an autobiography-第38节

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el　portions　of　my　great　Maudslay　lathe。　　I　soon　had　the　latter　complete　and　in　action。　　Its　first　child　was　a　planing　machine　capable　of　executing　surfaces　in　the　most　perfect　styleof　3　feet　long　by　1　foot　8　inches　wide。　　Armed　with　these　two　most　important　and　generally　useful　tools；　and　by　some　special　additions；　such　as　boring　machines　and　drilling　machines；　I　soon　had　a　progeny　of　legitimate　descendants　crowded　about　my　little　workshop；　so　that　I　often　did　not　know　which　way　to　turn。

＇Image＇　　My　temporary　workshop　at　Edinburgh

I　had　one　labourer　to　drive　the　wheel　which　gave　motion　to　my　big　lathe；　but　I　was　very　much　in　want　of　some　one　else　to　help　me。　One　day　a　young　hearty　fellow　called　upon　me。　　He　had　come　from　the　Shotts　Iron　Company's　Works　in　Edinburgh。　　Having　heard　of　what　I　was　about；　he　offered　his　services。　　When　he　told　me　that　he　had　been　bred　as　a　millwright；　and　that　he　could　handle　the　plane　and　the　saw　as　well　as　the　chisel　and　the　file；　I　closed　with　him　at　once。　　He　was　to　have　fifteen　shillings　a　week。　　I　liked　the　young　man　very　muchhe　was　so　hearty　and　cheerful。　　His　name　was　Archibald　Torry；　or　〃　Archie；〃　as　he　was　generally　called　during　the　twenty　years　that　he　remained　in　my　service　I　obtained　another　assistant　in　the　person　of　a　young　man　whose　father　wished　him　to　get　an　insight　into　practical　engineering。　　I　was　offered　a　premium　of　#50　for　twelve　months'　experience　in　my　workshop。　I　arranged　to　take　the　young　man；　and　to　initiate　him　in　the　general　principles　and　practice　of　engineering。　The　#50　premium　was　a　very　useful　help　to　me；　especially　as　I　had　engaged　the　millwright。　It　enabled　me　to　pay　Torry's　wages　during　the　time　that　he　remained　with　me　in　Edinburgh。　　I　found　it　necessary；　however；　to　take　in　some　work　in　the　regular　way　of　business；　in　order　to　supply　me　with　the　means　of　completing　my　proper　supply　of　tools。

The　chief　of　these　extraneous　and；　I　may　say；　disturbing　jobs；　was　that　of　constructing　a　rotary　steam…engine。　　Mr。　Robert　Steen　had　contrived　and　patented　an　engine　of　this　sort。　　He　was　a　dangerously　enthusiastic　man；　and　entertained　the　most　visionary　ideas　as　to　steam　power。　He　was　of　opinion　that　his　own　contrivance　was　more　compact　and　simple；　and　possessed　of　more　capability　of　producing　power　from　the　consumption　of　a　given　quantity　of　fuel；　than　the　best　steam…engines　then　in　use。　　I　warned　him　of　his　error；　but　nothing　but　an　actual　proof　would　satisfy　him。　　He　urgently　requested　me　to　execute　his　order。He　made　me　a　liberal　and　tempting　offer　of　weekly　payments　for　my　work　during　the　progress　of　his　engine。　　He　only　required　that　I　should　give　his　invention　the　benefit　of　my　careful　workmanship。　He　considered　that　this　would　be　sufficient　to　substantiate　all　his　enthusiastic　expectations。　　I　was　thus　seduced　to　accept　his　order。

I　made　the　requisite　drawings；　and　proceeded　with　the　work。　　At　the　same　time　my　own　machine　tools　were　in　progress；　though　at　a　retarded　pace。　　The　weekly　payments　we're　regularly　made；　and　I　was　kept　in　a　sort　of　financial　ease。　　After　three　months　the　rotary　engine　was　finished　to　the　inventor's　complete　satisfaction。　　But　when　the　power　it　gave　out　was　compared　with　that　of　a　good　ordinary　steam…engine；　the　verdict　as　to　consumption　of　fuel　was　against　the　new　rotary　engine。　　Nevertheless；　the　enthusiastic　projector；　〃tho'　vanquished　he　would　argue　still；〃　insisted　that　the　merits　of　his　contrivance　would　sooner　or　later　cause　it　to　be　a　most　formidable　rival　to　the　crank　steam…engines。　　As　he　was　pleased　with　its　performances；　I　had　no　reason　to　be　dissatisfied。　　I　had　done　my　part　in　the　matter；　and　Mr。　Steen　had　done　his。　　His　punctual　weekly　payments　had　assisted　me　in　the　completion　of　my　tools；　and　after　a　few　months　more　labour　I　had　everything　ready　for　starting　business　on　my　own　account。

My　choice　lay　between　Liverpool　and　Manchester。　　I　had　seen　both　of　these　cities　while　on　my　visit　to　Lancashire　to　witness　the　opening　of　the　Liverpool　and　Manchester　Railway。　　I　now　proceeded　to　visit　them　again。　　I　was　fortified　with　valuable　introductions　to　leading　men　in　both　places。　　I　was　received　by　them　with　great　kindness　and　hospitality。　　I　have　heard　a　great　deal　about　the　ingratitude　and　selfishness　of　the　world。　　It　may　have　been　my　good　fortune；　but　I　have　never　experienced　either　of　those　unfeeling　conditions。　　On　the　whole　I　have　found　a　great　deal　of　unselfish　kindness　among　my　fellow…beings。　They　have　often　turned　out　of　their　way　to　do　me　a　service；　and　I　can　never　be　too　grateful　for　the　unwearied　kindness；　civility；　and　generosity　of　the　friends　I　met　with　during　my　stay　in　Lancashire。

