太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > industrial biography >

第26节

industrial biography-第26节

小说: industrial biography 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




of Ketley; in Shropshire; stepped from the accustomed path;

constructed the first inclined plane; and introduced boats of five

tons。  This; like the Duke's canal; was deemed a visionary project;

and particularly by his Grace; who was partial to locks; yet this is

also introduced into practice; and will in many instances supersede

lock canals。〃  Telford; the engineer; also gracefully acknowledged the

valuable assistance he received from William Reynolds in planning the

iron aqueduct by means of which the Ellesmere Canal was carried over

the Pont Cysylltau; and in executing the necessary castings for the

purpose at the Ketley foundry。



The future management of his extensive ironworks being thus placed in

able hands; Richard Reynolds finally left Coalbrookdale in 1804; for

Bristol; his native town; where he spent the remainder of his life in

works of charity and mercy。  Here we might leave the subject; but

cannot refrain from adding a few concluding words as to the moral

characteristics of this truly good man。  Though habitually religious;

he was neither demure nor morose; but cheerful; gay; and humorous。  He

took great interest in the pleasures of the young people about him;

and exerted himself in all ways to promote their happiness。  He was

fond of books; pictures; poetry; and music; though the indulgence of

artistic tastes is not thought becoming in the Society to which he

belonged。  His love for the beauties of nature amounted almost to a

passion; and when living at The Bank; near Ketley; it was his great

delight in the summer evenings to retire with his pipe to a rural

seat commanding a full view of the Wrekin; the Ercall Woods; with

Cader Idris and the Montgomeryshire hills in the distance; and watch

the sun go down in the west in his glory。  Once in every year he

assembled a large party to spend a day with him on the Wrekin; and

amongst those invited were the principal clerks in the company's

employment; together with their families。  At Madeley; near

Coalbrookdale; where he bought a property; he laid out; for the

express use of the workmen; extensive walks through the woods on

Lincoln Hill; commanding beautiful views。  They were called 〃The

Workmen's Walks;〃 and were a source of great enjoyment to them and

their families; especially on Sunday afternoons。



When Mr。 Reynolds went to London on business; he was accustomed to

make a round of visits; on his way home; to places remarkable for

their picturesque beauty; such as Stowe; Hagley Park; and the

Leasowes。  After a visit to the latter place in 1767; he thus; in a

letter to his friend John Maccappen; vindicated his love for the

beautiful in nature:   〃I think it not only lawful but expedient to

cultivate a disposition to be pleased with the beauties of nature; by

frequent indulgences for that purpose。  The mind; by being continually

applied to the consideration of ways and means to gain money;

contracts an indifferency if not an insensibility to the profusion of

beauties which the benevolent Creator has impressed upon every part

of the material creation。  A sordid love of gold; the possession of

what gold can purchase; and the reputation of being rich; have so

depraved the finer feelings of some men; that they pass through the

most delightful grove; filled with the melody of nature; or listen to

the murmurings of the brook in the valley; with as little pleasure

and with no more of the vernal delight which Milton describes; than

they feel in passing through some obscure alley in a town。〃



When in the prime of life; Mr。 Reynolds was an excellent rider;

performing all his journeys on horseback。  He used to give a ludicrous

account of a race he once ran with another youth; each having a lady

seated on a pillion behind him; Mr。 Reynolds reached the goal first;

but when he looked round he found that he had lost his fair

companion; who had fallen off in the race! On another occasion he had

a hard run with Lord Thurlow during a visit paid by the latter to the

Ketley Iron…Works。  Lord Thurlow pulled up his horse first; and

observed; laughing; 〃I think; Mr。 Reynolds; this is probably the

first time that ever a Lord Chancellor rode a race with a Quaker!〃

But a stranger rencontre was one which befel Mr。 Reynolds on

Blackheath。  Though he declined Government orders for cannon; he seems

to have had a secret hankering after the 〃pomp and circumstance〃 of

military life。  At all event's he was present on Blackheath one day

when George III。 was reviewing some troops。  Mr。 Reynold's horse; an

old trooper; no sooner heard the sound of the trumpet than he started

off at full speed; and made directly for the group of officers before

whom the troops were defiling。  Great was the surprise of the King

when he saw the Quaker draw up alongside of him; but still greater;

