to,  and  drawings  given,  in  the  text, 
pp.  141,  142. 

1829.  An  Investigation  into  the  Origin  and  Mode  of  writing 
the  Cuneiform  Character. 

This  will  be  found  described  in  the  next  and  final  chapter. 

1836.  A  Machine  for  cutting  the  Key-Grooves  in  Metal  Wheels 
and  Belt  Pulleys,  of  ANY  Diameter. 

The  fastening  of  wheels  and  belt  pulleys  to  shafts,  so  as  to 
enable  them  to  transmit  rotary  motion,  is  one  of  the  most  fre- 
quently-recurring processes  in  the  construction  of  machinery. 
This  is  best  effected  by  driving  a  slightly  tapered  iron  or  steel 
wedge,  or  "  key  "  as  it  is  technically  termed,  into  a  correspond- 
ing recess,  or  flat  part  of  the  shaft,  so  that  the  wheel  and  shaft 
thus  become  in  effect  one  solid  structure. 

The  old  mode  of  cutting  such  key-grooves  in  the  eyes  of 
wheels  was  accomplished  by  the  laborious  and  costly  process  of 
chipping  and  filing.  Maudslay's  mortising  machine,  which  he 
contrived  for  the  Block  machinery,  although  intended  originally 
to  operate  upon  wood,  contained  all  the  essential  principles  and 
details  required  for  acting  on  metals.  Mr.  Richard  Roberts,  by 
some  excellent  modifications,  enabled  it  to  mortise  or  cut  out 
the  key-grooves  in  metal  wheels,  and  this  method  soon  came 
into  general  use.  This  machine  consisted  of  a  vertical  slide 
bar,  to  the  lower  end  of  which  was  attached  the  steel  mortising 
tool,  which  received  its  requisite  up  and  down  motion  from  an 
adjustable  crank,  through  a  suitable  arrangement  of  the  gearing. 
The  wheel  to  be  operated  upon  was  fixed  to  a  slide-table,  and 
gradually  advanced,  so  as  to  cause  the  mortising  tool  to  take 


398 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CIIRON.  LIST. 


successive  cuts  through  the  depth  of  the  eye  of  the  wheel,  until 
the  mortise  or  key-groove  had  attained  its  required  depth. 

The  only  drawback  to  this  admirable  machine  was  that  its 
service  was  limited  in  respect  to  admitting  wheels  whose  half 
diameter  did  not  exceed  the  distance  from  the  back  of  the  jaw 
of  the  machine  to  the  face  of  the  mortise  tool ;  so  that  to  give 
to  this  machine  the  requisite  rigidity  and  strength  to  resist  the 
strain  on  the  jaw,  due  to  the  mortising  of  the  key-grooves,  in 
wheels  of  say  6  feet  diameter,  a  more  mass- 
ive and  cumbrous  frame  work  was  required, 
which  was  most  costly  in  space  as  well  as 
in  money. 

In  order  to  obviate  this  inconvenience,  I 
designed  an  arrangement  of  a  key-groove 
mortising  machine.  It  was  capable  of  oper- 


n 


ating  upon  wheels  of  any  diameter,  having  no  limit  to  its 
capacity  in  that  respect,  'it  was,  at  the  same  time,  possessed, 
in  respect  of  the  principle  on  which  it  was  arranged,  of  the 
power  of  taking  a  much  deeper  cut,  there  being  an  entire  ab- 
sence of  any  source  of  springing  or  elasticity  in  its  structure. 
This  not  only  enabled  the  machine  to  perform  its  work  with 
more  rapidity,  but  also  with  more  precision.  Besides,  it  occu- 
pied much  less  space  in  the  workshop,  and  did  not  cost  above 
one-third  of  the  machines  formerly  in  use.  It  gave  the  highest 
satisfaction  to  those  who  availed  themselves  of  its  effective 
services. 

A  comparison  of  Fig.  1 — which  represents  the  general  :ir- 
raugcnieut  of  the  machine  in  use  previous  to  the  introduction  of 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


399 


mine — with  that  of  Fig.  2,  may  serve  to  convey  some  idea  of 
their  relative  sizes.  Fig.  1  shows  a  limit  to  the  admission  of 
wheels  exceeding  6  feet  diameter,  Fig.  2  shows  an  unlimited 
capability  in  that  respect. 

1836.  An  Instrument  for  finding  and  marking  the  Centres  of 
Cylindrical  Rods  or  Bolts  about  to  be  turned  on  the 
Lathe. 

One  of  the  most  numerous  details  in  the  structure  of  all 
classes  of  machines  is  the  bolts  which  serve  to  hold  the  various 
parts  together.  As  it  is  most  important  that  each  bolt  fits  per- 


fectly the  hole  it  belongs  to,  it  is  requisite  that  each  bolt  should, 
by  the  process  of  turning,  be  made  perfectly  cylindrical.  In 
preparing  such  bolts,  as  they  come  from  the  forge,  in  order  to 
undergo  the  process  of  turning,  they  have  to  be  "centred;" 
that  is,  each  end  has  to  receive  a  hollow  conical  indent,  which 
must  agree  with  the  axis  of  the  bolt.  To  find  this  in  the  usual 
mode,  by  trial  and  frequent  error,  is  a  most  tedious  process,  and 
consumes  much  valuable  time  of  the  workman  as  well  as  his 
lathe. 

In  order  to  obviate  the  necessity  for  this  costly  process,  I 
devised  the  simple  instrument,  a  drawing  of  which  is  annexed. 
The  use  of  this  enabled  any  boy  to  find  and  mark  with  absolute 
exactness  and  rapidity  the  centres  of  each  end  of  bolts,  or  such- 
like objects.  All  that  was  required  was  to  place  the  body  of 
the  bolt  in  the  V-shaped  supports,  and  to  gently  cause  it  to  re- 


400  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHRON.  LIST. 

volve,  pressing  it  longitudinally  against  the  steel-pointed  marker, 
which  scratched  a  neat  small  circle  in  the  true  centre  or  axis  of 
the  bolt.  This  small  circle  had  its  centre  easily  marked  by  the 
indent  of  a  punch,  and  the  work  was  thus  ready  for  the  lathe. 
This  humble  but  really  important  process  was  accomplished 
with  ease,  rapidity,  and  great  economy. 

1836.  Improvement  in  Steam-Engine  Pistons,  and  in  Water 
and  Air-Pump  Buckets,  so  as  to  lessen  Friction  and 
dispense  ivith  Packing. 

The  desire  to  make  the  pistons  of  steam-engines  and  air-pump 
buckets  of  condensing  engines  perfectly  steam  and  water  tight 
has  led  to  the  contrivance  of  many  complex  and  costly  construc- 
tions for  the  purpose  of  packing  them.  When  we  take  a  common- 
sense  view  of  the  subject,  we  find  that  in  most  cases  the  loss  of 
power  resulting  from  the  extra  friction  neutralises  the  expected 
saving.  This  is  especially  the  case  with  the  air-pump  bucket  of 
a  condensing  steam-engine,  as  it  is  in  reality  much  more  a  water 
than  an  air  pump.  But  when  it  is  constructed  with  a  deep 
well-fitted  bucket,  entirely  without  packing,  the  loss  sustained 
by  such  an  insignificant  amount  of  leakage  as  may  occur  from 
the  want  of  packing  is  more  than  compensated  by  the  saving  of 
power  resulting  from  the  total  absence  of  friction. 

The  first  condensing  steam-engine  to  which  I  applied  an  air- 
pump  bucket,  entirely  without  packing,  was  the  forty  horse- 
power engine,  which  I  constructed  for  the  Bridgewater  Foundry. 
It  answered  its  purpose  so  well  that,  after  twenty  years'  con* 
stant  working,  the  air-pump  cover  was  taken  off,  out  of 
curiosity,  to  examine  the  bucket,  when  it  was  found  in  perfect 
order.  This  system,  in  which  I  dispensed  with  the  packing  for 
air-pump  buckets  of  condensing  steam-engines,  I  have  also 
applied  to  the  pistons  of  the  steam  cylinders,  especially  those  of 
high-pressure  engines  of  the  smaller  vertical  construction,  the 
stroke  of  which  is  generally  short  and  rapid.  Provided  the 
cylinder  is  bored  true,  and  the  piston  is  carefully  fitted,  and  of 
a  considerable  depth  in  proportion  to  its  diameter,  such  pistons 
will  be  found  to  perform  perfectly  all  their  functions,  and  with 
a  total  absence  of  friction  as  a  direct  result  of  the  absence  of 
packing.  By  the  aid  of  our  improved  machine  tools,  cylinders 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  401 

can  now  be  bored  with  such  perfect  accuracy,  and  the  pistons 
be  fitted  to  them  with  such  absolute  exactness,  that  the  small 
quantity  of  water  which  the  steam  always  deposits  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  piston,  not  only  serves  as  a  frictionless  packing,  but 
also  serves  as  a  lubricant  of  the  most  appropriate  kind.  I  have 
applied  the  same  kind  of  piston  to  ordinary  water-pumps,  with 
similar  excellent  results.  In  most  cases  of  right  packed  pistons 
we  spend  a  shilling  to  save  sixpence — a  not  unfrequent  result 
of  "so-called"  refined  improvements. 

1836.  An  instantaneous  Mode  of  producing  graceful  Curves, 
suitable  for  designing  Vases  and  other  graceful 
objects  in  Pottery  and  Glass. 

The  mode  referred  to  consists  in  giving  a  rapid  "  switch  " 
motion  to  a  pencil  upon  a  piece  of  paper,  or  a  cardboard,  or  a 
smooth  metal  plate;  and  then  cutting  out  the  curve  so  pro- 
duced, and  employing  it  as  a  pattern  or  "  template,"  to  enable 
copies  to  be  traced  from  it.  When  placed  at  equal  distances, 
and  at  equal  angles  on  each  side  of  a  central  line,  so  as  to  secure 
perfect  symmetry  of  form  according  to  the  nature  of  the  required 
design,  the  beauty  of  these  "  instantaneous  "  curves,  as  I  term 
them,  arises  from  the  entire  absence  of  any  sudden  variation  in 
their  course.  This  is  due  to  the  momentum  of  the  hand  when 
"  switching  "  the  pencil  at  a  high  velocity  over  the  paper.  By 
such  simple  means  was  the  beautiful  curve  produced,  which  is 
given  on  the  following  page.  It  was  produced  "  in  a  twink- 
ling," if  I  may  use  the  term  to  express  the  rapidity  with  which 
it  was  "switched."  The  chief  source  of  the  gracefulness  of 
these  curves  consists  in  the  almost  imperceptible  manner  in 
which  they  pass  in  their  course  from  one  degree  of  curvature 
into  another.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  showing  this  simple 
mode  of  producing  graceful  curves  to  several  potters,  who  have 
turned  the  idea  to  good  account.  The  illustrative  figures  on 
the  next  page  have  all  been  drawn  from  "templates"  whose 
curves  were  "switched  "  in  the  manner  of  Fig.  A. 

1836.  A  Machine  for  planing  the  smaller  or  detail  parts  of 

Machinery,  whether  Flat  or  Cylindrical. 
Although  the  introduction  of  the  planing  machine  into  the 
workshops  of  mechanical  engineers  yielded  results  of  the  highest 

2D 


402  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHKOX.  LIST. 


j 


CHROX.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


403 


importance  in  perfecting  and  economising  the  production  of 
machinery  generally,  yet,  as  the  employment  of  these  valuable 
machine  tools  was  chiefly  intended  to  assist  in  the  execution  of 
the  larger  parts  of  machine  manufacture,  a  very  considerable 
proportion  of  the  detail  parts  still  continued  to  be  executed  by 
hand  labour,  in  which  the  chisel  and  the  file  were  the  chief 
instruments  employed.  The  results  were  consequently  very  un- 
satisfactory, both  as  regards  inaccuracy  and  costliness. 


With  the  desire  of  rendering  the  valuable  services  of  the 
Planing  Machine  applicable  to  the  smallest  detail  parts  of  machine 
manufacture,  I  designed  a  simple  and  compact  modification  of 
it,  such  as  should  enable  any  attentive  lad  to  execute  all  the 
detail  parts  of  the  machines  in  so  unerring  and  perfect  a  manner 
as  not  only  to  rival  the  hand  work  of  the  most  skilful  mechanic, 
but  also  at  such  a  reduced  cost  as  to  place  the  most  active  hand 
workman  far  into  the  background.  The  contrivance  I  refer  to 
is  usually  known  as  "  Nasmyth's  Steam  Arm." 

None  but  those  who  have  had  ample  opportunities  of  watch- 


401 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHBON.  LIST. 


ing  the  process  of  executing  the  detail  parts  of  machines,  can 
form  a  correct  idea  of  the  great  amount  of  time  that  is  practi- 
cally wasted  and  unproductive,  even  when  highly-skilled  and 
careful  workmen  are  employed.  They  have  so  frequently  to  stop 
working,  in  order  to  examine  the  work  in  hand,  to  use  the 
straight  edge,  the  square,  or  the  calipers,  to  ascertain  whether 
they  are  "  working  correctly."  During  that  inter- 
val, the  work  is  making  no  progress  :  and  the  loss 
of  time  on  this  account  is  not  less  than  one-sixth 
of  the  working  hours,  and  sometimes  much  more  ; 
though  all  this  lost  time  is  fully  paid  for  in 
wages. 

But  by  the  employment  of  such  a  machine 
as  I  describe,  even  when  placed  under  the 
superintendence  of  well-selected  intelligent  lads, 
in  whom  the  faculty  of  good  sight  and  nicety  of 
handling  is  naturally  in  a  high  state  of  perfection, 
any  deficiency  in  their  physical  strength  is  amply 
compensated  by  these  self-acting  machines.  The 
factory  engine  supplies  the  labour  or  the  element 
of  Force,  while  the  machines  perform  their  work 
with  practical  perfection.  The  details  of  machinery 
tlr6  thus  turned  out  with  geometrical  accuracy, 


APPARATUS  FOR 


CUTE  SEGMENTED  an(i  are  jn  the  highest  sense  fitted  to  perform 
their  intended  purposes. 

1837.  Solar  Ray  Origin  of  the  form  of  the  Egyptian  Pyramid^ 
Obelisks,  etc. 

This  will  be  found  described  summarily  in  the  next  and  final 
chapter. 

1837.  Method  of  reversing  the  action  of  Slide  Lathes. 

In  the  employment  of  Slide  Turning  Lathes,  it  is  of  great 
advantage  to  be  able  to  reverse  the  motion  of  t/te  Slide  so  as  to 
enable  the  turning  tool  to  cut  towards  the  Head  of  the  Lathe 
or  away  from  it,  and  also  to  be  able  to  arrest  the  motion  of  the 
Slide  altogether,  while  all  the  other  functions  of  the  lathe  ;nv 
continued  in  action.  All  these  objects  are  attained  by  the 
simple  contrivance  represented  in  the  annexed  illustration.  It 
consists  of  a  lever  JO,  moving  on  a  stud-pin  S,  attached  to  the 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


405 


back  of  the  head  stock  of  the  lathe  T.  This  lever  carries  two 
wheels  of  equal  diameter  marked  B  and  0.  These  wheels  can 
pitch  into  a  corresponding  wheel  A,  fixed  on  the  back  end  of 
the  lay  spindle.  When  the  handle  of  the  lever  E  is  depressed 
(as  seen  in  the  drawing)  the  wheel  B  is  in  gear  with  wheel  A, 
while  C  is  in  gear 
with  the  slide- 
screw  wheel  D, 
and  so  moves  the 
slide  (say  from 
the  Head  Stock 
of  the  Lathe). 
On  the  other 
hand,  when  the 
lever  E  is  ele- 
vated in  position 
E",  wheel  B  is 
taken  out  of  gear 
with  A,  while  C 
is  put  in  gear 
with  A,  and  B  is 
put  in  gear  with 
D  ;  and  thus  the 
Slide  is  caused  to 
move  towards 
the  Head  Stock 
of  the  lathe. 
Again,  where  it  is 
desired  to  arrest  the  motion  of  the  Slide  altogether,  or  for  a 
time,  as  occasion  may  require,  the  lever  handle  is  put  into  the 
intermediate  position  E',  which  entirely  severs  the  communi- 
cation between  A  and  D,  and  so  arrests  the  motion  of  the 
slide.  This  simple  contrivance  effectually  served  all  its  purposes, 
and  was  adopted  by  many  machine  tool-makers  and  engineers. 

