an autobiography-第32节
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o do with the effective machinery* ＇footnote。。。 I may mention another saying of Mr。 Maudslay's。 Besides his observation that 〃in going from London to Greenwich we must not go round by Inverness；〃 he said； 〃We must not become too complicated with our machinery。 Remember the get…at…ability of parts。 If we go on as some mechanics are doing； we shall soon be boiling our eggs with a chronometer！〃 。。。＇ that comes forth from our workshops； and merely show the mastery we possess over materials and mechanical forms。 The original of this measuring machine of Maudslay's was exhibited at the Loan Collection at South Kensington in 1878。 It is now treasured up； with other relics of his handiwork； in a cabinet at the Lambeth works。 While writing upon this subject it may be worthy of remark； that the employment of a screw as the means of adjusting the points or reference marks of a measuring instrument； for the ascertainment of minute distances between objects； was first effected by William Gascoigne； about the year 1648。 There can be no doubt that he was the inventor of the Micrometeran instrument that； when applied （as he first did so） to the eye…piece of the Telescope； has been the means of advancing the science of astronomy to its present high position （See Grant's History of Astronomy； p。 453）
I had abundant occupation for my leisure time after my regular attendance at the factory was over。 I had not only the opportunity of studying mechanics； but of studying men。 It is a great thing to know the character of those who are over you as well as those who are under you。 It is also well to know the character of those who are associated with you in your daily work。 I became intimate with the foremen and with many of the skilled workmen。 From them I learnt a great deal。 Let me first speak of the men of science who occasionally frequented Maudslay's private workshop。 They often came to consult him on subjects with which he was specially acquainted。
Among Mr。 Maudslay's most frequent visitors were General Sir Samuel Bentham； Mr。 Barton； director of the Royal Mint； Mr。 Bryan Donkin； Mr。 Faraday； and Mr。 Chantrey； the sculptor。 As Mr。 Maudslay wished me to be at hand to give him any necessary assistance； I had the opportunity of listening to the conversation between him and these distinguished visitors。 Sir Samuel Bentham called very often。 He had been associated with Maudslay during the contrivance and construction of the block machinery。 He was brother of the celebrated Jeremy Bentham； and he applied the same clear common…sense to mechanical subjects which the other had done to legal； social； and political questions。 It was in the highest degree interesting and instructive to hear these two great pioneers in the history and application of mechanics discussing the events connected with the block…making machinery。 In fact； Maudslay's connection with the subject had led to the development of most of our modern engineering tools。 They may since have been somewhat altered in arrangement； but not in principle。 Scarcely a week passed without a visit from the General。 He sat in the beautiful workshop； where he always seemed so happy。 It was a great treat to hear him and Maudslay 〃fight their battles o'er again；〃 in recounting the difficulties； both official and mechanical； over which they had so gloriously triumphed。
At the time when I listened to their conversation； the great work in hand was the organisation of a systematic series of experiments on the hulls of steamships； with the view of determining the laws of resistance on their being propelled through the sea by a power other than those of winds and sails。 The subject was as complex as it was interesting and important。 But it had to be put to the test of actual experiment。 This was done in the first place by large models of hulls； so as to ascertain at what point the curves of least resistance could be applied。 Their practical correctness was tested by careful experiment in passing them through water at various velocities； to record which conditions special instruments were contrived and executed。 These； as well as the preparation of large models of hulls； embodying the various improved 〃lines；〃 occupied a considerable portion of the time that I had the good fortune to spend in Mr。 Maudslay's private workshop。
Mr。 Barton of the Royal Mint was quite a 〃crony〃 of Maudslay's。 He called upon him often with respect to the improvements for stamping the current coin of the realm。 Bryan Donkin was also associated with Maudslay and Barton on the subject of the national standard of the yard measure。 But perhaps Mr。 Chantrey was the most attractive visitor at the private workshop。 He had many a long interview with Maudslay with respect to the planning and arranging of a small foundry at his studio； by means of which he might cast his bronze statues under his own superintendence。 Mr。 Maudslay entered con amore into the subject； and placed his skill and experience entirely at Chantrey's service。 He constructed the requisite furnaces； cranes； and other apparatus； at Chantrey's studio； and it may be enough to state that； when brought into operation； they yielded the most satisfactory results。
Among my most intelligent private friends in London were George Cundell and his two brothers。 They resided near my lodgings； and I often visited them on Saturday evenings。 They were most kind； gentle； and genial。 The eldest brother was in Sir William Forbes's bank。 George was agent for Mr。 Patrick Maxwell Stuart in connection with his West India estates； and the third brother was his assistant。 The elder brother was an admirable performer on the violoncello； and he treated us during these Saturday evenings with noble music from Beethoven and Mozart。 My special friend George was known amongst us as 〃the worthy master。〃 He was thoroughly versed in general science； and was moreover a keen politician。 He had the most happy faculty of treating complex subjects； both in science and politics； in a thoroughly common…sense manner。 His two brothers had a fine feeling for art； and； indeed； possessed no small skill as practical artists。 With companions such as these； gifted with a variety of tastes； I spent many of my Saturday evenings most pleasantly and profitably。 They were generally concluded with a glass of beer of 〃the worthy master's〃 own brewing。
When the season of the year and the state of the weather were suitable I often joined this happy fraternity in long and delightful Sunday walks to various interesting places round London。 Our walks included Waltham Abbey； Waltham Cross； Eltham Palace； Hampton Court； Epping Forest； and many other interesting places of resort。 When the weather was unfavourable my principal resort was Westminster Abbey； where； besides the beautifully…conducted service and the noble anthems； I could admire the glory of the architecture； and the venerable tombs； under which lay the best and bravest。 I used generally to sit at a point from which I could see the grand tomb of Aylmer de Vallance with its magnificent surroundings of quaint and glorious architecture。 It was solemn； and serious also； to think of the many generations who had filled the abbey； and of the numbers of the dead who lay beneath our feet。
I was so great an admirer of Norman and Gothic architecture that there was scarcely a specimen of it in London which I did not frequently visit。 One of the most interesting examples I found in the Norman portion of St。 Saviours Church； near London Bridge； through some of it has since been destroyed by the so…called 〃restoration〃 in 1831。 The new work has been executed in the worst taste and feeling。 I also greatly admired the Norman chapel of the Tower； and some Norman portions of the Church of St。 Bartholomew the Less； near Smithfield。
No style of architecture that I have ever seen has so impressed me with its intrinsic gravity； and I may say solemnity； as that of the Norman。 There is a serious earnestness in its grave simplicity that has a peculiar influence upon the mind； and I have little doubt that this was felt； and understood by those true architects who designed and built the noble cathedrals at Durham and elsewhere。 But there； as elsewhere； some of our modern so…called 〃Architects〃 have made sad havoc with the earliest and most impressive portions of those grand and truly interesting remains； by their 〃Restorations〃； as they term itbut which I call Defamations。
CHAPTER 9。 Holiday in the Manufacturing Districts。
In the autumn of 1830 Mr。 Maudslay went to Berlin for the purpose of superintending the erection of machinery at the Royal Mint there。 He intended to be absent from London for about a month； and he kindly permitted me to take my holiday during that period。
I had been greatly interested by the descriptions in the newspapers of the locomotive competition at Rainhill； near Liverpool。 I was； therefore； exceedingly anxious to see Stephenson's 〃Rocket；〃 the engine that had won the prize。 Taking with me letters of introduction from Mr。 Maudslay to persons of influence at Liverpool； I left London for the north on the afternoon of Saturday the 9th of September 1830。 I took my place on the outside of the Liverpool coach； which se