It　was　a　question　which　would　be　the　best　place　to　settle　in　Liverpool　or　Manchester。　　I　had　seen　striking　evidences　of　the　natural　aptitude　of　Lancashire　workmen　for　every　sort　of　mechanical　employment；　and　had　observed　their　unsparing　energy　while　at　work。　　I　compared　them　with　the　workmen　whom　I　had　seen　in　London；　and　found　them　superior。　They　were　men　of　greater　energy　of　character；　their　minds　were　more　capacious；　their　ingenuity　was　more　inventive。　　I　felt　assured　that　in　either　Liverpool　or　Manchesterthe　centres　of　commercial　and　manipulative　energyI　could　settle　down　with　my　limited　capital　and　tools；　and　in　course　of　time　contrive　to　get　on；　helped　by　energy；　self…reliance；　and　determination。　　I　also　found　that　the　demand　for　machine…making　tools　was　considerable；　and　that　their　production　would　soon　become　an　important　department　of　business。　　It　might　be　carried　on　with　little　expenditure　of　capital；　as　the　risks　were　small　and　the　returns　were　quick。　　I　resolved　to　cultivate　that　moderate　and　safe　class　of　mechanical　business；　at　all　events　at　the　outset。

I　first　went　to　Liverpool。　　I　presented　my　letter　of　introduction　to　Mr。　Roscoe；　head　of　the　Mersey　Steel　and　Iron　Company。　　He　received　me　with　great　kindness；　and　gave　me　much　good　advice。　　I　called　upon　Edward　Berry；　engineer；　and　also　upon　William　Fawcett；　who　had　received　me　with　so　much　kindness　on　my　former　visit。　　I　cannot　omit　mentioning　also　the　friendly　reception　which　I　received　from　Dr。　Sillar。　He　had　been　a　medical　student　at　Edinburgh；　and　had　during　that　time　met　with　some　kindness　from　my　father。　　He　expressed　his　remembrance　of　it　with　grateful　effusion；　and　added　his　personal　introduction；　with　that　of　my　letters；　to　some　of　the　leading　men　in　Liverpool。　　I　may　mention　that　Dr。　Sillar　was　the　son　of　Burns's　〃Brother　Poet〃　Davie；　to　whom　the　well…known　〃Epistle〃　was　addressed。

Among　the　other　well…known　men　to　whom　I　was　introduced　at　Liverpool　was　John　Cragg；　an　intelligent　and　enterprising　ironfounder。　　He　was　an　extensive　manufacturer　of　the　large　sugar…boiling　pans　used　in　the　West　Indies。　　He　had　also　given　his　attention　to　the　introduction　of　iron　into　buildings　of　different　sorts。　　Being　a　man　of　artistic　taste　he　had　even　introduced　cast…iron　into　Gothic　architecture。　　In　order　to　exhibit；　in　an　impressive　form；　the　uses　of　his　favourite　metal；　he　erected　at　his　own　cost　a　very　elegant　church　in　the　northern　part　of　Liverpool。*　　＇footnote。。。　So　far　as　I　can　recollect；　the　name　of　the　church　was　St。　James's。　It　exhibited　a　very　early　introduction　of　iron　as　an　important　element　in　architectural　construction。　　Iron　was　afterwards　largely　introduced　into　mills；　mill　gearing；　and　buildings　generally。　　。。。＇

Cast…iron　was　introduced；　not　only　in　the　material　parts　of　the　structure；　but　into　the　Gothic　columns　and　Gothic　tracery　of　the　windows；　as　well　as　into　the　lofty　and　elegant　spire。　　Iron　was　also　employed　in　the　external　ornamental　details；　where　delicate　yet　effective　decoration　was　desirable。　　The　famous　architect；　Edward　Blore；　was　the　designer　of　the　church；　and　the　whole　details　of　the　buildingof　which　cast…iron　formed　the　principal　material　were　executed　to　his　entire　satisfaction*　　＇footnote。。。　So　far　as　I　can　recollect；　the　name　of　the　church　was　St。　James's。　It　exhibited　a　very　early　introduction　of　iron　as　an　important　element　in　architectural　construction。　　Iron　was　afterwards　largely　introduced　into　mills；　mill　gearing；　and　buildings　generally。　　。。。＇

My　introduction　to　Mr。　Cragg　led　to　an　acquaintance；　and　then　to　a　friendship。　　When　the　ice　was　broken　which　was　very　soonhe　told　me　that　he　was　desirous　of　retiring　from　the　more　active　part　of　his　business。　　Whether　he　liked　my　looks　or　not　I　do　not　know；　but；　quite　unexpectedly；　he　made　me　a　very　tempting　offer　to　enter　his　works　as　his　successor。　　He　had　already　amassed　a　fortune；　and　I　might　do　the　same。　　I　could　only　thank　him　most　sincerely　for　his　kindness。　But；　on　carefully　thinking　the　matter　over；　I　declined　the　proposal。　My　principal　reason　was；　that　the　special　nature　of　his　foundry　work　did　not　quite　harmonise　with　my　desire　to　follow　the　more　strictly　mechanical　part　of　the　iron　business。　　Besides；　I　thought　I　had　a　brighter　prospect　of　success　before　me；　though　I　knew　that　I　had　many　difficulties　to　contend　against。　　Did　I　throw　away　my　chances　in　declining　the　liberal　proposal　of　Mr。　Cragg？　　The　reader　will　be　able　to　judge　from　the　following　pages。　　But　to　the　last*　　＇footnote。。。　Mr。　Cragg　died　in　1853；　aged　84。　　。。。＇