1838.  Self-adjusting  Bearings  for  the  Shafts  of  Machinery. 

A  frequent  cause  of  undue  friction  and  heating  of  rapidly- 
rotating  machinery  arises  from  some  inaccuracy  or  want  of  due 
parallelism  between  the  rotating  shaft  or  spindle  and  its  bear- 
ing. This  is  occasioned  in  most  cases  by  some  accidental  change 


406  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CIIRON.  LIST. 

in  the  level  of  the  supports  of  the  bearings.  Many  of  the 
bearings  are  situated  in  dark  places,  and  cannot  be  seen. 
There  are  others  that  are  difficult  of  access — as  in  the  case  of 
bearings  of  screw-propeller  shafts.  Serious  mischief  may  result 
before  the  heating  of  the  bearing  proclaims  its  dangerous 
condition.  In  some  cases  the  timber  work  is  set  on  fire,  which 
may  result  in  serious  consequences. 

In  order  to  remove  the  cause  of  such  serious  mischief,  I 
designed  an  arrangement  of  bearing,  which  enabled  it,  and  the 
shaft  working  in  it,  to  mutually  accommodate  themselves  to 
each  other  under  all  circumstances,  and  thus  to  avoid  the 
danger  of  a  want  of  due  and  mutual  parallelism  in  their  res- 
pective axes.  This  arrangement  consisted  in  giving  to  the 
exterior  of  the  bearing  a  spJierical  form,  so  as,  within  moderate 
limits,  to  allow  it  to  accommodate  itself  to  any  such  changes  in 
regard  to  mutual  parallelism,  as  above  referred  to.  In  other 
cases,  I  employed  what  I  may  call  Rocking  centres,  on  which 
the  Pedestal  or  "  Plumber  Block  "  rested ;  and  thus  supplied  a 
self-adjusting  means  for  obviating  the  evils  resulting  from  any 
accidental  change  in  the  proper  relative  position  of  the  shaft 
and  its  bearing.  In  all  cases  in  which  I  introduced  this 
arrangement,  the  results  were  most  satisfactory. 

In  the  case  of  the  bearings  of  Blowing  Fans,  in  which  the 
rate  of  rotation  is  naturally  excessive,  a  spherical  resting-place  for 
the  bearings  enabled  them  to  keep  perfectly  cool  at  the  highest 
speed.  This  was  also  the  case  in  the  driving  apparatus  for 
machine  tools,  which  is  generally  fixed  at  a  considerable  height 
above  the  machine.  These  spherical  or  self-adjusting  bearings 
were  found  of  great  service.  The  apparatus,  being  generally 
out  of  convenient  reach,  is  apt  to  get  out  of  order  unless  duly 
attended  to.  But,  whether  or  not,  the  saving  of  friction  is  in 
itself  a  reason  for  the  adoption  of  such  bearings.  This  may 
appear  a  trifling  technical  matter  of  detail ;  but  its  great 
practical  value  must  be  my  excuse  for  mentioning  it. 

1838.  Invention  of  Safety  Foundry  Ladle. 
The  safety  foundry  ladle  is  described  in  the  text,  p.  202. 

1838.  Invention  of  the  Steam  Ram. 
My  invention  was  made  at  this  early  date,  long  before  the 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  407 

attack  by  the  steam-ram  Merrimac  upon  the  Cumberland,  and 
other  ships,  in  Hampton  Roads,  United  States.  I  brought  my 
plans  and  drawings  under  the  notice  of  the  Admiralty  in  1845  ; 
but  nothing  was  done  for  many  years.  Much  had  been  accom- 
plished in  rendering  our  ships  shot-proof  by  the  application  of 
iron  plates ;  but  it  appeared  to  me  that  not  one  of  them  could 
exist  above  water  after  receiving  on  its  side  a  single  blow  from 
an  iron-plated  steam-rani  of  2000  tons.  I  said,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Times,  "  As  the  grand  object  of  naval  warfare  is  the  des- 
truction by  the  most  speedy  mode  of  the  ships  of  the  enemy, 
why  should  we  continue  to  attempt  to  attain  this  object  by 
making  small  holes  in  the  hull  of  the  enemy  when,  by  one 
single  masterly  crashing  blow  from  a  steam  ram,  we  can  crush 
in  the  side  of  any  armour-plated  ship,  and  let  the  water  rush 
in  through  a  hole,  '  not  perhaps  as  wide  as  a  church  door  or  as 
deep  as  a  well,  but  'twill  serve ' ;  and  be  certain  to  send  her 
below  water  in  a  few  minutes."1 

I  published  my  description  of  the  steam  ram  and  its  apparatus 
in  the  Times  of  January  1853,  and  again  addressed  the  Editor 
on  the  subject  in  April  1862.  General  Sir  John  Burgoyne 
took  up  the  subject,  and  addressed  me  in  the  note  at  the  foot 
of  this  page.2  In  June  1870,  I  received  a  letter  from  Sir  E. 

1  In  these  days  of  armour-clad  warships,  when  plates  of  enormous 
thickness  are  relied  on  as  invulnerable,  our  Naval  Constructors  appear 
to  forget  that  the  actual  structural  strength  of  such  ships  depends  on 
the  lacking  of  the  plates,  which,  be  it  ever  so  thick,  would  yield  to 
the  cramming  blow  of  a  moderate -sized  Ram. 

2  The  following  is  the  letter  of  General  Sir  John  Burgoyne  : — 

WAR  OFFICE,  PALL  MALL, 

LONDON,  Sth  April  1862. 

"General  Sir  John  Burgoyne  presents  his  compliments  to  Mr. 
Nasmyth,  and  was  much  pleased  to  find,  by  Mr.  Nasmyth's  letter  in 
the  Times  of  this  day,  certain  impressions  that  he  has  held  for  some 
time  confirmed  by  so  good  an  authority. 

"  A  difficulty  seems  to  be  anticipated  by  many  that  a  steamer  used 
as  a  ram  with  high  velocity,  if  impelled  upon  a  heavy  ship,  would,  by 
the  revulsion  of  the  sudden  shock,  be  liable  to  have  much  of  her  gear 
thrown  entirely  out  of  order,  parts  displaced,  and  perhaps  the  boilers 
burst.  Some  judgment,  however,  may  be  formed  on  this  point  by  a 
knowledge  of  whether  such  circumstances  have  occurred  on  ships 
suddenly  grounding ;  and  even  so,  it  may  be  a  question  whether  so 
great  a  velocity  is  necessary. 

"An  accident  occurred  some  twenty  years  ago,  within  Sir  John 


408  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHRON.  LIST. 

J.  Reed,  containing  the  following  extracts  : — "  I  was  aware 
previously  that  plans  had  been  proposed  for  constructing 
unarmoured  steam  rams,  but  I  was  not  acquainted  with  the 
fact  that  you  had  put  forward  so  well-matured  a  scheme  at  so 
early  a  date ;  and  it  has  given  me  much  pleasure  to  find  that 
such  is  the  case.  It  has  been  a  cause  both  of  pleasure  and 
surprise  to  me  to  find  that  so  long  ago  you  incorporated  into  a 
design  almost  all  the  features  which  we  now  regard  as  essential 
to  ramming  efficiency — twin  screws  and  moderate  dimensions 
for  handiness,  numerous  water-tight  divisions  for  safety,  and 
special  strengthenings  at  the  bow.  Facts  such  as  these  deserve 
to  be  put  on  record.  .  .  .  Meanwhile  accept  my  congratulations 
on  the  great  skill  and  foresight  which  your  ram-design  displays." 
Collisions  at  sea  unhappily  afford  ample  evidence  of  the  fatal 
efficiency  of  the  ramming  principle.  Even  ironclad  ships  have 
not  been  able  to  withstand  the  destructive  effect.  The  Van- 
guard and  the  Kurfurst  now  lie  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  in 
consequence  of  an  accidental  "  end-on  "  ram  from  a  heavy  ship 
going  at  a  moderate  velocity.  High  speed  in  a  Steam  Ram  is 
only  desirable  when  the  attempt  is  made  to  overtake  an  enemy's 
ship;  but  not  necessary  for  doing  its  destructive  work.  A 
crash  on  the  thick  plates  of  the  strongest  Ironclad,  from  a 
Ram  of  2000  tons  at  the  speed  of  four  miles  an  hour,  would 
drive  them  inwards  with  the  most  fatal  results. 

1839.  Invention  of  the  Steam  Hammer,  in  its  general 
principles  and  details. 

Described  in  text,  p.  231. 

Burgoyne's  immediate  cognisance,  that  has  led  him  particularly  to 
consider  the  great  power  of  a  ship  acting  as  a  ram.  A  somewhat  heavy 
steamer  went,  by  accident  or  mismanagement,  end  on  to  a  very  sub- 
stantial wharf  wall  in  Kingstown  Harbour,  Dublin  Bay.  Though  the 
force  of  the  blow  was  greatly  checked  through  the  measures  taken  for 
that  purpose,  and  indeed  so  much  so  that  the  vessel  itself  suffered  no 
very  material  injury,  yet  several  of  the  massive  granite  stones  of  the 
facing  were  driven  some  inches  in,  showing  the  enormous  force  used 
upon  them. 

"  Superior  speed  will  be  very  essential  to  the  successful  action  of 
the  ram  ;  but  by  the  above  circumstance  we  may  assume  that  even  a 
moderate  speed  would  enable  great  effects  to  be  produced,  at  least  on 
any  comparatively  weak  point  of  even  ironclad  ships,  such  as  the 


CHROX.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


409 


1839.  Invention  of  the  Floating  Mortar  or  Torpedo  Ram. 
For  particulars  and  details,  see  Report  of  Torpedo  Committee. 

1839.  A    Double- faced   W 'edge-shaped  Sluice-Valve  for  Main 
Street  Water-pipes. 

The  late  Mr.  "Wicksteed,  engineer  of  the  East  London  Water 
Company,  having  stated  to  me  the  inconvenience  which  had 


been  experienced  from  the  defects  in  respect  of  water-tightness, 
as  well  as  the  difficulty  of  opening  and  closing  the  valves  of 
the  main  water-pipes  in  the  streets,  I  turned  my  attention  to 
the  subject.1  The  result  was  my  contrivance  of  a  double-faced 

1  At  a  meeting  of  the  Institution  of  Civil  Engineers,  May  23,  1883, 
when  various  papers  were  read  on  Waterworks,  Mr.  H.  J.  Marten 
observed  in  the  course  of  the  discussion  : — "  It  has  been  stated  in  Mr. 


410  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHRON.  LIST. 

wedge-shaped  sluice-valve,  which  combined  the  desirable  property 
of  perfect  water-tightness  with  ease  of  opening  and  closing  the 
valve. 

This  was  effected  by  a  screw  which  raised  the  valve  from  its 
bearings  at  the  first  partial  turn  of  the  screw,  after  which  there 
was  no  further  resistance  or  friction,  except  the  trifling  friction 
of  the  screw  in  its  nut  on  the  upper  part  of  the  sluice-valve. 
When  screwed  down  again,  it  closed  simultaneously  the  end  of 
the  entrance  pipe  and  that  of  the  exit  pipe  attached  to  the  valve 
case  in  the  mo|t  effective  manner. 

Mr.  Wicks  teed  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  simplicity  and 
efficiency  of  this  valve  that  he  had  it  applied  to  all  the  main 
pipes  of  his  Company.  When  its  advantages  became  known,  I 
received  many  orders  from  other  water  companies,  and  the 
valves  have  since  come  into  general  use.  The  prefixed  figure 
will  convey  a  clear  idea  of  the  construction.  The  wedge  form 
of  the  double-faced  valve  is  conspicuous  as  the  characteristic 
feature  of  the  arrangement. 

Gamble's  paper  (on  the  waterworks  of  Port  Elizabeth)  that  the  sluice 
valves  are  of  the  usual  pattern.  The  usual  patterns  of  the  present 
day  are  in  wonderful  advance  of  those  of  thirty  or  forty  years  since. 
The  great  improvement  originated  with  the  introduction  of  'the 
double-faced  sluice-cock. '  This  sluice-cock,  which  had  now  superseded 
every  other  description,  was  the  creation  of  Mr.  James  Nasmyth's 
inventive  genius.  Mr.  Marten  said  he  well  remembered  the  first 
reception  of  this  useful  invention,  as  he  happened  at  that  time  to  bo  a 
pupil  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wicksteed.  He  was  present  when  Mr.  Wicksteed 
explained  to  Mr.  Nasmyth  the  want  he  had  experienced  of  a  sluice- 
cock  for  Waterworks  purposes,  which  should  shut  and  remain  perfectly 
tight  against  a  pressure  coming  from  either  side.  Mr.  Marten  had  a 
lively  recollection  of  the  instantaneous  rapidity  with  which  Mr. 
Nasmyth  not  only  grasped  but  provided  for  the  requirement ;  so  that 
almost  by  the  time  Mr.  Wicksteed  had  completed  the  statement  of  his 
want,  Mr.  Nasmyth  had  drawn  upon  the  back  of  an  old  letter  a  rough 
sketch  of  the  first  double-faced  sluice-cock  ;  and  in  less  than  an  hour 
had  converted  this  rough  sketch  into  a  full-sized  working  drawing  ;  in 
the  preparation  of  which  it  fell  to  Mr.  Marten's  lot  to  have  the  honour 
to  assist.  In  his  'Autobiography '  Mr.  Nasmyth  referred  to  the  con- 
versation with  Mr.  Wicksteed,  and  introduced  a  print  of  the  drawing 
made  upon  the  occasion.  The  invention  has  been  of  the  greatest  use 
to  the  Waterworks  Engineer,  especially  in  connection  with  the  constant 
supply  system,  in  which  it  frequently  happened  that  the  pressure  was 
sometimes  against  one  face  of  the  sluice-cock,  and  sometimes  against 
the  other." — See  Proceedings  and  Discussions  of  the  Institution  of  Civil 
Engineers,  1883,  pp.  88,  89. 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


411 


1839.  A  Hydraulic  Mattress  Press,  capable  of  exerting  a  pres- 
sure of  Twenty  thousand  tons. 

Being  under  the  impression  that  there  are  many  processes  in 
the  manufacturing  arts,  in  which  a  perfectly  controllable  com- 
pressing power  of  vast  potency  might  be  serviceable,  I  many 
years  ago  prepared  a  design  of  an  apparatus  of  a  very  simple 
and  easily  executed  kind,  which  would  supply  such  a  desider- 


atum. It  was  possessed  of  a  range  of  compressing  or  squeezing 
power,  which  far  surpassed  anything  of  the  kind  that  had  been 
invented.  As  above  said,  it  was  perfectly  controllable ;  so  as 
either  to  yield  the  most  gentle  pressure,  or  to  possess  the  power 
of  compressing  to  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  tons ;  the  only 
limit  to  its  power  being  in  the  materials  employed  in  its 
construction. 

