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are evidently THE IMMEDIATE SOURCES OF THE SOLAR LIGHT AND HEAT; by

whatever mechanism or whatever processes they may be enabled to

develope and; as it were; elaborate these elements from the bosom of

the non…luminous fluid in which they appear to float。  Looked at in

this point of view; we cannot refuse to regard them as organisms of

some peculiar and amazing kind; and though it would be too daring to

speak of such organization as partaking of the nature of life; yet we

do know that vital action is competent to develop heat and light; as

well as electricity。  These wonderful objects have been seen by others

as well as Mr。 Nasmyth; so that them is no room to doubt of their

reality。〃*

 'footnote。。。

SIR JOHN HERSCHEL in Good Words for April; 1863。

 。。。'



Such is the marvellous discovery made by the inventor of the

steam…hammer; as described by the most distinguished astronomer of

the age。  A writer in the Edinburgh Review; referring to the subject

in a recent number; says it shows him 〃to possess an intellect as

profound as it is expert。〃  Doubtless his training as a mechanic; his

habits of close observation and his ready inventiveness; which

conferred so much power on him as an engineer; proved of equal

advantage to him when labouring in the domain of physical science。

Bringing a fresh mind; of keen perception; to his new studies; and

uninfluenced by preconceived opinions; he saw them in new and

original lights; and hence the extraordinary discovery above

described by Sir John Herschel。



Some two hundred years since; a member of the Nasmyth family; Jean

Nasmyth of Hamilton; was burnt for a witchone of the last martyrs

to ignorance and superstition in Scotlandbecause she read her

Bible with two pairs of spectacles。  Had Mr。 Nasmyth himself lived

then; he might; with his two telescopes of his own making; which

bring the sun and moon into his chamber for him to examine and paint;

have been taken for a sorcerer。  But fortunately for him; and still

more so for us; Mr。 Nasmyth stands before the public of this age as

not only one of its ablest mechanics; but as one of the most

accomplished and original of scientific observers。





CHAPTER XVI。



WILLIAM FAIRBAIRN。



〃In science there is work for all hands; more or less skilled; and he

is usually the most fit to occupy the higher posts who has risen from

the ranks; and has experimentally acquainted himself with the nature

of the work to be done in each and every; even the humblest

department。〃  J。 D。 Forbes。





The development of the mechanical industry of England has been so

rapid; especially as regards the wonders achieved by the

machine…tools above referred to; that it may almost be said to have

been accomplished within the life of the present generation。  〃When I

first entered this city; said Mr。Fairbairn; in his inaugural address

as President of the British Association at Manchester in 1861; 〃the

whole of the machinery was executed by hand。  There were neither

planing; slotting; nor shaping machines; and; with the exception of

very imperfect lathes and a few drills; the preparatory operations of

construction were effected entirely by the hands of the workmen。  Now;

everything is done by machine…tools with a degree of accuracy which

the unaided hand could never accomplish。  The automaton or self…acting

machine…tool has within itself an almost creative power; in fact; so

great are its powers of adaptation; that there is no operation of the

human hand that it does not imitate。〃  In a letter to the author; Mr。

Fairbairn says; 〃The great pioneers of machine…tool…making were

Maudslay; Murray of Leeds; Clement and Fox of Derby; who were ably

followed by Nasmyth; Roberts; and Whitworth; of Manchester; and Sir

Peter Fairbairn of Leeds; and Mr。 Fairbairn might well have added; by

himself;for he has been one of the most influential and successful

of mechanical engineers。



William Fairbairn was born at Kelso on the 19th of February; 1787。

His parents occupied a humble but respectable position in life。  His

father; Andrew Fairbairn; was the son of a gardener in the employment

of Mr。 Baillie of Mellerston; and lived at Smailholm; a village lying

a few miles west of Kelso。  Tracing the Fairbairns still further back;

we find several of them occupying the station of 〃portioners;〃 or

small lairds; at Earlston on the Tweed; where the family had been

settled since the days of the Solemn League and Covenant。  By his

mother's side; the subject of our memoir is supposed to be descended

from the ancient Border family of Douglas。



While Andrew Fairbairn (William's father) lived at Smailholm; Walter

Scott was living with his grandmother in Smailholm or Sandyknowe

Tower; whither he had been sent from Edinburgh in the hope that

change of air would help the cure of his diseased hip…joint; and

Andrew; being nine years his senior; and a strong youth for his age;

was accustomed to carry the little patient about in his arms; until

he was able to walk by himself。  At a later period; when Miss Scott;