perhaps; was the confusion of the Quaker at finding himself in such

company。



During the later years of his life; while living at Bristol; his hand

was in every good work; and it was often felt where it was not seen。

For he carefully avoided ostentation; and preferred doing his good in

secret。  He strongly disapproved of making charitable bequests by

will; which he observed in many cases to have been the foundation of

enormous abuses; but held it to be the duty of each man to do all the

possible good that he could during his lifetime。  Many were the

instances of his princely; though at the time unknown; munificence。

Unwilling to be recognised as the giver of large sums; he employed

agents to dispense his anonymous benefactions。  He thus sent 20;000L。

to London to be distributed during the distress of 1795。  He had four

almoners constantly employed in Bristol; finding out cases of

distress; relieving them; and presenting their accounts to him

weekly; with details of the cases relieved。  He searched the debtors'

prisons; and where; as often happened; deserving but unfortunate men

were found confined for debt; he paid the claims against them and

procured their release。  Such a man could not fail to be followed with

blessings and gratitude; but these he sought to direct to the Giver

of all Good。  〃My talent;〃 said he to a friend; 〃is the meanest of all

talentsa little sordid dust; but as the man in the parable who had

but one talent was held accountable; I also am accountable for the

talent that I possess; humble as it is; to the great Lord of all。〃  On

one occasion the case of a poor orphan boy was submitted to him;

whose parents; both dying young; had left him destitute; on which Mr。

Reynolds generously offered to place a sum in the names of trustees

for his education and maintenance until he could be apprenticed to a

business。  The lady who represented the case was so overpowered by the

munificence of the act that she burst into tears; and; struggling to

express her gratitude; concluded with〃and when the dear child is

old enough; I will teach him to thank his benefactor。〃  〃Thou must

teach him to look higher;〃 interrupted Reynolds:  〃Do we thank the

clouds for rain? When the child grows up; teach him to thank Him who

sendeth both the clouds and the rain。〃  Reynolds himself deplored his

infirmity of temper; which was by nature hasty; and; as his

benevolence was known; and appeals were made to him at all times;

seasonable and unseasonable; he sometimes met them with a sharp word;

which; however; he had scarcely uttered before he repented of it:  and

he is known to have followed a poor woman to her home and ask

forgiveness for having spoken hastily in answer to her application

for help。



This 〃great good man〃 died on the l0th of September; 1816; in the

81st year of his age。  At his funeral the poor of Bristol were the

chief mourners。  The children of the benevolent societies which he had

munificently supported during his lifetime; and some of which he had

founded; followed his body to the grave。  The procession was joined by

the clergy and ministers of all denominations; and by men of all

classes and persuasions。  And thus was Richard Reynolds laid to his

rest; leaving behind him a name full of good odour; which will long

be held in grateful remembrance by the inhabitants of Bristol。





CHAPTER VI。



INVENTION OF CAST STEELBENJAMIN HUNTSMAN。



〃It may be averred that as certainly as the age of iron superseded

that of bronze; so will the age of steel reign triumphant over

iron。〃 HENRY BESSEMER。



〃Aujourd'hui la revolution que devait amener en Grande…Bretagne la

memorable decouverte de Benjamin Huntsman est tout a fait

accomplie; et chaque jour les consequetces sen feront plus vivement

sentir sur le confinent。〃LE PLAY; Sur la Fabricatio n de l' Acier

en Yorkshire。





Iron; besides being used in various forms as bar and cast iron; is

also used in various forms as bar and cast steel; and it is

principally because of its many admirable qualities in these latter

forms that iron maintains its supremacy over all the other m

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的