The  principle  of  this  enormously  powerful  compressing 
machine  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Hydraulic  Press ;  the  difference 
consisting  principally  in  the  substitution  of  what  I  term  a 
Hydraulic  Mattress  in  place  of  the  cylinder  and  ram  of  the 


412  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHIION.  LIST. 

ordinary  hydraulic  press.  The  Hydraulic  Mattress  consists  of  a 
square  or  circular  water-tight  vessel  or  flat  bag  formed  of  J-inch 
thick  iron  or  steel  plates  securely  riveted  together ;  its  dimen- 
sions being,  say  15  feet  square  by  3  feet  deep,  and  having 
semicircular  sides,  which  form  enables  the  upper  flat  part  of 
the  Mattress  to  rise  say  to  the  extent  of  6  inches,  without 
any  injury  to  the  riveted  joints,  as  such  a  rise  or  alteration  of 
the  normal  form  of  the  semicircular  sides  would  be  perfectly 
harmless,  and  not  exceed  their  capability  of  returning  to  their 
normal  curve  when  the  6-inch  rise  was  no  longer  necessary, 
and  the  elevating  pressure  removed. 

The  action  of  this  gigantic  press  is  as  follows.  The  Mattress 
A  A  having  been  filled  with  water,  an  additional  quantity  is 
supplied  by  a  force  pump,  capable  of  forcing  in  water  with  a 
pressure  of  one  ton  to  the  square  inch  ;  thus  acting  on  an  avail- 
able surface  of  at  least  144  square  feet  surface — namely,  that 
of  the  upper  flat  surface  of  the  Mattress.  It  will  be  forced  up 
by  no  less  a  pressure  than  twenty  thousand  tons,  and  transfer 
that  enormous  pressure  to  any  article  that  is  placed  between 
the  rising  table  of  the  press  and  the  upper  table.  When  any 
object  less  thick  than  the  normal  space  is  required  to  receive 
the  pressure,  the  spare  space  must  be  filled  with  a  suitable  set 
of  iron  flat  blocks,  so  as  to  subject  the  article  to  be  pressed  to 
the  requisite  power. 

As  before  stated,  there  may  be  many  processes  in  the  manu- 
facturing arts  in  which  such  an  enormous  pressure  may  be 
useful;  and  this  can  be  accomplished  with  perfect  ease  and 
certainty.  I  trust  that  this  account  of  the  principles  and  con- 
struction of  such  a  machine  may  suggest  some  employment 
worthy  of  its  powers.  In  the  general  use  of  the  Mattress  press, 
it  would  be  best  to  supply  the  pressure  water  from  an  accumu- 
lator, which  should  be  kept  constantly  full  by  the  action  of 
suitable  pumps  worked  by  a  small  steam-engine.  The  great 
press  would  require  the  high-pressure  water  only  now  and  then  ; 
so  that  it  would  not  be  necessary  to  wait  for  the  small  pump  to 
supply  the  pressure  water  when  the  Mattress  was  required  to 
be  in  action. 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  413 


1840.  A  Tapping  Square,  or  instrument  l>y  ivhich  Perfect 
Vertically  of  the  Tapping  of  Screwed  Holes  is  insured. 


The  letter  X  shows  how  Screws  are  frequently  made  when  tapped  in  the  old  mode  ; 
the  letter  T  as  they  are  always  made  when  the  Tapping  Square  is  employed. 

1840.  A  Mode  of  turning  Segmental  Work  in  the  Ordinary 
Lathe. 

In  executing  an  order  for  twenty  locomotive  engines  for  the 
Great  Western  Railway  Company,  there  was  necessarily  a  re- 
petition of  detail  parts.  Many  of  them  required  the  labour  of  the 
most  skilful  workmen,  as  the  parts  referred  to  did  not  admit  of 
their  being  executed  by  the  lathe  or  planing-machine  in  their 
ordinary  mode  of  application.  But  the  cost  of  their  execution 
by  hand  labour  was  so  great,  and  the  risk  of  inaccuracy  was  so 
common  (where  extreme  accuracy  was  essential),  that  I  had 
recourse  to  the  aid  of  special  mechanical  contrivances  and 
machine  tools  for  the  purpose  of  getting  over  the  difficulty. 
The  annexed  illustration  has  reference  to  only  one  class  of  ob- 
jects in  which  I  effected  great  saving  in  the  production,  as  well 
as  great  accuracy  in  the  work.  It  refers  to  a  contrivance  for 
producing  by  the  turning-lathe  the  eighty  bands  of  the  eccentrics 
for  these  twenty  engines.  Being  of  a  segmental  form,  but  with 
a  projection  at  each  extremity,  which  rendered  their  production 
and  finish  impossible  by  the  ordinary  lathe,  I  bethought  me  of 
applying  what  is  termed  the  mangle  motion  to  the  rim  of  a  face 
plate  of  the  lay,  with  so  many  pins  in  it  as  to  give  the  required 
course  of  segmental  motion  for  the  turning  tool  to  operate  upon, 


414 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CITRON.  LIST. 


between  the  projections  C  C  in  the  illustration.  I  availed  my- 
self of  the  limited  to-and-fro  horizontal  motion  of  the  shaft  of 
the  mangle  motion  wheel,  as  it,  at  each  end  of  the  row  of  pegs 
in  the  face  plate  (when  it  passes  from  the  exterior  to  the  in- 
terior range  of  them)  in  giving  the  feed  motion  to  the  tool  in 
the  slide  rest,  "  turned  "  the  segmental  exterior  of  the  eccentric 
hoops.  This  it  did  perfectly,  as  the  change  of  position  of  the 
small  shaft  occurred  at  the  exact  time  when  the  cut  was  at  its 
termination, — that  being  the  correct  moment  to  give  the  tool 


"  the  feed,  or  advance  for  the  taking  of  the  next  cut.  The 
saving,  in  respect  to  time,  was  10  to  1  in  comparison  with  the 
same  amount  of  work  done  by  hand  labour ;  while  the  "  truth  " 
or  correctness  of  the  work  done  by  this  handy  little  application 
of  the  turning-lathe  was  absolutely  perfect.  I  have  been  the 
more  particular  in  my  allusion  to  this  contrivance,  as  it  is 
applicable  to  any  lathe,  and  can  perform  work  which  no  lathe 
without  it  can  accomplish.  The  unceasing  industry  of  such 
machines  is  no  small  addition  to  their  attractions,  in  respect  to 
the  production  of  unquestionably  accurate  work. 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


415 


1843.  Invention  of  the  Steam  Hammer  Pile-driver. 
Described  in  text,  p.  261. 

1843.  A  Universal  Flexible  Joint  for  Steam  and  Water-pipes. 

The  chief  novelty  in  this  swivel  joint  is  the  manner  in  which  the 
packing  of  the  joints  is 
completely  enclosed, 
thereby  rendering 
them  perfectly  and 
permanently  water- 
tight. 

1844.  An  Im- 
provement in  Blow- 
ing Fans  and  their 
Bearings. 

The  principle  on 
which  Blowing  Fans 
act,  and  to  which 
they  owe  their  effi- 
ciency, consists  in 
their  communicating 
Centrifugal  action  to 
the  air  within  them. 

In  order  to  obtain  the  maximum  force  of  blast,  with  the  mini- 
mum expenditure  of  power,  it  is  requisite  so  to  form  the  outside 
rim  of  the  Fan-case  as  that  each  compartment  formed  by  the 
space  between  the  ends  of  the  blades  of  the  Fan  shall  in  its 
course  of  rotation  possess  an  equal  facility  of  exit  for  the  passage 
of  the  air  it  is  discharging.  Thus,  in  a  Fan  with  six  blades, 
the  space  between  the  top  of  the  blades  and  the  case  of  the  Fan 
should  increase  in  area  in  the  progressive  ratios  of  1-2-3-4-5-6. 
If  a  Fan  be  constructed  on  this  common-sense  principle,  we  shall 
secure  the  maximum  of  blast  from  the  minimum  of  driving 
power.  And  not  only  so ;  but  the  humming  sound — so  dis- 
agreeable an  accompaniment  to  the  action  of  the  Fans  (being 
caused  by  the  successive  sudden  escape  of  the  air  from  each  com- 
partment as  it  comes  opposite  the  space  where  it  can  discharge 


UNIVERSAL  FLEXII1LE 
JOINT. 


416 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHROX.  LIST. 


its  confined  block  of  air) — will  be  avoided.  When  the  outer 
case  of  a  Fan  is  formed  on  the  expanding  or  spiral  principle,  as 
above  described,  all  these  important  advantages  will  attend  its 
use.  As  the  inward  current  of  air  rushes  in  at  the  circular 
openings  on  each  side  of  the  Fan-case,  and  would  thus  oppose 
each  other  if  there  was  a  free  communication  between  them, 
this  is  effectually  obviated  by  forming  the  rotating  portion  of 
the  fan  by  a  disc  of  iron  plate,  which  prevents  the  opposite  in- 
rushing  currents  from  interfering  with  each  other,  and  at  the 
same  time  supplies  a  most  substantial  means  of  fastening  the 
blades,  as  they  are  conveniently  riveted  to  this  central  disc.  On 
the  whole,  this  arrangement  of  machinery  supplies  a  most 
effective  "  Noiseless  Blowing  Fan." 


1845.  A  direct  Action  "Suction"  Fan  for  the  Ventilation  of 
Coal-Mines. 

The  frequency  of  disastrous  colliery  explosions  induced  me 
to  give  my  attention  to  an  improved  method  for  ventilating 
coal  mines.  The  practice  then  was  to  employ  a  furnace,  placed 
at  the  bottom  of  the  upcast  shaft  of  the  coal-pit,  to  produce  the 
necessary  ventilation.  This  practice  was  highly  riskful.  It 
was  dangerous  as  well  as  ineffective.  It  was  also  liable  to 
total  destruction  when  an  explosion  occurred,  and  the  moans 
of  ventilation  were  thus  lost  when  it  was  most  urgently  re- 
quired. 

The  ventilation  of  mines  by  a  current  of  air  forced  by  a  Fan 
into  the  workings,  had  been  proposed  by  a  German  named 


CHBOX.  LIST.    INVENTIONS  AXD  CONTRIVANCES. 


417 


George  Agricola,  as  far  back  as  1621.  The  arrangement  is 
found  figured  in  his  work  entitled  De  Re  Metalica,  p.  162. 
But  in  all  cases  in  which  this  system  of  forcing  air  through  the 
workings  and  passages  of  a  mine  has  been  tried,  it  has  invari- 
ably been  found  unsuccessful  as  a  means  of  ventilation. 

As   all   rotative  Blowing  Fans  draw  in  the  air  at  their 
centres,  and  expel  it  at  their  circumference,  it  occurred  to  me 


that  if  we  were  to  make  a  communication  between  the  upcast 
shaft  of  the  mine  and  the  centre  or  suctional  part  of  the  Fan 
closing  the  top  of  the  upcast  shaft,  a  Fan  so  arranged  would 
draw  out  the  foul  air  from  the  mine,  and  allow  the  fresh  air  to 
descend  by  the  downcast  shaft,  and  so  traverse  the  workings. 
And  as  a  Suction  Fan  so  placed  would  be  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  quite  out  of  the  way  of  any  risk  of  injury — being 
open  to  view  and  inspection  at  all  times — we  should  thus 
have  an  effective  and  trustworthy  means  for.  thorough  ven- 
tilation. 

Having  communicated  the  design  for  my  Direct  Action 
Suction  Fan  for  coal-pit  ventilation  to  the  Earl  Fitzwilliam, 
through  his  agent  Mr.  Hartop,  in  1850,  his  lordship  was  so 
much  pleased  with  it  that  I  received  an  order  for  one  of  14  feet 
diameter,  for  the  purpose  of  ventilating  one  of  his  largest  coal- 
pits. I  arranged  the  steam-engine  which  gave  motion  to  the 

2E 


418  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CIIIION.  LIST. 

large  Fan,  so  as  to  be  a  part  of  it ;  and  by  placing  the  crank 
of  the  engine  on  the  end  of  the  Fan-shaft,  the  engine  trans- 
ferred its  power  to  it  in  the  most  simple  and  direct  manner. 
The  high  satisfaction  which  this  Ventilating  Fan  gave  to  the 
Earl  and  to  all  connected  with  his  coal-mines,  led  to  my  receiv- 
ing orders  for  several  of  them. 

I  took  out  no  patent  for  the  invention,  but  sent  drawings 
and  descriptions  to  all  whom  I  knew  to  be  interested  in  coal- 
mine ventilation.  I  read  a  paper  on  the  subject,  and  exhibited 
the  necessary  drawings,  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Associa- 
tion at  Ipswich  in  1851.  These  were  afterwards  published  in 
the  Mining  Journal.  The  consequence  is  that  many  of  my 
Suction  Ventilating  Fans  are  now  in  successful  action  at  home 
and  abroad. 

1845.  An  improvement  in  the  Links  of  Chain  Cables. 

1845.  An  Improved  Method  of  Welding  Iron. 

One  of  the  most  important  processes  in  connection  with  the 
production  of  the  details  of  machinery,  and  other  purposes  in 
which  malleable  iron  is  employed,  is  that  termed  welding, — 
namely,  when  more  or  less  complex  forms  are,  so  to  speak,  "  built 
up  "  by  the  union  of  suitable  portions  of  malleable  iron  united 
and  incorporated  with  each  other  in  the  process  of  welding. 
This  consists  in  heating  the  parts  which  we  desire  to  unite  to 
a  white  heat  in  a  smith's  forge  fire,  or  in  an  air  furnace,  by 
means  of  which  that  peculiar  adhesive  "  wax-like  "  capability 
of  sticking  together  is  induced, — so  that  when  the  several  parts 
are  forcibly  pressed  into  close  contact  by  blows  of  a  hammer, 
their  union  is  rendered  perfect. 

But  as  the  intense  degree  of  heat  which  is  requisite  to  in- 
duce this  adhesive  quality  is  accompanied  by  the  production  of 
a  molten  oxide  of  iron  that  clings  tenaciously  to  the  white-hot 
surfaces  of  the  iron,  the  union  will  not  be  complete  unless 
every  particle  of  the  adhesing  molten  scorise  is  thoroughly  dis- 
charged and  driven  out  from  between  the  surfaces  we  desire  to 
unite  by  welding.  If  by  any  want  of  due  care  on  the  part  of 
the  smith,  the  surfaces  be  concave  or  have  hollows  in  them,  the 
scoria)  will  be  sure  to  lurk  in  the  recesses,  and  result  in  a 
defective  welding  of  a  most  treacherous  nature.  Though  the 


CHROX.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


419 


exterior  may  display  no  evidence  of  the  existence  of  this  fertile 
cause  of  failure,  yet  some  undue  or  unexpected  strain  will  rend 
and  disclose  the  shut-up  scoriae,  and  probably  end  in  some  fatal 
break-down. 

