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第79节

industrial biography-第79节

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pleasure he experienced during that period was when packmen came

round with their stores of clothing and hardware; and displayed them

for sale; he eagerly listened to all that such visitors had to tell

of the ongoings of the world beyond the valley。



The people of the Knocknalling district were very poor。  The greater

part of them were unable to support the younger members; whose custom

it was to move off elsewhere in search of a living when they arrived

at working years;some to America; some to the West Indies; and some

to the manufacturing districts of the south。  Whole families took

their departure in this way; and the few friendships which Kennedy

formed amongst those of his own age were thus suddenly snapped; and

only a great blank remained。  But he too could follow their example;

and enter upon that wider world in which so many others had ventured

and succeeded。  As early as eight years of age; his mother still

impressing upon her boys the necessity of learning to work; John

gathered courage to say to her that he wished to leave home and

apprentice himself to some handicraft business。  Having seen some

carpenters working in the neighbourhood; with good clothes on their

backs; and hearing the men's characters well spoken of; he thought it

would be a fine thing to be a carpenter too; particularly as the

occupation would enable him to move from place to place and see the

world。  He was as yet; however; of too tender an age to set out on the

journey of life; but when he was about eleven years old; Adam Murray;

one of his most intimate acquaintances; having gone off to serve an

apprenticeship in Lancashire with Mr。 Cannan of Chowbent; himself a

native of the district; the event again awakened in him a strong

desire to migrate from Knocknalling。  Others had gone after Murray;

James MacConnel and two or three more; and at length; at about

fourteen years of age; Kennedy himself left his native home for

Lancashire。  About the time that he set out; Paul Jones was ravaging

the coasts of Galloway; and producing general consternation

throughout the district。  Great excitement also prevailed through the

occurrence of the Gordon riots in London; which extended into remote

country places; and Kennedy remembered being nearly frightened out of

his wits on one occasion by a poor dominie whose school he attended;

who preached to his boys about the horrors that were coming upon the

land through the introduction of Popery。  The boy set out for England

on the 2nd of February; 1784; mounted upon a Galloway; his little

package of clothes and necessaries strapped behind him。  As he passed

along the glen; recognising each familiar spot; his heart was in his

mouth; and he dared scarcely trust himself to look back。  The ground

was covered with snow; and nature quite frozen up。  He had the company

of his brother Alexander as far as the town of New Galloway; where he

slept the first night。  The next day; accompanied by one of his future

masters; Mr。 James Smith; a partner of Mr。 Cannan's; who had

originally entered his service as a workman; they started on ponyback

for Dumfries。  After a long day's ride; they entered the town in the

evening; and amongst the things which excited the boy's surprise were

the few street…lamps of the town; and a waggon with four horses and

four wheels。  In his remote valley carts were as yet unknown; and even

in Dumfries itself they were comparative rarities; the common means

of transport in the district being what were called 〃tumbling cars。〃

The day after; they reached Longtown; and slept there; the boy noting

ANOTHER lamp。  The next stage was to Carlisle; where Mr。 Smith; whose

firm had supplied a carding engine and spinning…jenny to a small

manufacturer in the town; went to 〃gate〃 and trim them。  One was put

up in a small house; the other in a small room; and the sight of

these machines was John Kennedy's first introduction to

cotton…spinning。  While going up the inn…stairs he was amazed and not

a little alarmed at seeing two men in armourhe had heard of the

battles between the Scots and Englishand believed these to be some

of the fighting men; though they proved to be but effigies。  Five more

days were occupied in travelling southward; the resting places being

at Penrith; Kendal; Preston; and Chorley; the two travellers arriving

at Chowbent on Sunday the 8th of February; 1784。  Mr。 Cannan seems to

have collected about him a little colony of Scotsmen; mostly from the

same neighbourhood; and in the evening there was quite an assembly of

them at the 〃Bear's Paw;〃 where Kennedy put up; to hear the tidings

from their native county brought by the last new comer。  On the

following morning the boy began his apprenticeship as a carpenter

with the firm of Cannan and Smith; serving seven years for his meat

and clothing。  He applied himself to his trade; and became a good;

steady workman。  He was thoughtful and self…improving; always

endeavouring to acquire knowledge of new arts and to obtain insight

into new machines。  〃Even in early life;〃 said he; in the account of

his career addressed to his children; 〃I felt a strong desire to know

what others knew; and was always ready to communicate what little I

knew myself; and by admitting at once my want of education; I found

that I often made friends of those on whom I had no claims beyond

what an ardent desire for knowledge could give me。〃



His apprenticeship over; John Kennedy commenced business*

 'footnote。。。

One of the reasons which induced Kennedy thus early to begin the

business of mule…spinning has been related as follows。  While employed

as apprentice at Chowbent; he happened to sleep over the master's

apartment; and late one evening; on the latter returning from market;

his wife asked his success。  〃I've sold the eightys;〃 said he; 〃at a

guinea a pound。〃  〃What;〃 exclaimed the mistress; in a loud voice;

〃sold the eightys for ONLY a guinea a pound!  I never heard of such a

thing。〃  The apprentice could not help overhearing the remark; and it

set him a…thinking。  He knew the price of cotton and the price of

labour; and concluded there must be a very large margin of profit。  So

soon as he was out of his time; therefore; he determined that he

should become a cotton spinner。

 。。。'

in a small way in Manchester in 1791; in conjunction with two other

workmen; Sandford and MacConnel。  Their business was machine…making

and mule…spinning; Kennedy taking the direction of the machine

department。  The firm at first put up their mules for spinning in any

convenient garrets they could hire at a low rental。  After some time;

they took part of a small factory in Canal Street; and carried on

their business on a larger scale。  Kennedy and MacConnel afterwards

occupied a little factory in the same street;since removed to give

place to Fairbairn's large machine works。  The progress of the firm

was steady and even rapid; and they went on building mills and

extending their businessMr。 Kennedy; as he advanced in life;

gathering honour; wealth; and troops of friends。  Notwithstanding the

defects of his early education; he was one of the few men of his

class who became distinguished for his literary labours in connexion

principally with the cotton trade。  Towards the close of his life; he

prepared several papers of great interest for the Literary and

Philosophical Society of Manchester; which are to be found printed in

their Proceedings; one of these; on the Invention of the Mule by

Samuel Crompton; was for a long time the only record which the public

possessed of the merits and claims of that distinguished inventor。

His knowledge of the history of the cotton manufacture in its various

stages; and of mechanical inventions generally; was most extensive

and accurate。  Among his friends he numbered James Watt; who placed

his son in his establishment for the purpose of acquiring knowledge

and experience of his profession。  At a much later period he numbered

George Stephenson among his friends; having been one of the first

directors of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway; and one of the

three judges (selected because of his sound judgment and proved

impartiality; as well as his knowledge of mechanical engineering) to

adjudicate on the celebrated competition of Locomotives at Rainhill。

By these successive steps did this poor Scotch boy become one of the

leading men of Manchester; closing his long and useful life in 1855

at an advanced age; his mental faculties remaining clear and

unclouded to the last。  His departure from life was happy and

tranquilso easy that it was for a time doubtful whether he was dead

or asleep。



To return to Mr。 Fairbairn's career; and his progress as a millwright

and engineer in Manchester。  When he and his partner undertook the

extensive alterations in Mr。 Murray's factory; both were in a great

measure unacquainted with the working of cotton…mills; having until

then been occupied princ

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