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С˵£º industrial biography ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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Edinburgh£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡19th¡¡of¡¡August£»¡¡1808£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡early

directed¡¡to¡¡mechanics¡¡by¡¡the¡¡circumstance¡¡of¡¡this¡¡being¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his

father's¡¡hobbies¡£¡¡¡¡Besides¡¡being¡¡an¡¡excellent¡¡painter£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Nasmyth¡¡had

a¡¡good¡¡general¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡architecture¡¡and¡¡civil¡¡engineering£»¡¡and

could¡¡work¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lathe¡¡and¡¡handle¡¡tools¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dexterity¡¡of¡¡a

mechanic¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡employed¡¡nearly¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡his¡¡spare¡¡time¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little

workshop¡¡which¡¡adjoined¡¡his¡¡studio£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡encouraged¡¡his¡¡youngest

son¡¡to¡¡work¡¡with¡¡him¡¡in¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡materials¡£¡¡¡¡Among¡¡his¡¡visitors¡¡at

the¡¡studio¡¡were¡¡Professor¡¡Leslie£»¡¡Patrick¡¡Miller¡¡of¡¡Dalswinton£»¡¡and

other¡¡men¡¡of¡¡distinction¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡assisted¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Miller¡¡in¡¡his¡¡early

experiments¡¡with¡¡paddle¡­boats£»¡¡which¡¡eventually¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡invention

of¡¡the¡¡steamboat¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡advantage¡¡for¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡trained

by¡¡a¡¡father¡¡who¡¡so¡¡loved¡¡excellence¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡forms£»¡¡and¡¡could

minister¡¡to¡¡his¡¡love¡¡of¡¡mechanics¡¡by¡¡his¡¡own¡¡instruction¡¡and

practice¡£¡¡¡¡James¡¡used¡¡to¡¡drink¡¡in¡¡with¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡profit¡¡the

conversation¡¡which¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡his¡¡father¡¡and¡¡his¡¡visitors¡¡on

scientific¡¡and¡¡mechanical¡¡subjects£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡became¡¡older£»¡¡the

resolve¡¡grew¡¡stronger¡¡in¡¡him¡¡every¡¡day¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡mechanical

engineer£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡else¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡age£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡High

School£»¡¡then¡¡as¡¡now¡¡celebrated¡¡for¡¡the¡¡excellence¡¡of¡¡its¡¡instruction£»

and¡¡there¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡foundations¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡and¡¡liberal¡¡education¡£

But¡¡he¡¡has¡¡himself¡¡told¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡story¡¡of¡¡his¡¡early¡¡life¡¡in¡¡such

graphic¡¡terms¡¡that¡¡we¡¡feel¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡do¡¡better¡¡than¡¡quote¡¡his¡¡own

words£º¡¡¡¡

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embodied¡¡by¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡lectures¡¡on¡¡¡¨Self¡¡Help£»¡¨¡¡delivered¡¡before¡¡the

Holy¡¡Trinity¡¡Working¡¡Men's¡¡Association¡¡of¡¡that¡¡town£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡18th¡¡and

20th¡¡March£»¡¡1862£»¡¡the¡¡account¡¡having¡¡been¡¡kindly¡¡corrected¡¡by¡¡Mr¡£

Nasmyth¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present¡¡publication¡£

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son¡¡of¡¡an¡¡iron¡¡founder¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡spare¡¡hour¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡command¡¡was

devoted¡¡to¡¡visits¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡iron¡¡foundry£»¡¡where¡¡I¡¡delighted¡¡to

watch¡¡the¡¡various¡¡processes¡¡of¡¡moulding£»¡¡iron¡­melting£»¡¡casting£»

forging£»¡¡pattern¡­making£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡smith¡¡and¡¡metal¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡although

I¡¡was¡¡only¡¡about¡¡twelve¡¡years¡¡old¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡lend¡¡a¡¡hand£»

in¡¡which¡¡hearty¡¡zeal¡¡did¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡to¡¡make¡¡up¡¡for¡¡want¡¡of¡¡strength¡£

I¡¡look¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Saturday¡¡afternoons¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡workshops¡¡of¡¡that

small¡¡foundry£»¡¡as¡¡an¡¡important¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my¡¡education¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡trust

to¡¡reading¡¡about¡¡such¡¡and¡¡such¡¡things£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡and¡¡handled¡¡them£»¡¡and

all¡¡the¡¡ideas¡¡in¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡them¡¡became¡¡permanent¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡I

also¡¡obtained¡¡therewhat¡¡was¡¡of¡¡much¡¡value¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡after¡¡life

a¡¡considerable¡¡acquaintance¡¡with¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡and¡¡characters¡¡of

workmen¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡the¡¡time¡¡I¡¡was¡¡fifteen£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡work¡¡and¡¡turn¡¡out¡¡really

respectable¡¡jobs¡¡in¡¡wood£»¡¡brass£»¡¡iron£»¡¡and¡¡steel£º¡¡¡¡indeed£»¡¡in¡¡the

working¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡inestimable¡¡material£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡at¡¡a¡¡very¡¡early¡¡age