The  annexed  figures  will  perhaps  serve  to  render  my  remarks 
on  this  truly  important  subject  more  clear  to  the  reader.  Fig. 
1  represents  an  imperfectly  prepared 
surface  of  two  pieces  of  malleable  iron 
about  to  be  welded.  The  result  of 
their  concavity  of  form  is  that  the  scoria3 
are  almost  certain  to  be  shut  up  in  the 
hollow  part, — as  the  pieces  will  unite 
first  at  the  edges  and  thus  include  the 
scoria?,  which  no  amount  of  subsequent 
hammering  will  ever  dislodge.  They 
will  remain  lurking  between,  as  seen  in 
Fig.  2.  Happily,  the  means  of  obviat- 
ing all  such  treacherous  risks  are  as 
simple  as  they  are  thoroughly  effect- 
ive. All  that  has  to  be  done  to  render 
their  occurrence  next  to  impossible  is 
to  give  to  the  surfaces  we  desire  to 
unite  by  welding  a  convex  form  as 
represented  in  Fig.  3 ;  the  result  of  which 
is  that  we  thus  provide  an  open  door  for 
the  scoriae  to  escape  from  between  the 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  4. 


surfaces, — as  these  unite  first  in  the  centre,  as  due  to  the  con- 
vex form,  and  then  the  union  proceeds  outwards,  until  every 
particle  of  scoriaB  is  expelled,  and  the  union  is  perfectly  com- 
pleted under  the  blows  of  the  hammer  or  other  compressing 
agency.  Fig.  4  represents  the  final  and  perfect  completion  of 
the  welding,  which  is  effected  by  this  common-sense  and  simple 
means, — that  is,  by  giving  the  surfaces  a  convex  form  instead 
of  a  concave  one. 

When  I  was  called  by  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  in  1846 
to  serve  on  a  Committee,  the  object  of  which  was  to  investigate 
the  causes  of  failure  in  the  wrought-iron  smith  work  of  the 
navy,  many  sad  instances  came  before  us  of  accidents  which  had 
been  caused  by  defective  welding,  especially  in  the  vitally  im- 
portant articles  of  Anchors  and  Chain  Cables.  In  the  case  of  the 
occasional  failure  of  chain  cables,  the  cause  was  generally 


420  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES,     mnox.  LIST. 

assigned  to  defective  material ;  but  circumstances  led  me  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  was  a  question  of  workmanship  or  maltreat- 
ment of  what  I  knew  to  be  of  excellent  material.  I  therefore 
instituted  a  series  of  experiments  which  yielded  conclusive 
evidence  upon  the  subject ;  and  which  proved  that  defective 
welding  was  the  main  and  chief  cause  of  failure.  In  order  to 
prove  this,  several  apparently  excellent  cables  were,  by  the  aid 
of  "  the  proving  machine,"  pulled  to  pieces,  link  by  link,  and  a 
careful  record  was  kept  of  the  nature  of  the  fracture.  The 
result  was,  that  out  of  every  100  links  pulled  asunder  80  cases 
clearly  exhibited  defective  welding ;  while  only  20  were  broken 
through  the  clear  sound  metal.  This  yielded  a  very  important 
lesson  to  those  specially  concerned. 

1845.  Introduction  of  the  V  Anvil. 

In  connection  with  my  Steam  Hammer,  when  employed  in 
forging  great  cylindrical  shafts,  I  introduced  what  I  termed  my 
V  anvil.  Its  employment  has  most  importantly  contributed  to 
secure  perfect  soundness  in  such  class  of  forgings. 

In  the  old  system  of  forging  cylindrical  shafts,  the  bar  was 
placed  upon  a  flat-faced  anvil.  The  effect  of  each  blow  of  the 
hammer  upon  the  work  was  to  knock  the  shaft  into  an  oval 
form  (see  Fig.  1)  ;  and  the  inevitable  result  of  a  succession  of 
such  blows  was  destruction  of  the  soundness  of  the  centre  <>r 
axis  of  the  shaft. 


ng. 

Fig. 2. 


In  order  to  remedy  this  grave  defect,  arising  from  the  em- 
ployment of  a  flat-faced  anvil,  I  introduced  my  V  anvil  face 
(see  Fig.  2),  the  effect  of  which  was,  that  the  dispersive  action 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  421 

of  the  blow  of  the  hammer  was  changed  into  a  converging 
action,  which  ensured  the  perfect  soundness  of  the  work ; 
while  the  V  or  fork-like  form  of  the  angle  face  kept  the  work 
steadily  under  the  centre  of  the  hammer,  allowing  the  scale  or 
scoriae  to  fall  into  the  apex,  or  bottom  of  the  V,  which  thus 
passed  away,  leaving  the  faces  of  the  angle  quite  clear. 

This  simple  and  common-sense  improvement  was  eagerly  and 
generally  adopted,  and  has  been  productive  of  most  satisfactory 
and  important  results. 

1847.  A  Spherical-seated  Direct-weighted  Safety  Valve. 

Having  been  on  several  occasions  called  to  investigate  the 
causes  of  steam  boiler  explosions,  my  attention  was  naturally 
directed  to  the  condition  of  the  Safety  Valve.  I  found  the 
construction  of  them  in  many  cases  to  be  defective  in  principle 
as  well  as  in  mechanical  details ;  resulting  chiefly  from  the  em- 
ployment of  a  conical  form  in  the  valve,  which  necessitated  the 
use  of  a  guide  spindle  to  enable  it  to  keep  in  correct  relative 
position  to  its  corresponding  conical  seat,  as  seen  at  A  in  Fig.  1. 
As  this  guide  spindle  is  always  liable  to  be  clogged  with  the 
muddy  deposit  from  the  boiling  water,  which  yields  a  very  ad- 
hesive encrustation,  the  result  is  a  very  riskful  tendency  to 
impede  the  free  action  of  the  Safety  Valve,  and  thereby  prevent 
its  serving  its  purpose. 

With  a  view  to  remove  all  such  causes  of  uncertainty  in  the 
action  of  this  vitally  important  part  of  a  steam  boiler  I  designed 
a  Safety  Valve,  having  a  spherical  valve  and  corresponding  seat, 
as  seen  in  B  0,  Fig.  2.  This  form  of  Safety  Valve  had  the 
important  property  of  fitting  to  its  bearing-seat  in  all  positions, 
requiring  no  other  guide  than  its  own  spherical  seat  to  effect 
that  essential  purpose.  And  as  the  weight  required  to  keep  the 
valve  closed  until  the  exact  desired  maximum  pressure  of  steam 
has  been  attained,  is  directly  attached  to  the  under  side  of  the 
valve  by  the  rod,  the  weight,  by  being  inside  the  boiler,  is 
placed  out  of  reach  from  any  attempt  to  tamper  with  it. 

The  entire  arrangement  of  this  Safety  Valve  is  quite  simple. 
It  is  free  from  all  Lever  Joints  and  other  parts  which  might 
become  clogged;  and  as  there  is  always  a  slight  pendulous 
motion  in  the  weight  by  the  action  of  the  water  in  the  boiler, 
the  spherical  surfaces  of  the  valve  and  its  seat  are  thus  ever 
kept  in  perfect  order.  As  soon  as  the  desired  pressure  of  steam 


422 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHKOX.  LIST. 


has  been  reached,  and  the  gravity  of  the  weight  overcome,  the 
valve  rises  from  its  seat,  and  gives  perfectly  free  egress  to  any 
farther  accumulation  of  steam.  It  is  really  quite  a  treat,  in  its 
way,  to  observe  this  truly  simple  and  effective  Safety  Valve  in 
action.  After  I  had  contrived  and  introduced  this  Safety 
Valve,  its  valuable  properties  were  speedily  acknowledged,  and 
its  employment  has  now  become  very  general. 


Fij,'.  1.  Fig.  2. 

1847.  A  Machine  for  cutting  out  Cottar  Slots  and  Key-Groove 
Recesses  in  Parts  of  Machinery  ly  a  Traversing 
Drill. 

One  of  the  most  tedious  and  costly  processes  in  the  execu- 
tion of  the  detail  parts  of  machinery  is  the  cutting  out  of 
Cottar  Slots  in  piston  rods,  connecting  rods,  and  key  recesses 
in  shafts.  This  operation  used  to  be  performed  by  drilling  a 
row  of  holes  through  the  solid  body  of  the  object,  and  then 
chipping  away  the  intermediate  metal  between  the  holes,  and 
filing  the  rude  slot,  so  produced,  into  its  required  form.  The 
whole  operation,  as  thus  conducted,  was  one  of  the  most  tedious 
and  irksome  jobs  that  an  engineer  workman  could  be  set  to,  and 
could  only  be  performed  by  those  possessed  of  the  highe.-t  skill. 


CHROX.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  423 


What  with  broken  chisels  and  files,  and  the  tedious  nature  of 
the  work,  it  was  a  most  severe  task  to  the  very  best  men,  not 
to  speak  of  the  heavy  cost  in  wages. 

In  order  to  obviate  all  these  disadvantages,  I  contrived  an 
arrangement  of  a  drilling  machine,  with  a  specially  formed  drill, 
which  at  once  reduced  the   process   to    one   of  the 
easiest  conducted  in  an   engineer's  workshop.      The 
"  special "  form  of  the  Drill  consisted  in  the  removal    . 
of  the  centre  portion  of  its  flat  cutting  face  by  making 
it  with  a  notch  0.     This  enabled  it  to  cut  sideways,t, 
as  well  as  downwards,  and  thus  to  cut  a  slit  or  oblong 
hole.     No  labour,  as  such,  was  required;   but  only 
the  intelligent  superintendence  of  a  lad  to  place  the 
work  in  the   machine,  and   remove  it  for  the  next 
piece  in  its  turn.     The  machine  did  the  labour,  and 
by  its  self-action  did  the  work  in  the  most  perfect 
manner. 

I  may  further  mention  that  the  arrangement  of  the  machine 
consisted  in  causing  the  object  to  traverse  to  and  fro  in  a 
straight  line,  of  any  required  length,  under  the  action  of  the 
drill.  The  traversing  action  was  obtained  by  the  employment 
of  an  adjustable  crank,  which  gave  the  requisite  motion  to  a 
slide  table,  on  which  the  work  was  fastened.  The  "feed" 
downwards  of  the  drill  was  effected  by  the  crank  at  the  mo- 
ment of  its  reversing  the  slide,  as  the  drill  reached  the  end  of 
the  traverse ;  and,  as  there  is  a  slight  pause  of  the  traverse  at 
each  end  of  it,  the  "feed"  for  the  next  cutting  taking  place  at 
that  time,  the  drill  has  the  opportunity  given  to  perfect  its  cut 
ere  it  commences  the  next  cutting  traverse  in  succession.  This 
action  continues  in  regular  course  until  the  drill  makes  its  way 
right  through  the  piece  of  work  under  its  action ;  or  can  be 
arrested  at  any  required  depth  according  to  the  requirements  of 
the  work.  Soap  and  water  as  a  lubricator  continues  to  drop 
into  the  recess  of  the  slot,  and  is  always  in  its  right  place  to 
assist  the  cutting  of  the  drill. 

As  before  said,  the  entire  function  of  this  most  effective 
machine  tool  is  self-acting.  It  only  required  an  intelligent  lad 
or  labourer  to  attend  to  it ;  and,  as  there  was  ample  time  to 
spare,  the  superintendence  of  two  of  these  machines  was  quite 
within  his  ability.  The  rates  of  the  productive  powers  of  this 
machine,  as  compared  with  the  former  employment  of  hand 


424 


INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHIJON.  LIST. 


labour,  was  at  least  ten  to  one ;  to  say  nothing  of  the  superior 
quality  of  the  work  executed. 

Such  were  the  manifold  advantages  of  this  machine,  that  its 
merits  soon  became  known  and  appreciated ;  and  although  I 
had  taken  out  no  patent  for  it,  we  always  had  an  abundance  of 
orders,  as  it  was  its  own  best  advertisement. 


STI  '\M     HAMMKU 

1'uKM    OF 
.-TKAM-KXGINK. 


1848.  A  Steam  Hammer  Form  of  Steam-E-nyinc. 

This  engine  is  of  great  simplicity  and  get-at-ability  of  parts. 
It  is  specially  adapted  for  screw-propelled  steamships,  and  inany 
other  purposes.  It  is  now  in  very  general  use.  The  outline  is 
given  above. 


1848.   An  ]in/>r<>i'«l  MuJ,    of  J'unr/tfti;/  A//'//*    //"Ax   iii  /'/>ifc 
Iron  !>>/  di'iJitlt/  */.ri''in</  the  Face  of  the  .run.  It  ht  ilic 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  425 


1848.  Application  of  Hydraulic  Power  to  the  Punching  of 
Large  Holes  in  Iron  Bars,  and  Plates  of  Great 
Thickness. 

Dr.  Faraday  having  applied  to  me  to  furnish  him,  for  one  of 
his  lectures  at  the  Royal  Institution,  with  some  striking  example 
of  the  Power  of  Machinery  in  overcoming  the  resistance  to  pene- 
tration in  the  case  of  some  such  material  as  cold  malleable  iron, 
it  occurred  to  me  to  apply  the  tranquil  but  vast  power  of  a 
hydraulic  press  to  punch  out  a  large  hole  in  a  thick  cake  of 
malleable  iron.  Knowing  that  my  excellent  friend  John  Hick 
had  in  his  works  at  Bolton  one  of  the  most  powerful  hydraulic 
presses  then  existing,  contrived  and  constructed  by  his  ingenious 
father,  the  late  Benjamin  Hick,  I  proceeded  to  Bolton,  and  ex- 
plained Dr.  Faraday's  requirement,  when,  with  his  usual  liberal 
zeal,  Mr.  Hick  at  once  placed  the  use  of  his  great  hydraulic 
press  at  my  service. 

Having  had  a  suitable  cake  of  steam-hammered  malleable 
iron  given  to  me  for  the  purpose  in  question,  by  my  valued 
friend  Thomas  Lever  Rushton  of  the  Bolton  Ironworks,  we  soon 
had  the  cake  of  iron  placed  in  the  great  press.  It  was  5  inches 
thick,  18  inches  long,  and  15  inches  wide.  Placing  a  cylin- 
drical coupling  box  of  cast-iron  on  the  table  of  the  press,  and 
then  placing  the  thick  cake  of  iron  on  it,  and  a  short  cylindrical 
mass  of  iron  (somewhat  of  the  size  and  form  of  a  Stilton  Cheese) 
on  the  iron  cake, — the  coupling  box  acting  as  the  Bolster  of 
the  extemporised  punching  machine, — the  press  was  then  set 
to  work.  We  soon  saw  the  Stilton  Cheese-like  punch  begin  to 
sink  slowly  and  quietly  through  the  5-inch  thick  cake  of  iron, 
as  if  it  had  been  stiff  clay.  The  only  sound  heard  was  when 
the  punched-out  mass  dropped  into  the  recess  of  the  coupling 
below.  Such  a  demonstration  of  tranquil  but  almost  resistless 
power  of  a  hydraulic  press  had  never,  so  far  as  we  were  aware, 
been  seen  before.  The  punched  cake  of  iron,  together  with  the 
puuchcd-out  disc,  were  then  packed  off  to  Faraday ;  and  great 
was  his  delight  in  having  his  request  so  promptly  complied 
with.  Great  also  was  the  wonder  of  his  audience  when  the 
punched  plate  was  placed  upon  the  lecture  table. 