Walter's aunt; removed from Smailholm to Kelso; the intercourse

between the families was renewed。  Scott was then an Edinburgh

advocate; engaged in collecting materials for his Minstrelsy of the

Scottish Border; or; as his aunt described his pursuit; 〃running

after the auld wives of the country gatherin' havers。〃  He used

frequently to read over by the fireside in the evening the results of

his curious industry; which; however; were not very greatly

appreciated by his nearest relatives; and they did not scruple to

declare that for the 〃Advocate〃 to go about collecting 〃ballants〃 was

mere waste of time as well as money。



William Fairbairn's first schoolmaster was a decrepit old man who

went by the name of 〃Bowed Johnnie Ker;〃a Cameronian; with a nasal

twang; which his pupils learnt much more readily than they did his

lessons in reading and arithmetic; notwithstanding a liberal use of

〃the tawse。〃  Yet Johnnie had a taste for music; and taught his pupils

to SING their reading lessons; which was reckoned quite a novelty in

education。  After a short time our scholar was transferred to the

parish…school of the town; kept by a Mr。 White; where he was placed

under the charge of a rather severe helper; who; instead of the

tawse; administered discipline by means of his knuckles; hard as

horn; which he applied with a peculiar jerk to the crania of his

pupils。  At this school Willie Fairbairn lost the greater part of the

singing accomplishments which he had acquired under 〃Bowed Johnnie;〃

but he learnt in lieu of them to read from Scott and Barrow's

collections of prose and poetry; while he obtained some knowledge of

arithmetic; in which he proceeded as far as practice and the rule of

three。  This constituted his whole stock of school…learning up to his

tenth year。  Out of school…hours he learnt to climb the ruined walls

of the old abbey of the town; and there was scarcely an arch; or

tower; or cranny of it with which he did not become familiar。



When in his twelfth year; his father; who had been brought up to

farm…work; and possessed considerable practical knowledge of

agriculture; was offered the charge of a farm at Moy in Ross…shire;

belonging to Lord Seaforth of Brahan Castle。  The farm was of about

300 acres; situated on the banks of the river Conan; some five miles

from the town of Dingwall。  The family travelled thither in a covered

cart; a distance of 200 miles; through a very wild and hilly country;

arriving at their destination at the end of October; 1799。  The farm;

when reached; was found overgrown with whins and brushwood; and

covered in many places with great stones and rocks; it was; in short;

as nearly in a state of nature as it was possible to be。  The house

intended for the farmer's reception was not finished; and Andrew

Fairbairn; with his wife and five children; had to take temporary

refuge in a miserable hovel; very unlike the comfortable house which

they had quitted at Kelso。  By next spring; however; the new house was

ready; and Andrew Fairbairn set vigorously to work at the reclamation

of the land。  After about two years' labours it exhibited an

altogether different appearance; and in place of whins and stones

there were to be seen heavy crops of barley and turnips。  The barren

years of 1800 and 1801; however; pressed very hardly on Andrew

Fairbairn as on every other farmer of arable land。  About that time;

Andrew's brother Peter; who acted as secretary to Lord Seaforth; and

through whose influence the former had obtained the farm; left Brahan

Castle for the West Indies with his Lordship; whonotwithstanding

his being both deaf and dumb  had been appointed to the

Governorship of Barbadoes; and in consequence of various difficulties

which occurred shortly after his leaving; Andrew Fairbairn found it

necessary to give up his holding; whereupon he engaged as steward to

Mackenzie o

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