£¨eleven¡¡or¡¡twelve£©¡¡acquired¡¡considerable¡¡proficiency¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the

pre¡­lucifer¡¡match¡¡period£»¡¡the¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡a¡¡steel¡¡and¡¡tinder¡¡box

was¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡patent¡¡of¡¡nobility¡¡among¡¡boys¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡forge¡¡old

files¡¡into¡¡'steels'¡¡in¡¡my¡¡father's¡¡little¡¡workshop£»¡¡and¡¡harden¡¡them

and¡¡produce¡¡such¡¡first¡­rate£»¡¡neat¡¡little¡¡articles¡¡in¡¡that¡¡line£»¡¡that

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have¡¡I¡¡had¡¡excused¡¡me¡¡by¡¡bribing¡¡the¡¡monitor£»¡¡whose¡¡grim¡¡sense¡¡of

duty¡¡never¡¡could¡¡withstand¡¡the¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡a¡¡steel¡£



¡¨My¡¡first¡¡essay¡¡at¡¡making¡¡a¡¡steam¡¡engine¡¡was¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡fifteen¡£¡¡¡¡I

then¡¡made¡¡a¡¡real¡¡working£»¡¡steam¡­engine£»¡¡1¡¡3/4¡¡diameter¡¡cylinder£»¡¡and

8¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¡stroke£»¡¡which¡¡not¡¡only¡¡could¡¡act£»¡¡but¡¡really¡¡did¡¡some¡¡useful

work£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡made¡¡it¡¡grind¡¡the¡¡oil¡¡colours¡¡which¡¡my¡¡father¡¡required

for¡¡his¡¡painting¡£¡¡¡¡Steam¡¡engine¡¡models£»¡¡now¡¡so¡¡common£»¡¡were

exceedingly¡¡scarce¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡be¡¡had£»¡¡and

as¡¡the¡¡demand¡¡for¡¡them¡¡arose£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡it¡¡both¡¡delightful¡¡and

profitable¡¡to¡¡make¡¡them£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡sectional¡¡models¡¡of¡¡steam

engines£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡introduced¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡exhibiting¡¡the

movements¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡parts£»¡¡both¡¡exterior¡¡and¡¡interior¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the

results¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sale¡¡of¡¡such¡¡models¡¡I¡¡was¡¡enabled¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of

tickets¡¡of¡¡admission¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lectures¡¡on¡¡natural¡¡philosophy¡¡and

chemistry¡¡delivered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡University¡¡of¡¡Edinburgh¡£¡¡¡¡About¡¡the¡¡same

time¡¡£¨1826£©¡¡I¡¡was¡¡so¡¡happy¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡employed¡¡by¡¡Professor¡¡Leslie¡¡in

making¡¡models¡¡and¡¡portions¡¡of¡¡apparatus¡¡required¡¡by¡¡him¡¡for¡¡his

lectures¡¡and¡¡philosophical¡¡investigations£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡also¡¡the

inestimable¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡his¡¡friendship¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡admirably

clear¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡communicating¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fundamental

principles¡¡of¡¡mechanical¡¡science¡¡rendered¡¡my¡¡intercourse¡¡with¡¡him¡¡of

the¡¡utmost¡¡importance¡¡to¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡hearty£»¡¡cheerful£»¡¡earnest¡¡desire

to¡¡toil¡¡in¡¡his¡¡service£»¡¡caused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡take¡¡pleasure¡¡in¡¡instructing¡¡me

by¡¡occasional¡¡explanations¡¡of¡¡what¡¡might¡¡otherwise¡¡have¡¡remained

obscure¡£



¡¨About¡¡the¡¡years¡¡1827¡¡and¡¡1828£»¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡steam¡­carriages¡¡for

common¡¡roads¡¡occupied¡¡much¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡tried

to¡¡solve¡¡the¡¡problem¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡made¡¡a¡¡working¡¡model¡¡of¡¡an¡¡engine¡¡which

performed¡¡so¡¡well¡¡that¡¡some¡¡friends¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡give¡¡me¡¡the¡¡means

of¡¡making¡¡one¡¡on¡¡a¡¡larger¡¡scale¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡I¡¡did£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never¡¡forget

the¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡the¡¡downright¡¡hard¡¡work¡¡I¡¡had¡¡in¡¡producing£»¡¡in¡¡the

autumn¡¡of¡¡1828£»¡¡at¡¡an¡¡outlay¡¡of¡¡60L¡££»¡¡a¡¡complete¡¡steam¡­carriage£»¡¡that

ran¡¡many¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡with¡¡eight¡¡persons¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡keeping¡¡it¡¡in¡¡action

two¡¡months£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡satisfaction¡¡of¡¡all¡¡who¡¡were¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡my

friends¡¡allowed¡¡me¡¡to¡¡dispose¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡sold¡¡it¡¡a¡¡great¡¡bargain£»

after¡¡which¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡was¡¡used¡¡in¡¡driving¡¡a¡¡small¡¡factory¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡may

mention¡¡that¡¡in¡¡that¡¡engine¡¡I¡¡employed¡¡the¡¡waste¡¡steam¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡an

increased¡¡draught¡¡by¡¡its¡¡discharge¡¡up¡¡the¡¡chimney¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡important¡¡use

of¡¡the¡¡waste¡¡steam¡¡had¡¡been¡¡introduced¡¡by¡¡George¡¡Stephenson¡¡some

years¡¡before£»¡¡though¡¡entirely¡¡unknown¡¡to¡¡me¡£



¡¨The¡¡earnest¡¡desire¡¡which¡¡I¡¡cherished¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡the¡¡real

business¡¡of¡¡life¡¡induced¡¡me¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡my¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡obtaining

employment¡¡in¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡engineering¡¡establishments¡¡of¡¡the

day£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡which£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡fancy¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡in¡¡reality£»¡¡stood

that¡¡of¡¡Henry¡¡Maudslay£»¡¡of¡¡London¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡summit¡¡of¡¡my¡¡ambition

to¡¡get¡¡work¡¡in¡¡that¡¡establishment£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡my¡¡father¡¡had¡¡not¡¡the¡¡means

of¡¡paying¡¡a¡¡premium£»¡¡I¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡try¡¡what¡¡I¡¡could¡¡do¡¡towards

attaining¡¡my¡¡object¡¡by¡¡submitting¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Maudslay¡¡actual¡¡specimens¡¡of

my¡¡capability¡¡as¡¡a¡¡young¡¡workman¡¡and¡¡draughtsman¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡this¡¡end¡¡I¡¡set

to¡¡work¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡small¡¡steam¡­engine£»¡¡every¡¡part¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡the

result¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡handiwork£»¡¡including¡¡the¡¡casting¡¡and¡¡the¡¡forging¡¡of

the¡¡several¡¡parts¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡style¡¡as¡¡I¡¡should¡¡even

now¡¡be¡¡proud¡¡of¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡sample¡¡drawings¡¡were£»¡¡I¡¡may¡¡say£»¡¡highly

respectable¡£¡¡¡¡Armed¡¡with¡¡such¡¡means¡¡of¡¡obtaining¡¡the¡¡good¡¡opinion¡¡of

the¡¡great¡¡Henry¡¡Maudslay£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡l9th¡¡of¡¡May£»¡¡1829£»¡¡I¡¡sailed¡¡for

London¡¡in¡¡a¡¡Leith¡¡smack£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡an¡¡eight¡¡days'¡¡voyage¡¡saw¡¡the

metropolis¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡made¡¡bold¡¡to¡¡call¡¡on¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Maudslay£»

and¡¡told¡¡him¡¡my¡¡simple¡¡tale¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡desired¡¡me¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡my¡¡models¡¡for¡¡him

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expression¡¡of¡¡his¡¡cheerful£»¡¡well¡­remembered¡¡countenance£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had

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private¡¡workman£»¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡little¡¡paradise¡¡of¡¡a¡¡workshop£»

furnished¡¡with¡¡the¡¡models¡¡of¡¡improved¡¡machinery¡¡and¡¡engineering¡¡tools

of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡great¡¡originator¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡left¡¡me¡¡to¡¡arrange¡¡as

to¡¡wages¡¡with¡¡his¡¡chief¡¡cashier£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Robert¡¡Young£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first

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of¡¡him¡¡about¡¡my¡¡pay¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡what¡¡would¡¡satisfy¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Knowing¡¡the

value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡I¡¡had¡¡obtained£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡a¡¡very¡¡modest

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to¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡well¡¡do¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡delight¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡when¡¡I

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to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡money¡¡support¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡help¡¡me¡¡in¡¡this¡¡object£»¡¡I¡¡contrived

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