This  feat  of  Benjamin  Hick's  great  hydraulic  press  set  me 
a -thinking.  I  conceived  the  idea  that  the  application  of 


426  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHR..N.  MM. 

hydraulic  press  power  might  serve  many  similar  purposes  in 
dealing  with  ultra  thick  plates  or  bar  iron, — such  as  the  punch- 
ing out  of  holes,  and  cutting  thick  bars  and  plates  into  definite 
shapes,  as  might  be  required.  I  suggested  the  subject  to  my 
friend  Charles  Fox,  head  of  the  firm  of  Fox,  Henderson,  and 
Co.  He  had  taken  a  large  contract  for  a  chain  bridge,  the 
links  of  which  were  to  be  of  thick  flat  iron  bars,  with  the  ends 
broadened  out  for  the  link -pins  to  pass  through.  He  had 
described  to  me  the  trouble  and  cost  they  had  occasioned  him 
in  drilling  the  holes,  and  in  cropping  the  rude-shaped  ends  of 
the  bars  into  the  required  form.  I  advised  him  to  try  the  use 
of  the  hydraulic  press  as  a  punching-machine,  and  also  as  a 
cutting-machine  to  dress  the  ends  of  the  great  links.  He  did 
so  in  due  time,  and  found  the  suggestion  of  great  service  and 
value  to  him  in  this,  and  in  other  cases  of  a  similar  kind.  The 
saving  of  cost  was  very  great,  and  the  work  was  much  more 
perfect  than  under  the  former  system. 


1848.  An  Alternately -pegged  "Skive  "  or  Pulley  for  Rope  Band 
Power  Transmission. 

1848.  A  Turn-table  "Trunnion  Vision"  Reflecting  Telesco/,,. 

This  is  so  arranged  that  the  observer  can  direct  the  Tele- 
scope and  view  an  object  in  any  part  of  the  heavens  without 
moving  from  his  seat,  which  is  attached  to  the  turn-table.  For 
explanations,  see  text,  p.  337. 

1850.  A   Double  or  Ambidexter  Self -acting  Turning -L«  the, 

with  "Dead  Cutters"  specially 
adapted  for  turning  Bolts  and 
suchlike  detail  Parts  <\f 

M'i'-him  ,•>/. 

This  is  a  very  valuable  tool.     It 
requires  only  one  attendant.      It  is 

especially  useful  as  regards  efficiency 
and  economy.  It  will  be  sufficiently 
understood  by  mechanical  engineers 
from  the  annexed  drawings. 


CHEON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES. 


427 


1852.  A  Solid-bar  "  Link- Valve  Motion,"  especially  valuable 
Jor  the  larger  class  of  Marine  Steam-engines. 


1854.  Steam  Puddling  Patent. 

This  was  the  "pioneer"  of  the  Bessemer  process. 
Bessemer  correspondence,  p.  354. 


See 


1854.  A  Reversible  Rolling  Mill  without  Fly-wheel. 

This  Rolling  Mill  consists  of  two  combined  steam-engines, 
acting  on  cranks  at  right  angles,  the  reversing  of  the  rolls  being 
effected  by  the  link  motion.  The  requisite  rolling  power  is 
obtained  by  suitable  wheel  and  pinion  gear,  so  as  to  be  entirely 
independent  of  the  momentum  of  a  fly-wheel,  which  is  entirely 
dispensed  with. 

I  did  not  patent  the  invention.  As  usual  in  such  cases,  I 
made  no  secret  of  it,  but  sent  sketches  explanatory  of  the 
arrangement  to  many  professional  friends  interested  in  mechanical 
improvements.  It  was  adopted  by  many,  especially  for  rolling 
long  and  heavy  bars  and  plates.  It  enabled  the  workmen  to 
"  see-saw "  these  ponderous  objects,  and  pass  them  to  and  fro 
through  the  rolls  with  the  utmost  ease, — to  the  great  saving  of 
heat,  time,  and  labour.  The  invention  was  first  brought  into 
use  by  Mr.  Ramsbotham  at  the  Crewe  works  of  the  London 
and  North- Western  Railway.  On  the  4th  December  1866  I 
received  the  following  letter  from  him  :— 

"DEAR  SIR — I  must  crave  your  forgiveness  for  my  great  delay  in 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  your  kind  letter  of  the  29th  August,  in 
which  you  refer  to  the  successful  carrying  out  at  these  works  of  your 


428  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.    CHRON.  LIST. 

idea  of  a  'Reversible  Rolling  Mill  without  a  Fly-wheel.'  It  has  long 
been  to  me  a  matter  of  astonishment  that  your  idea  has  not  been  re- 
duced to  practice  years  ago,  particularly  when  it  is  considered  how  well 
the  arrangement  is  adapted  to  the  rolling  of  Armour  Plates,  or  other 
work  requiring  a  sustained  effort,  whilst  it  is  at  the  same  time  more 
effective  than  the  ordinary  mill  arrangement  for  very  light  work.  So 
much  is  this  latter  true,  that  the  men  who  are  left  to  their  own  choice 
iu  the  matter,  will  reverse  the  mill  rather  than  pass  a  light  sheet  of 
8  or  10  Ibs.  weight  over  the  upper  roll.  This  country  is  much  in- 
debted to  you  for  so  valuable  a  suggestion  ;  and  now  that  it  has  been 
brought  to  a  successful  issue,  I  have  no  doubt  but  it  will  be  widely 
acted  upon.  I  need  not  add  that  it  will  afford  me  much  pleasure  to 
show  you  the  mill,  and  also  what  we  are  doing  generally,  if  you  should 
at  any  time  visit  Crewe.  —Believe  me  very  faithfully  yours, 

"J.  RAMSBOTHAM." 

I  also  communicated  the  invention  to  Mr.  Thomas  Gillott  of 
the  Farnley  Ironworks,  Yorkshire,  and  received  from  him  the 
following  letter,  dated  the  2d  January  1877  : — 

"  DEAR  SIR — I  was  much  gratified  to  see  by  your  letter  in  Engineer- 
ing the  interest  you  have  shown  with  respect  to  the  largo  Reversing 
Plate  Mill  erected  by  me  at  these  works,  and  drawn  on  the  plan  sug- 
gested by  you.  Allow  me  to  thank  you  for  the  complimentary  manner 
in  which  you  have  mentioned  my  work.  Since  the  notice  appeared, 
we  have  done  a  deal  of  heavy  work  in  this  mill ;  and  a  plate  largo 
enough  to  shear  11'  0"  and  10'  2"  and  •$•"  thick  has  been  rolled  in  five 
minutes.  The  slab  went  through  the  roll  17  times  before  being  rolled 
to  the  width  and  turned  round,  and  18  times  after  turning  and  of  the 
full  width  ;  making  a  total  of  35  passes— the  turning  occupying  20 
seconds.  When  it  is  remembered  how  rapidly  a  thin  plate  cools,  this 
performance  will  sufficiently  indicate  the  severe  work  this  mill  is 
capable  of  doing  ;  notwithstanding  the  many  predictions  that  such 
large  plates  could  not  be  rolled  without  a  fly-wheel.  As  to  repairs, 
none  have  been  required ;  so  I  cannot  compare  this  with  the  Clutch 
systems.  In  respect  of  steam  used,  the  direct  acting  engines  compare 
favourably  with  an  expansion  beam  condensing  engine  doing  similar 
but  lighter  work.  Should  it  ever  be  your  wish  to  see  this  mill  at 
work,  I  should  be  much  pleased  to  have  the  opportunity  of  showing  it 
to  you. — I  am,  dear  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

"THOMAS  GILLOTT." 

1854.  Drilling  Tunnels  through  Hard  Rock. 
Besides  these  contrivances  and  methods  of  accomplishing 


CHRON.  LIST.     INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  429 

mechanical  objects,  I  have  on  several  occasions  read  papers, 
prepared  drawings,  and  given  suggestions,  out  of  which  have 
conie  so-called  "  inventions  "  made  by  others.  For  instance,  at 
the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  in  Liverpool  in  1854,  I 
read  a  paper  and  exhibited  drawings  before  the  Mechanical 
Science  Section,  on  my  method  of  drilling  tunnels  through  hard 
rock.  The  paper  and  drawings  excited  considerable  interest 
among  the  railway  engineers  who  were  present.  I  afterwards 
met  Mr.  George  Newmann,  C.E.,  who  consulted  me  on  the 
same  subject.  Several  years  after  (21st  April  1863)  I  received 
the  following  letter  from  him  : — 

"DEAR  SIR — Some  few  years  ago,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  spending 
an  evening  in  your  company  at  uiy  relative's  (Mr.  C.  Withiugton) 
house  at  Pendleton.  As  I  was  then  Engineer  to  the  Victor  Emmanuel 
Railway,  and  had  made  a  survey  of  the  Mout  Cenis  for  the  purpose  of 
the  Tunnel,  I  consulted  you  as  to  the  application  of  the  machinery  for 
that  work.  You  suggested  the  driving  of  drills  in  a  manner  similar  to 
a  piston-rod,  with  other  details.  On  my  return  to  Savoy,  I  commu- 
nicated these  ideas  to  Mr.  Bartlett,  the  contractor's  agent,  and  I 
recommended  him  to  get  a  small  trial  machine  made.  This  he  had 
done  in  a  few  months,  and  then  he  claimed  the  whole  idea  as  his  own. 
The  system  has  since  been  carried  out  (see  Times,  4th  April  1863)  by 
compressed  air  instead  of  steam.  I  call  your  attention  to  this,  as  you 
may  contradict,  if  you  think  proper,  the  assertion  in  the  article  above 
mentioned,  that  the  idea  originated  with  Bartlett." 

I  did  not,  however,  contradict  the  assertion.  I  am  glad  that 
my  description  and  drawings  proved  in  any  way  useful  towards 
the  completion  of  that  magnificent  work,  the  seven-mile  tunnel 
under  Mont  Cenis. 

1862.  Chitted  Cast-Iron  Shot. 

In  like  manner,  I  proposed  the  use  of  Chilled  Cast-Iron  Shot 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Mechanical  Science  Section  of  the  British 
Association,  held  at  Cambridge  in  October  1862.  Up  to  that 
time  hardened  steel  shot  had  been  used  to  penetrate  thick  iron 
plates,  but  the  cost  was  excessive,  about  .£30  a  ton.  I  pro- 
posed that  Chilled  Cast-Iron  should  be  substituted;  it  was 
more  simple  and  inexpensive.  Considerable  discussion  took 
place  on  the  subject;  and  Sir  William  Fairbairu,  who  was 


430  INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.     CHRON.  LIST. 

President  of  the  Section,  said  that  "  he  would  have  experiments 
made,  and  he  hoped  that  before  the  next  meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, the  matter  would  be  proved  experimentally.  A  brief 
report  of  the  discussion  is  given  in  the  Times  of  the  7th  October, 
and  in  the  Athenaeum  of  the  18th  October,  1862.  Before, 
however,  the  matter  could  be  put  to  the  test  of  experiment, 
Major  Palliser  had  taken  out  his  Patent  for  the  invention  of 
Chilled  Cast-iron  Shot,  in  May  1863,  for  which  he  was  after- 
wards handsomely  rewarded. 

I  do  not  wish  to  "grasp"  at  any  man's  inventions,  but  it  is 
right  to  claim  my  own,  and  to  state  the  facts.  The  discussion 
above  mentioned  took  place  upon  a  paper  read  by  J.  Aston, 
Esq.,  Q.C.,  who  thus  refers  to  the  subject  in  his  letter  to  me, 
dated  the  7th  January  1867  :— 

"I  perfectly  remember  the  discussion  which  took  place  at  the 
meeting  of  the  British  Association  at  Cambridge  in  1862,  upon  the 
material  proper  to  be  used  as  projectiles.  The  discussion  arose  after  a 
paper  had  been  read  by  me  in  the  Mechanical  Section  upon  '  Rifled 
guns  and  projectiles  adapted  for  attacking  armour  plates.'  The  paper 
was,  I  think,  printed  by  the  Association  in  their  Report  for  1862. 
You  spoke,  I  believe,  at  some  length  on  the  occasion  ;  and  I  recollect 
that  you  surprised  and  much  interested  all  who  were  present,  by  strenu- 
ously urging  the  use  of  Chilled  Cast-iron  for  shot  and  shell,  intended 
for  penetrating  armour  plates. 

"Having  embraced  all  opportunities,  and  I  had  many  at  that  time, 
of  ascertaining  all  that  was  done  in  the  way  of  improving  rifled  pro- 
jectiles, I  entertained  a  very  strong  opinion  that  experiments  had 
shown  that  ordinary  cast-iron  was,  as  compared  with  steel,  of  very 
little  value  for  shot  and  shell  to  be  used  against  iron  plates.  For  that 
reason,  I  remember  I  took  an  opportunity,  after  the  termination  of 
the  discussion,  in  which  you  held  your  own  against  all  comers  in  favour 
of  chilled  cast-iron,  of  questioning  you  closely  on  the  subject,  and  you 
gave  me,  I  admitted,  good  reason  for  the  opinion  you  expressed.  You 
also  urged  me  to  cause  a  trial  to  be  made  of  chilled  cast-iron  for  shell, 
such  as  I  had  shown  to  the  section,  and  which  (in  hardened  steel  shot) 
had  been  fired  by  Mr.  Whitworth  through  thick  iron  plates.  This  I 
had  not  an  opportunity  of  doing.  Term  began  soon  after,  and  Temple 
occupations  then  took  up  all  my  time. 

"There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  any  one  who  may  claim  to 
have  been  before  you  in  teaching  the  public  the  use  of  Chilled  Cast- 
iron  for  projectiles  intended  to  penetrate  iron  plates,  must  give  proof 


CHRON.  LIST.    INVENTIONS  AND  CONTRIVANCES.  431 

of  having  so  done  prior  to  your  vigorous  advocacy  of  that  material  at 
the  Cambridge  Meeting  in  1862. — Yours  very  sincerely, 

"J.  ASTON." 

In  another  letter  Mr.  Aston  says — "  It  is  quite  right  of  you 
to  assert  your  claim  to  that  which  in  fact  belongs  to  you."  I 
did  not,  however,  assert  my  claim ;  and,  with  these  observations 
and  extracts,  I  leave  the  matter,  stating  again  the  fact  that  my 
public  communication  of  the  invention  was  made  in  October 
1862  ;  and  that  the  patent  for  the  invention  was  taken  out  by 
Major  Palliser  in  May  1863. 

I  have  only  mentioned  the  more  prominent  of  my  inventions 
and  contrivances.  Had  I  described  them  fully  I  should  have 
required  another  volume.  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  know  that 
many  of  them  have  greatly  advanced  the  progress  of  the  me- 
chanical arts,  though  they  may  not  be  acknowledged  as  mine.  I 
patented  very  few  of  my  inventions.  The  others  I  sowed  broad- 
cast over  the  world  of  practical  mechanics.  My  reward  is  in  the 
knowledge  that  these  "  children  of  my  brain "  are  doing,  and 
will  continue  to  do,  good  service  in  time  present  and  in  time 
to  come. 

