an autobiography-第29节
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y 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 Cassiliswhose 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 accompany him in his beautiful small steam yacht； the Endeavour； from Westminster to Richmond Bridge； and afterwards to dine with him at the Star and Garter。 I 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 extending 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 bloom； which partially shaded the quaint old mansions of Cheyne Row； on the other。 Alas！ the march of improvement and the inevitable extension of the metropolis is rapidly destroying these vestiges of the 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〃 Dilapidated 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 forgetting the delicate streams of thin blue smoke rising lazily through the trees in the tranquil summer air； and reminding 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 landscape 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 about in the neighbourhood 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 an 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。 He 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 bed？ 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 8。 Maudslay's Private Assistant
On the morning of Monday； the 30th of May 1829； I commenced my regular attendance at Mr。 Maudslay's workshop。 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 V or angle…threaded tool。 And in order to generate or produce right hand or left hand screws； all that was necessary was to set the knife…edged instrument to a right or left hand inclination 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