In  mechanical  structures  and  contrivances,  I  have  always  en- 
deavoured to  attain  the  desired  purpose  by  the  employment  of  the 
Fewest  Parts,  casting  aside  every  detail  not  absolutely  necessary, 
and  guarding  carefully  against  the  intrusion  of  mere  traditional 
forms  and  arrangements.  The  latter  are  apt  to  insinuate  them- 
selves, and  to  interfere  with  that  simplicity  and  directness  of 
action  which  is  in  all  cases  so  desirable  a  quality  in  mechanical 
structures.  PLAIN  COMMON  SENSE  should  be  apparent  in  the 
general  design,  as  in  the  form  and  arrangement  of  the  details ; 
and  a  general  character  of  severe  utility  pervade  the  whole, 
accompanied  with  as  much  attention  to  gracefulness  of  form  as 
is  consistent  with  the  nature  and  purpose  of  the  structure. 


SUN-RAY  ORIGIN  OF  THE  PYRAMIDS,  AND  THE 
CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 

BEFORE  I  take  my  leave  of  the  public,  I  wish  to  put  on  record  my 
speculations  as  to  the  origin  of  two  subjects  of  remote  antiquity, 
viz.  :  the  Sun-ray  origin  of  the  Pyramids,  and  the  origin  of  the 
Arrow-head  or  Cuneiform  Character. 

First,  with  respect  to  the  Sun-ray  origin  of  the  Egyptian 
Pyramids. 

In  pursuing  a  very  favourite  subject  of  inquiry,  namely  the 
origin  of  forms,  no  portion  of  it  appears  to  me  to  be  invested 
with  so  deep  an  interest  as  that  of  the  Worship  of  the  Sun,— 
one  of  the  most  primitive  and  sacred  foundations  of  adorative 
religion, — affecting  as  it  has  done,  architectural  structures  and 
numerous  habits  and  customs  which  have  come  down  to  us  from 
remote  antiquity,  and  which  owe  their  origin  to  its  influence. 

On  many  occasions,  while  beholding  the  sublime  effects  of  the 
Sun's  Rays  streaming  down  on  the  earth  through  openings  in 
the  clouds  near  the  horizon,  I  have  been  forcibly  impressed  with 
the  analogy  they  appear  to  suggest  as  to  the  form  of  the  Pyra- 
mid, while  the  single  vertical  ray  suggests  that  of  the  Obelisk. 

In  following  up  this  subject,  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  find 
what  appears  to  me  a  strong  confirmation  of  my  views,  namely, 
that  the  Pyramid,  as  such,  was  a  sacred  form.  I  met  witli 
many  examples  of  this  in  the  Egyptian  Collection  at  the  Louvre 
at  Paris  ;  especially  in  small  pyramids,  which  were  probably  the 
objects  of  household  worship.  In  one  case  I  found  a  small 
pyramid,  on  the  upper  part  of  which  appeared  the  disc  of  the 
Sun,  with  pyramidal  rays  descending  from  it  on  to  figures  in  the 
Egyptian  attitude  of  adoration.  This  consists  in  the  hands  held 
up  before  the  eyes — an  attitude  expressive  of  the  brightness  of 
the  object  adored.  It  is  associated  with  the  brightness  of  the 
Sun,  and  it  still  survives  in  the  Salaam,  which  expresses  pro- 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  PYRAMID. 


433 


found  reverence  and  respect  among  Eastern  nations.     It  also 
survives  in  the  disc  of  the  Sun,  which  has  for  ages  been  placed 
like  a  halo  behind  the  heads  of  sacred  and  exalted  personages,' 
as  may  be  seen  in  Eastern  and  early  paintings,  as  well  as  in  \ 
church  windows  at  the  present  day. 


Fig.  1.—  RUBBING  FROM  A  HOUSEHOLD  PYRAMID. 


This  is  also  intimately  connected  with  lighted  lamps  and 
candles,  which  latter  may  often  be  met  with  in  Continental 
churches,  as  well  as  in  English  Ritualist  Churches  at  the  present 
day.  In  Romish  Continental  churches  they  are  stuck  on  to 
pyramidal  stands,  and  placed  before  pictures  and  images  of 
sacred  personages.  All  such  lighted  lamps  or  candles  are 
survivals  of  that  most  ancient  form  of  worship, — that  of  THE 
SUN! 

2F 


434 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  PYRAMID. 


The  accompanying  illustrations  will  serve  in  some  degree  to 
confirm  the  correctness  of  my  views  as  to  this  very  interesting 
subject.  Fig.  1  is  from  a  "  rubbing  "  of  one  of  the  many  small 
or  "  Household  "  pyramids  in  the  Louvre  Collection  at  Paris  ; 
while  Fig.  2  is  an  attempt  to  illustrate  in  a  graphic  manner  the 
derivation  of  the  form  of  the  Pyramid  and  Obelisk  from  the 
Sun's  Rays. 


4AMES  NASMV 


Fig.  2.— BUN-BAY  OEIOIN  OF  THE  PYRAMID. 


In  connection  with  the  worship  of  the  Sun  and  other  heavenly 
bodies,  as  practised  in  ancient  times  by  Eastern  nations,  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  their  want  of  knowledge  of  the  vast  distances 
that  separate  them  from  the  earth  led  them  to  the  belief  that 
these  bodies  were  so  near  as  to  exert  a  direct  influence  upon 
man  and  his  affairs.  Hence  the  origin  of  Astrology,  with  all  its 
accompanying  mystifications ;  this  was  practised  under  the  im- 
pression that  the  Sun,  Moon,  and  planets  were  near  to  the 
earth.  The  summits  of  mountains  and  "High  Places"  thus 


FIR  CONE  AND  EASTERN  WORSHIP. 


435 


became  "sacred,"  and  were  for  this  reason  resorted  to  for  the 
performance  of  the  most  important  religious  ceremonies. 

As  the  "High  Places"  could  not  be  transported  to  the 
Temples,  the  cone-bearing  trees,  which  were  naturally  associated 
with  these  elevated  places,  in  a  manner  partook  of  their  sacred 
character,  and  the  fruit  of  the  trees  became  in  a  like  manner 
sacred.  Hence  the  Fir  Cone  became  a  port- 
able emblem  of  their  sacredness;  and,  ac- 
cordingly in  the  Assyrian  Worship,  so  clearly 
represented  to  us  in  the  Assyrian  Sculptures 
in  our  Museums,  we  find  the  Fir  Cone  being 
presented  by  the  priests  towards  the  head 
of  their  kings  as  a  high  function  of  Beatifi- 
cation. So  sacred  was  the  Fir  Cone,  as  the 
fruit  of  the  sacred  tree,  that  the  priest  who 
presents  it  has  a  reticule -shaped  bag  in 
which,  no  doubt,  the  sacred  emblem  was 
reverently  deposited  when  not  in  use  for 
the  performance  of  these  high  religious  cere- 
monies. 

The  same  emblem  "survived"  in  the  Greek 
worship.  I  annex  a  tracing  from  a  wood- 
engraving  in  Fellows' s  Researches  in  Asia 
Minor,  1852  (p.  175),  showing  the  Fir 
Cone  as  the  finial  to  the  staff  of  office  of 
the  Wine-god  Bacchus.  To  this  day  it  is 
employed  to  stir  the  juice  of  the  grape 
previous  to  fermentation,  and  so  sanctifying  it 
by  contact  with  the  fruit  of  the  Sacred  Tree. 
This  is  still  practised  by  the  Greeks  in 
Asia  Minor  and  in  Greece,  though  intro- 
duced in  times  of  remote  antiquity.  The 
Fir  Cone  communicates  to  most  of  the  Greek  wines  that  peculiar 
turpentine  or  resinous  flavour  which  is  found  in  them.  Al- 
though the  sanctification  motive  has  departed,  the  resinoua 
flavour  is  all  that  survives  of  a  once  most  sacred  ceremony,  as 
having  so  close  a  relation  to  the  worship  of  the  Sun  and  the 
heavenly  bodies. 

In  like  manner,  it  appears  to  me  highly  probable  that 
"  The  Christmas  Tree,"  with  its  lighted  tapers,  which  is  intro- 
duced at  that  sacred  season  fo*  the  entertainment  of  our  young 


436 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


people,  is  "  a  survival "  of  the  worship  of  the  sacred  tree  and 
of  the  Sun.  The  toys  which  are  hung  on  the  twigs  of  the 
tree  may  also  be  "  survivals "  of  the  offerings  which  were 
usually  made  to  the  Sun  and  the  heavenly  bodies.  If  I  am 
correct  in  my  conjecture  on  this  subject,  it  throws  a  very 
interesting  light  on  what  is  considered  as  a  mere  agent  for  the 
amusement  of  children, 


Next,  with  respect  to  the  Cuneiform  Character.  When  I 
first  went  to  reside  in  London,  in  1829,  I  often  visited  the 
British  Museum.  It  was  the  most  instructive  and  interesting 

of  all  the  public  institutions 
which  I  had  yet  seen.  I 
eagerly  seized  every  oppor- 
tunity I  could  spare  to  spend 
as  many  hours  as  possible  in 
wandering  through  its  ex- 
tensive galleries,  especially 
those  which  contained  the 
Assyrian,  Egyptian,  and  Greek 
antiquities.  By  careful  and 
repeated  examination  of  the 
objects  arranged  in  them,  I 
acquired  many  ideas  that  af- 
forded me  subjects  for  thought 
and  reflection. 

Amongst  these  objects,  I 
was  specially  impressed  and 
interested  with  the  so-called 
"  Arrow-head  "  or  "  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  "  in  the  Assyrian 
Department.  These  remarkable  inscriptions  were  on  large 
tablets  of  burnt  clay.  They  formed  the  chief  portion  of  the 
then  comparatively  limited  collection  of  Assyrian  antiquities 
in  the  British  Museum.  I  was  particularly  impressed  with 
the  precision  and  simple  beauty  of  these  cuneiform  inscrip- 
tions,—  especially  with  the  strikingly  distinctive  nature  of 
what  I  may  term  the  fundamental  or  elementary  wedge-like 
form,  of  which  the  vast  variety  of  letters  or  words  of  these 
inscriptions  were  composed.  The  triangular  or  three-sided 
indentation  will  be  observed  in  the  above  engraving  (Fig.  1). 


Fig.  1. 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


437 


This  elementary  form,  placed  in  various  positions  with 
respect  to  each  other,  appeared  to  be  capable  of  yielding  an 
infinite  variety  of  letters  and  words,  as  seen  in  Fig.  2.  I  may 
here  mention  that  I  entered  upon  this  interesting  subject 
with  no  pretensions  as  a  linguist,  nor  with  any  idea  of 
investigating  the  meaning  of  these  remarkable  inscriptions; 
but  only  as  a  Mechanic,  to  ascertain  the  manner  in  which  the 
striking  characters  were  produced,  so  as  to  convey  words 
and  ideas  through  their  variety  of  combinations. 

I  soon  perceived  that  the  simple  but  distinctive  characters 


shown  in  the  above  representations  were  essentially  connected 
with  the  employment  of  plastic  clay ;  this  being  the  material 
most  suitable  for  their  impression,  by  means  of  a  three-sided  in- 
strument or  stylus.  The  angular  extremity  of  this  instrument, 
when  depressed  into  the  surface  of  a  tablet  of  plastic  clay  in 
different  positions  and  directions,  would  leave  these  cuneiform 
impressions  in  all  their  beautifully  distinct  and  characteristic 
forms.  And  thus,  after  the  tablets  had  been  subjected  to 
fire  and  made  into  hard  brick,  the  impressions  have  come 
down  to  us,  after  the  lapse  of  thousands  of  years,  as  fresh  and 
distinct  as  if  they  had  been  produced  but  yesterday  1 


438 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  have  my  conjectures  confirmed  with 
respect  to  the  exact  form  of  the  instrument  by  which  these 
remarkable  characters  are  produced,  by  observing,  in  what  ap- 
peared to  be  a  hastily-formed 
inscription  on  the  edge  of  a 
large  brick,  that  the  inscriber 
had  apparently  used  rather 
more  pressure  on  his  stylus  than 
was  requisite.  In  consequence 
of  which,  the  end  of  it  had 
been  so  deeply  depressed  in- 
to the  soft  clay  as  to  leave 
an  exact  counterpart  of  its 
size  and  form.  I  secured  a 
cast  of  this  over-deep  im- 
pression of  the  stylus,  from 
which  Fig.  3  is  taken,  after  a 
photograph. 

In  order  further  to  illus- 
trate   the    simple    mode    of 
producing  inscriptions  on  tablets  of  clay,  I  give  in  Fig.  4  a 

tablet  inscription  pro- 
duced by  means  of  the 
stylus  which  is  seen  laid 
over  the  tablet.  The 
next  illustration  (Fig.  5) 
is  intended  to  convey  an 
idea  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  stylus  was 
held  and  applied  to  the 
surface  of  the  clay  when 
a  cuneiform  inscription 
was  being  product -d. 
The  upper,  flat,  or  third 
side  of  the  stylus  en- 
abled the  iiiscriber  to 
keep  it  in  correct  ivla- 
tive  position  in  respect 

to  the  tablet,  yielding  at  the  same  time  a  convenient  Hat 
surface  upon  which  to  rest  the  end  of  his  finger  when  indenting 
the  angular  end  into  the  clay. 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


439 


Refer  back  to  Fig.  2,  and  it  will  be  found  that  any  variety 
in  the  size  of  the  cuneiform  inscriptions  may  be  produced  by 
the  same  stylus,  by  simply  depressing  the  angular  end  of  it  to  a 
greater  or  less  depth  into  the  surface  of  the  clay.  In  many 
of  the  most  elaborate  inscriptions,  a  certain  lob-sidedness  of 
the  cuneiform  character  may  be  observed.  This  is  due  to  the 
iuscriber  having  held  his  stylus  somewhat  askew,  as  we  do  a 
pen  in  ordinary  writing. 

Referring  to  my  remark  that  the  distinctive  shape  of  the 


cuneiform  character  was  essentially  due  to  the  use  of  plastic 
clay  as  the  most  suitable  material  for  its  production,  I  think 
it  highly  probable  that  the  origin  of  these  inscriptions  took 
its  rise  not  only  from  the  facility  with  which  the  characters 
could  be  indented  on  the  material,  but  from  the  abundance  of 
plastic  mud  which  forms  the  natural  soil  of  the  lands  ad- 
joining the  great  Assyrian  rivers.  This  when  made  into  bricks, 
became  the  chief  building  material  of  the  energetic  people  of 
Babylon  and  the  other  great  cities  of  the  Tigris  and  Eu- 
phrates valleys.  The  laborious  work  of  brick  making  was 
generally  assigned  to  captives  as  taskwork,  and  it  appears  to 


440 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


me  highly  probable  that  "the  tale "  of  the  brickmaker  or  his 
taskmaster  might  be  most  readily  marked  by  simply  indenting 
the  side  of  the  soft  tale  brick  with  the  corner  angle  of  a  dry 

one  ;  and  that  thus  the 
strikingly  peculiar 
character  of  the  cunei- 
form character  was  pro- 
duced (see  Fig.  G).  In 
course  of  time  the 
elementary  form  was 
expanded  into  this  most 
beautifully  simple  mode 
of  communicating  ideas 
through  the  agency  of 
conventional  signs  or 
letters;  being  also  es- 
pecially suited  for  mak- 
ing historical  or  other 
records  on  tablets  of 
moist  clay,  which,  when 
"  fired,"  became  absolutely  indestructible,  so  far  as  time  is  con- 
cerned. 

This  is  abundantly  proved  by  those  marvellously  perfect 
burnt  clay  tablets,  covered  with  exquisitely  minute  and  perfect 

inscriptions,  which,  after 
having  remained  hid  in 
mounds  of  rubbish  for 
thousands  of  years, 
among  the  ruins  of  the 
Assyrian  cities,  are 
brought  to  light  as  fresh 
mid  perfect  as  on  the  day 
on  which  they  were  exe- 
cuted. These  tablets  now 
excite  the  wonder  and 
admiration  of  all  who  are 
able  to  appreciate  the 
beauty  of  the  inscriptions,  as  well  as  of  those  who  are  spmilut- 
ively  curious  as  to  the  origin  of  written  language. 

This  attempt  to  explain  the  probable  origin  of  the  cuneiform 
may  to  some  appear  fanciful.     But  whether  or  not, 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


441 


it  is  certain  that  this  simple  and  impressive  character  can  be 
readily  produced  by  the  primitive  means  which  I  have  ventured 
to  suggest.  I  give  a  cuneiform  inscription  (Fig.  7),  which  I 
have  produced  by  simply  employing  the  corner  angle  of  an 
ordinary  brick  as  the  stylus  for  indenting  the  inscription  on  the 
tablet  of  soft  clay.  This  might  have  been  extended  to  any 
length,  in  longer  as  well  as  minuter  impressions. 


Fig.  8. 

As  soon  as  the  capability  of  the  cuneiform  impression  was 
adopted  as  the  Assyrian  character,  it  was  in  due  time  employed 
for  inscriptions  on  stone  or  other  materials,  such  as  marble  or 
alabaster.  The  chisel  was  then  substituted  for  the  stylus ;  but 
the  characters  remained  in  a  great  measure  the  same.  In  some 
cases  a  slight  modification  was  observable,  being  naturally  due 
to  the  change  of  material  and  the  method  of  carving  it ;  but 
in  most  respects  the  departure  from  the  clay  prototype  is  very 


1 

GREEK. 


ROMAN. 
Fig.  9. 


MODERN. 


slight,  and   the  original  is  adhered  to  with  remarkable  in- 
tegrity. 

When  examining  some  early  Greek  inscriptions  in  marble,  in 
the  British  Museum,  in  the  year  1837,  I  was  much  interested 
to  observe  the  appearance  of  a  cuneiform  element  in  the  limbs 
of  several  Greek  letters,  especially  in  the  terminals,  as  illus- 
trated in  Fig.  8,  each  limb  of  the  letter  being  in  itself  a  perfect 
cuneiform ;  and  as  such  the  terminal  of  each  liinb  is  at  right 
angles  to  the  axis,  and  not  as  now  (in  our  modern  capital 
letters)  parallel  to  the  line  of  inscription. 


442  CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER 


This  apparent  presence  of  the  cuneiform  element  in  these 
early  Greek  inscriptions  suggests  some  very  interesting  historic 
causes  which  led  to  their  introduction,  and  so  passed  from  the 
Greek  into  the  Roman,  and  eventually  into  the  capital  letters 
of  our  own  alphabet.  To  give  one  instance, — though  many 
might  be  cited, — take  the  capital  letter  T,  and  it  will  be  found 
that  it  went  from  the  Cuneiform  into  the  Greek,  then  into  the 
Roman,  and  lastly  into  our  own  letter,  thus  presenting  a  re- 
markable instance  of  the  survival  of  a  form  from  remote 
antiquity  down  to  the  present  day. 

The  letters  AKHIKMNYX  have  the  distinct  remains 
of  their  Babylonian  origin  in  the  top  and  bottom  stroke,  which 
is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  corruption  of  the  original  or 
primitive  arrow-headed  impression  of  the  stylus  in  the  moist 
clay,  begun  thousands  of  years  ago. 

In  a  lecture  which  I  gave  at  the  Royal  Institution  in 
London,  in  1839,  and  in  another  at  the  British  Association  at 
Cheltenham,  in  1856,  I  referred  to  this  presence  of  the  cunei- 
form element  in  the  Greek  letters,  illustrating  the  subject  by 
actual  casts  from  the  inscriptions  themselves.  At  Cheltenham 
the  question  gave  rise  to  a  most  animated  and  interesting  dis- 
cussion, in  which  Dr.  Whewell  and  Sir  Thomas  Phillips  (the 
great  antiquarian)  took  a  prominent  part.  I  understood  that 
Sir  Thomas  Phillips  assigned  that  the  intermixture  of  cunei- 
form with  the  Greek  alphabet  proceeded  from  the  Samaritans, 
who  were  originally  an  Assyrian  colony.  I  find  that  many 
Greek  inscriptions  exhibit  the  cuneiform  element  in  nearly  all 
the  letters  composing  them.  This  is  a  subject  well  worthy  of 
the  attention  of  our  antiquarian  Greek  scholars,  as  pointing  to 
an  intimate  intercourse  with  the  Assyrians  at  some  remote  age. 
The  distinctive  character  of  the  cuneiform  in  the  Greek  in- 
scriptional  letters  could  not  have  arisen  from  chance.  Some 
intercommunication  with  the  Assyrians  must  have  taken 
place. 

This  subject  is  all  the  more  interesting,  as  the  cuneiform 
element  appears  to  have  passed  from  the  Greek  inscriptional 
letters  into  those  of  the  Romans,  and  from  thence  into  our  own 
capital  letters.  This  affords  a  very  remarkable  instance  of  the 
"survival"  of  a  form,  which,  however  naturally  due  to  the 
plastic  material  in  connection  with  which  it  originated,  never- 
theless led  to  its  use  for  ages  after  the  circumstances  which  led 


CUNEIFORM  CHARACTER. 


443 


to  its  adoption  had  passed  away.  This  tendency  in  mankind  to 
cling  to  shapes  and  forms  through  mere  traditional  influences 
is  widely  observable,  especially  in  connection  with  architectural 
forms,  arrangements,  and  decorative  details.  It  offers  a  sub- 
ject of  great  interest  to  those  who  have  a  natural  aptitude 
to  investigate  what  I  may  term  the  etymology  of  form,  a 
subject  of  the  most  attractive  nature,  especially  to  those  who 


ASSYRIAN    ROLLER-SEAL. 


enjoy  thinking  and  reflecting  upon  what  they  have  specially 
observed. 

Before  concluding  this  subject  I  may  mention  that  the 
Assyrians  employed  a  cylindrical  roller-seal  in  order  to  produce 
impressions  in  a  wholesale  way.  This  is  exemplified  in  the 
above  engraving.  The  mechanical  principles  inherent  in  this 
beautifully  simple  form  of  roller-seal,  indicate  a  high  order  of 
ingenuity,  well  worthy  of  the  originators  of  the  arrow-headed 
character.  In  fact  it  is  the  prototype  not  only  of  the  modern 
system  of  calico-printing  but  of  the  Walter  Printing  Press,  by 
which  the  Times  and  many  other  newspapers  are  now  printed 
—a  remarkable  instance  of  the  survival  or  restoration  of  a  very 
old  method  of  impression. 


INDEX. 


ADMIRALTY  Board  and  steam  ham- 
mer, 258 

Affiffi  Lalli,  272 

Alphabet,  cuneiform,  442 

Ambidexter  turning-lathe,  426 

Amphitheatre  at  Nismes,  246 

Ancestry,  sentiment  of,  1  ;  tomb  of 
Nasmyth,  10 

Anderson,  Sir  J.,  240,  306,  331,  349 

Antibilious  stock,  359 

Apprentices,  premium,  121,  125 ; 
indenture,  218 

Archimedes'  screw,  234 

Argyll,  Duke  of,  309,  327,  328,  380 

Arthur's  Seat,  49,  98,  366 

Artists,  35 ;  family  of,  49,  51 ;  friends, 
334 

Assyrian  roller  seal,  442 

Aston,  Mr.,  Q.C.,  on  chilled  shot,  430 

Astronomical  Society,  papers  for, 
341,  345 

Astronomy,  study  of,  99,  170  ;  at  St. 
Petersburg,  278;  at  "Fireside," 
312  ;  turn-table  telescope,  337  ; 
wonders  of,  344 

Athol,  Duke  of,  38 

BAIRDS  of  Posso,  3 
Bairds,  St.  Petersburg,  282 
Bakers,  contractors,  261 
Bald,  Robert,  105 
Bannockburn,  chain-mail  at,  107 
Barton  of  the  Royal  Mint,  147,  148, 

167 

Bass  Rock,  326 
Bayeux,  tapestry  at,  244 
Bennet,  William,  239 
Bentham,  Sir  S.,  131,  147 
Bernard's  Well,  St.,  43 


Bessemer,  Sir  H.,  353,  354 

Bibler's  Seat,  19 

Birkenhead,  154 

Birmingham,  161 

Black  Country,  158 

Black  Watch,  entry  of,  to  Edinburgh, 

69 

Block-machinery,  130 
Blowing  fans,  415  ;   for  coal-mines 

416 

Bothwell  Brig,  6 
Bouchier,  M.,  Paris,  236 
Boulder  clay,  327 
Boulton  and  Watt,  161 
Bourdon,  M.,  Creuzot,  236 
Bow-and-string  bridges,  45 
Boxer,  Captain,  306 
Brahe,  Tycho,  293 
Brandreth,  Captain,  260,  261,  268 
Brass  casting,  112 
Brest  Arsenal,  244 
Brewster,  Sir  D.,  52,  98,  117,  337, 

339,  390,  395 
Brick,  inscriptions  in,  436 
Bridges,  D.  (note},  35 
Bridgewater  Canal,  155,  196,  200 
Bridgewater  Foundry,  196,  208,  295 
British  Association  meetings,  326,  354 
Brougham,  Lord,  29,  129 
Brunei,  Mr.,  131,  233 
Burgoyne,  Sir  J.,  407 
Burns,  Robert,  32 

CADDIES,  Edinburgh,  74 
Calderon,  Philip  H.,  R.A.,  381 
Calico-printing,  303 
Calton  Hill,  70,  98 
Canal  traction,  387 
Carmichaels,  Dundee,  119 


446 


INDEX. 


Carron  Ironworks,  106 

Casting  specula,  170,  312,  392 

Cast-iron  structures,  173 

Castle,  Edinburgh,  18  ;  Bibler's  Seat, 

19 

Cats,  fondness  for,  76 
Chain  cables,  268,  418 
Chambers,  Kobert,  326,  366 
Chan  trey,  sculptor,  148 
Chartres  Cathedral,  368 
Cherbourg,  244 
Chilled  cast-iron  shot,  429 
Chime-bells,  St.  Giles's,  72 
Chippendale,  Mr.,  Manchester,  179 
Chronological  list  of  inventions,  387 
Chucking  metal-work,  391 
Clerk,  John,  212 
Coalbrookdale,  157 
Cockburn,  Lord,  334 
Cockburn,  Sir  G.,  260,  268 
Col  d'Ollioulles,  247 
Collar-nut  cutting  machine,  141 
Colour-printing  machines,  303 
Colquhoun,  Colonel,  306 
Constantino,  Grand  Duke,  308 
Cooking  apparatus,  139 
Copenhagen,  museums,  292,  293 
Cottar  slot-cutting  machine,  422 
Covenanters  and  civil  war,  5 
Coventry,  151 
Cowper,    Ebenezer,    183  ;    Edward, 

189,  191,  340 
Cragg,  J.,  177 

Crater,  Vesuvius,  252  ;  lunar,  318 
Creuzot  Ironworks,  236,  331 
Crewdson,  Thomas,  211 
Cundell  brothers,  149 
Cuneiform  character,  436 
Curves,  graceful,  401 
Cutting  key -grooves,   397  ;    cottar 

slots,  422 
Cylindrical  rods,  centres  of,  399 

DALE  Street,  factory  in,  181 
Dulswinton,  Miller  of,  27  ;  lirst  steam- 
boat of,  29 

Dannemora  Iron  Mine,  287 
Dawyk,  Deil  of,  4 
Dean  Bridge,  42 
Do  la  Rue,  314,  373 
Devon  Ironworks,  104 


Devonport  Dockyard,  259 
Dial  of  life,  384 
Dilettanti  Club,  35 
Douglass,  George,  114,  173,  211 
Drain,  John,  163 
Drawing  classes,  22 
Drawing,  uses  of,  55,  97,  310  ;  me- 
chanical, 122 
Dudley  Castle,  159 
Duncan,  Viscount,  311 
Dunkeld,  planting  at,  38 
Diirer,  Albert,  276 

EDINBURGH,  6 ;  New,  14 ;  Castle, 
18,  67  ;  scenery,  33,  57,  98,  335 ; 
club  life,  34  ;  47  York  Place,  41, 
63  ;  New  Town  laid  out,  42  ;  vol- 
canic origin  of,  50 ;  caddies,  74 ;  old 
buildings,  81 ;  Royal  visit  to,  99  ; 
great  fire  at,  101  ;  School  of  Arts 
at,  109  ;  revisited,  325,  334,  365 

Egerton,  Lord  F.,  200 

Egyptian  workmen,  272 

Ellesmere,  Earl  of,  201,  308 ;  CountesE 
of,  358 

Enfield  Small  Arms  Factory,  348 

Erskine  brothers,  21 

Exhibition  of  all  nations,  330 

Expansometer,  116,  389 

FANS,  blowing,  415  ;   for  coal  mines, 

416 

Faraday,  Michael,  130, 136,  273,  425 
Fawcett,  William,  153,  177 
Field,  Joshua,  171  ;    talking  books, 

172 

Files,  Lancashire,  206 
Fir  cone,  the  sacred,  435 
Fishwives,  Edinburgh,  74 
Flexible  joint,  415 
Foulis  of  Woodhall,  32 
Foundry  (see  Bridgewatcr] 
Foundry  ladle,  202 ;  work  in  Russia, 

283 

Fox,  Charles,  305,  426 
France,  visits  to,  236,  243,  367 
Free  Trade  in  Ability,  209,  217 
Fmirh   Protestants,    22 ;    prisoners, 

Edinburgh,  67 

GARDENI Mi,  pleasures  of,  361 
Garnett,  H.,  partner,  358 


INDEX. 


447 


Gaskell,  Holbrook,  partner,  204 
Genoa,  visit  to,  249 
Geology,  50,  197,  329,  347,  376 
Ghost  at  Patricroft,  315 
Giant's  Causeway,  197,  330 
Giles's,  St.,  Edinburgh,  72,  102 
Glass  globe  cracked,  377 
Gothic  architecture,  49,  150 
Grant  Brothers,  179,  185,  187 
Graphic  language,  56,  97 
Grassmarket,  Edinburgh,  7,  18 
Great  Britain  steamship,  230 
Great  Western  Railway  Company,  229 
Greg,  General,  278 

Greyfriars  churchyard,    10 ;    family 
tombstone  in,  11 

HALL,  Sir  J.,  49,  63 

Hamilton,  Duke  of,  6 

Hammer  (see  Steam  Hammer] 

Hammerfield,  360 

Hamoaze,  shore  at,  261 

Hartop,  Mr.,  225,  417 

Hastings,  Sir  T.,  304 

Heart  of  Midlothian,  83 

Herbert,  Mr.  S.,  260 

Herschel,  Sir  J.,  313,  369,  370,  374, 

379  ;  Miss,  374,  382 
Hick,  Bolton,  178,  199,  235,  425 
Hill,  D.  0.,  336 
Household  management,  53 
Hugo  de  Lupus,  206 
Huguenots  in  Edinburgh,  22 
Humphries  (Dennison  and  Co.),  196, 

242 

Humphries,  Francis,  230 
Hutton,  James,  211 
Hydraulic  mattress  press,  410;  method 

of  punching  iron,  425 

INDRET,  marine  factory,  245 
Infusoria,  Bridgewater  Canal,  345 
Inventions  and  contrivances,  387 
Inversnaid  Fort,  9 
Iron,  "sow"  and  "pig,"  104,  105; 

puddling,  352 
Iron  steamboat,  first,  30 
Irving,  Washington,  311 
Italy,  visits  to,  248,  378 
Ivy  screening,  280 
Izak  Church,  St.  Petersburg,  283 


JARDINE,  James,  52 
Joint,  Flexible,  415 

KENILWORTH,  ruins  of,  164 
Kennedy,  John,  179,  193 
Kensington  Museum,  31 
Kornileff,  Admiral,  308,  309 
Krafft,  sculptor,  276 

LANCASHIRE  Files,  206 

Landscape  painting,  39  ;  beauty,  36, 

41,  58,  359 

Laocoon,  drawing  of  the,  23 
Lassell,  William,  313,  380,  382,  395 
Leslie,  Professor,  50,  52,  109,  389 
Light,  solar,  341 
Link-valve  motion,  427 
Linnell,  John,  83,  84 
Liverpool,  151,  177 
Liverpool  and  Manchester  Railway, 

152,  227 

Lloyd,  Edward,  184,  195 
London,  122 
Londonderry,  194,  197 
Lupus,  Hugo  de,  206 
Lyndhurst,  Lord,  378 

MACLAREN,  Charles,  366 

Manchester,  155,  178 

Manning,  Cardinal,  381 

Marseilles,  247,  249 

Masters  and  men,  12,  192,  208,  297 

Mattress  press,  hydraulic,  410 

Maudslay,  Henry,  121  ;  his  factory, 
124  ;  private  workshop,  126  ; 
maxims,  127 ;  uniformity  of  screws, 
128  ;  block-machinery,  130  ;  the 
Endeavour,  131 ;  screw-tackle,  135  ; 
philosophy  of  construction,  143  ; 
the  "Lord  Chancellor,"  145;  friends, 
147  ;  return  from  Berlin,  167 ;  pro- 
posed telescope,  169  ;  death,  170 

Merrick,  S.  V.,  242 

Microscope,  investigations  with,  345 

Milky  Way,  312,  315,  344 

Miller,  Hugh,  on  boulder  clay,  327, 
333  (note),  367  (note) 

Miller,  Patrick,  Dalswinton,  27  ;  ex- 
periments with  ships,  28  ;  orders 
the  first  steamboat,  28  ;  assists 
Alexander  Nasmyth,  31 

Mint,  Royal,  131,  167 


448 


INDEX. 


Mitchell,  Sir  T.,  344,  377 

Mohammed  Ali,  271 

Moon,  observation  of  the,  316  ;  lunar 
craters,  317,  322 ;  drawings  of,  324, 
332 ;  lectures  on,  328, 365  ;  prize  for 
drawings  of,  332  ;  work  on  "  The 
Moon,"  369,  375,  380 

Mortar,  floating,  408 

Motala,  Sweden,  290 

Mull,  Island  of,  329 

Murdoch,  William,  132,  162 

Murray,  Lord,  343 

NAESMYTH,  family  of,  1  ;  origin  of 
the  name  of,  1  ;  Sir  Michael  of 
Posso,  2  ;  James  of  Dawick,  4  ;  of 
Netherton,  4  ;  Elspeth,  burnt  as  a 
witch,  7,  77 ;  Michael  (1st),  builder 
and  architect,  8  ;  Michael  (2d),  12 ; 
Michael  (3d),  12  ;  Michael  (4th), 
purser,  16 

Naples,  visit  to,  253 

Nasmyth,  Alexander,  born,  18 ;  educa- 
tion, 19  ;  apprenticed  to  coach- 
builder,  22  ;  pupil  of  drawing 
academy,  23  ;  assistant  to  Allan 
Kamsay,  24  ;  portrait  painter  in 
Edinburgh,  26  ;  assists  Miller  of 
Dalswinton,  28  ;  visits  Italy,  31  ; 
marriage,  32 ;  paints  portrait  of 
Burns,  32  ;  becomes  landscape 
painter,  39  ;  architect,  42 ;  bow- 
and-string  bridges,  45  ;  family 
gatherings,  51  ;  his  classes,  55  ; 
his  workshop,  45,  64  ;  his  graphic 
language,  56,  97  ;  journey  to  Stir- 
ling, 102  ;  visit  to  London,  122  ; 
paints  Elgin  and  Castle  Grant, 
187 ;  visits  Manchester  and  Bridge- 
water  Foundry,  220  ;  death,  223 

Nasmyth,  James,  born,  63  ;  left- 
handed,  64  ;  brother  Patrick,  65  ; 
the  French  prisoners,  67  ;  entry  of 
the  Black  Watch,  69  ;  the  Calton 
Hill,  70  ;  chimes  of  St.  Giles',  72  ; 
marketing,  73, 75  ;  school-days,  78  ; 
at  High  School,  80  ;  Sir  W.  Scott, 
82];  collecting  period,  85  ;  mechani- 
cal pursuits,  87  ;  school  friendships, 
89  ;  learns  chemistry,  93  ;  learns 
drawing,  96  ;  walks  round  Edin- 


burgh, 98  ;  George  FVYs  visit,  99  ; 
great  fires,  101  ;  visit  to  Stirling, 
102  ;  model  steam-engine,  108  ; 
School  of  Arts  classes,  110  ;  Uni- 
versity classes,  112  ;  brass-mould- 
ing in  bedroom,  113  ;  makes  a 
working  steam-engine,  114 ;  ex- 
pansometer,  116  ;  road  steam-car- 
riage, 117  ;  taken  on  as  assistant 
at  Maudslay's,  126  ;  trip  to  Rich- 
mond, 132  ;  rudimentary  screws, 
135  ;  cooking  apparatus,  138  ; 
collar-nut  cutting  machine,  141  ; 
trip  to  Liverpool  and  manufacturing 
districts,  151  ;  walk  to  London, 
157  ;  leaves  Maudslay  and  Field, 
173 ;  workshop  at  Edinburgh,  174  ; 
Liverpool  revisited,  177  ;  Man- 
chester, 178  ;  takes  factory  flat, 
182 ;  first  order,  182  ;  trip  to 
Castle  Grant,  187 ;  flat  overloaded, 
193  ;  takes  land  at  Patricroft,  195  ; 
Bridgewater  Foundry  begun,  196  ; 
residence  near,  199  ;  safety  foundry 
ladle,  202  ;  partner  taken,  204  ; 
workshop  lieutenants,  210  ;  the 
strike,  215  ;  marriage,  227 ;  in- 
vents steam  hammer,  231  ;  first 
adopted  in  France,  237 ;  patented, 
239,  242  ;  visit  to  France  and 
Italy,  243-57  ;  steam  pile-driver 
invented  and  employed,  261 ;  visit 
to  Germany  and  Russia,  275  ; 
Dannemora,  287  ;  work  at  Bridge- 
water  Foundry,  295  ;  astronomical 
researches,  311  ;  British  Associa- 
tion at  Edinburgh,  324  ;  interview 
with  the  Queen  and  Prince  Consort, 
333  ;  Trunnion  turn-table  tele- 
scope, 337  ;  papers  for  Astronomi- 
cal Society,  341,  345  ;  member  of 
Enfield  Small  Arms  Committee, 
348  ;  patent  for  puddling  iron  by 
steam,  352  ;  correspondence  with 
Bessemer,  354  ;  retirement  from 
business,  357  ;  the  Cottage  in 
Kent,  359  ;  visits  to  Edinburgh 
and  the  Continent,  365,  367  ; 
willow-leaf  objects  on  sun's  surface, 
370,  378  ;  Sir  John  Ilerschel  at 
Hammerfield,  374  ;  visit  to  Father 


INDEX. 


449 


Secchi,  Rome,  378  ;  publication  of 
"  The  Moon,"  380  ;  dial  of  life, 
384  ;  chronological  list  of  inven- 
tions and  contrivances,  387-431 

Nasmyth,  Mrs.,  32,  53  ;  Misses,  53, 
56,  199 

Nasmyth,  Patrick,  57  ;  removes  to 
London,  59  ;  his  works,  60  ;  prices 
of  works,  61  ;  his  friends,  and 
death,  61,  62 

Nelson's  Monument,  44 

Nethertou,  Naesmyths  of,  4  ;  estate 
confiscated,  6 

Nicholas,  Emperor,  277,  281 

Nismes,  architecture  at,  246,  368  ; 
Pout  du  Gard,  near,  368 

Norman  architecture,  150,  164 

Nuremberg,  276 

Nut-cutting  machine,  141,  397 

OXFORD,  visit  to,  165 

PADDLE-SHAFT,  Great  Britain,  230 

Paris,  visits  to,  243,  368 

Parry,  Sir  E.,  258 

Partners,  204,  358 

Patents,  for  steam  hammer,  239,  242  ; 

steam  pile-driver,  261  ;    puddling 

iron  by  steam,  352 
Patricroft,  155,  195  (see  Bridgewater 

Foundry] 

Patterson,  James,  90 
Peel,  Sir  R.,  works,  185 
Pencil  drawing,  56,  97 
Petersburg,  St.,  276 
Photography,  369 
Pico,  lunar  mountain,  319 
Pile-driver,  steam,  261,  263,  266 
Pillans,  Professor,  366 
Pisa,  buildings  at,  251 
Piston,  safety,  400 
Planes,  standard,  144 
Play  fair,  Professor,  50 
Poker  Club,  34 
Pout  du  Gard,  368 

Posso,  Bairds  of,  3  ;  Naesmyths  of,  2, 4 
Prince  Consort,  interview  with,  333 
Printing  machine,  189 
Prisoners  of  war,  67 
Puddling  iron,  352 
Punctiliousness  at  dockyards,  270 

2 


Pyramid,  sun-ray  origin  of;  432 
QUEEN,  interview  with,  333 

RAEBURN,  Sir  H.,  50 

Ramsay,  Allan,  24 

Ramsbotham,  Mr.  (Crewe),  427 

Ramsbottom,  187 

Reed,  Sir  E.  J.,  408 

Reflecting  telescopes,  169,  312,  337 

344,  392 

Resourcefulness,  faculty  of,  25,  39 
Reversing  action  of  slide  lathe,  404 
Richmond,  trip  to,  132 
Road  steam-carriage,  117 
Roberts,  David,  R.A.,  41,  130,  351 
Roberts   (Sharp,   Roberts,   and  Co.), 

156 

"  Rocket,"  the,  152 
Rock-groovings,  327,  367 
Roller-seal,  Assyrian,  442 
Rolling  mill,  reversible,  427 
Rome,  observatory  at,  378 
Rope  factory,  Russia,  307 
Rosiua,  Naples,  256 
Rosine,  M.,  Indret,  245 
Roslin  Castle,  34 

Rotary,  steam-engine,    175 ;    move- 
ment   of    heavenly   bodies,   345  ; 

mode    of    communicating    rotary 

motion,  396 

Rouen,  architecture  at,  243 
Roy,  Rob,  at  Inversnaid,  10 
Runciman,  Alexander,  23 
Rushton    and   Eckersley,    240,    259, 

353,  425 
Russia,  visit  to,  276  ;  serfs  of,  282  ; 

rope  factory,  307 

SAFETY  Foundry  Ladle,  203 
Safety  valve,  421 
Saint  Bernard's  Well,  43 
Sampler,  Mrs.  Nasmyth's,  15 
Scheme  book,  231,  235 
Schneider,  M.,  Creuzot,  236,  331 
School  of  Arts,  Edinburgh,  109 
Scott,  Sir  Walter,  82-86 
Secchi,  Father,  Rome,  378 
Scgmeutal  work,  turning,  413 
Self-adjusting  bearings,  405 
Siemens  on  solar  light,  343 
Sluice  valve  for  water,  409 


G 


450 


INDEX. 


Smith,  F.  P.,  and  the  screw,  234 

Smith,  Tom,  9,  21 

Society  of  Arts,  Edinburgh,  118 

Spain,  orders  for,  307 

Speculum  casting,  170,  312,  392 

Spots  on  sun,  3/0,  378 

Standard  planes,  144 

Stanfield,  Clarkson,  42,  130 

Stars  and  suns,  311 

Steam  arm,  Nasmyth's,  403 

Steamboat,  the  first,  30 

Steam-carriage  for  roads,  117 

Steam-engine,  model  of,  108  ;   blast 

of,  118  ;  birthplace  of,  161  ;  small, 

301  ;  for  canal  traction,  387 
Steam  hammer,   invented,   231  ;    at 

Creuzot,  237  ;  patent  for,  239,  242 ; 

at  Devonport,  259  ;  in  Russia,  282 ; 

at  Great  Exhibition,  330 
Steam  hammer  form  of  steam-engine, 

331,  424 
Steam  ram,  406 
Steel,  hardening  of,  92  ;  manufacture 

of,  288,  355 

Steen's  rotary  engine,  175 
Stephensons,  the,  152,  228 
Stirling  Castle,  103 
Stockholm,  283,  289 
Stone,  W.  J.,  astronomer,  372 
Strikes,  215,  298 
Struve,  astronomer,  278,  378 
Stubbs,  "  P.  S."  Files,  206 
Stylus,  Assyrian,  439 
Sun,   light    of,    341  ;    "  willow -leaf 

objects"   on,   370,   378;    sun-ray 

origin  of  pyramids,  432 
Sunday  rivet,  48 
Superheated  steam,  390 
Sweden,   visit  to,    283 ;    people   of, 

290 

Syme,  John,  91 
Sympathy  of  activity,  115 

TALKING  Books,  Mr.  Field's,  172 
Tapping  square,  413 


Telescope,  169  ;  reflecting,  312,  337, 

344,  392 
Thrift  boxes,  79 
Tides,  the,  323 
Tolbooth,  Old,  83 
Tomb,  ancestral,  11 
Tootal,  Edward,  155,  182,  299 
Torpedo  ram,  406 
Torry,  Archie,  174,  182,  210 
Toulon  Dockyard,  247 
Trades'  Unions,  209,  213,  297 
Trafford,  Squire,  195 
Trollhatten  Falls,  291 
Trunnion  turn-table  telescope,  337 
Trustees'  Academy,  22,  23 
Tunnels,  method  of  drilling,  428 

UNIONISTS,  Trades,  209,  214,  297 
United  States,  242,  349 
Upsala,  285 

VALVE,  sluice,  409  ;  safety,  421 
Veitch,  Dawick,  4 
Vesuvius,  252  ;  crater  of,  254 
Volcanic  action,   50,    98,   99,   255; 
craters,  254,  319,  320 

WARRINGTON  workmen,  207 
Warwick,  165 
Watson,  William,  90 
Watt,  James,  86,  161 
Welding  of  iron,  269,  418 
Westminster  Abbey,  123,  149 
Whistler,  Major,  276 
Wilkie,  Sir  D.,  50,  130,  223 
Willow-leaf  objects  on  sun,  370,  378 
Wilson,  General,  278,  279 
Windmill  on  workshop,  383 
Windsor,  165 
Witch,  Elspeth  Naesmyth  burnt  as  a, 

7,77 

Woolwich,  171,  304 
Worsley  labourers,  208 
Wren  and  Bennett,  181 
Wrinkles,  indicating  age,  320 
Wyon,  Royal  Mint,  108 


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LIBRARY 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS