an autobiography-第41节
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d no authentic datano drawings； no engravingsfrom which to paint them； and that he was now too old to visit the places。 I therefore resolved to do what I could to help him to paint the pictures。
As it was necessary that I should go to London before returning to Edinburgh to pack up my machine tools there； I went thither； and after doing my business； I embarked for Dundee by the usual steamer。 I made my way from there； via Perth and Dunkeld； to Inverness； and from thence I proceeded to Elgin。 I made most careful drawings of the remains of that noble cathedral。 I endeavoured to include all that was most beautiful in the building and its surrounding scenery。 I then went on to Castle Grant； through a picturesque and romantic country。 I found the castle amidst its deep forests of pine； larch； elm； and chestnut。 The building consists of a high quadrangular pile of many stories； projecting backwards at each end； and pierced with windows of all shapes and sizes。 I did my best to carry away a graphic sketch of the old castle and its surroundings： and then； with my stock of drawings； I prepared to return to Inverness on foot。 The scenery was grand and beautiful。 The weather was fine； although after mid…day it became very hot。 A thunder storm was evidently approaching。 The sun was obscured by a thunder…cloud； the sky flashed with lightning； and the rain began to pour down。 I was then high up on a wild looking moor； covered with heather and vast boulders。
＇Image＇ An extemporised shower…bath
There was no shelter to be had； for not a house was in sight。 I did not so much mind for my clothes； but I feared very much for my sketches。 Taking advantage of the solitude； I stripped myself； put my sketches under my clothes； and thrust them into a hollow underneath a huge boulder。 I sat myself down on the top of it； and there I had a magnificent shower…bath of warm rain。 I never enjoyed a bath under such romantic circumstances。 The thunder…clouds soon passed over my head； and the sun broke out again cheerily。 When the rain had ceased I took out my clothes and drawings from the hollow； and found them perfectly dry。 I set out again on my long walk to Inverness； and reached it just in time to catch the Caledonian Canal steamer。 While passing down Loch Ness I visited the romantic Fail of Foyers； then through Loch Lochy； past Ben Nevis to Loch Linnhe； Oban； and the Kyles of Bute； to Glasgow； and from thence to Edinburgh。
I had the pleasure of placing in my father's hands the sketches I had made。 He was greatly delighted with them。 They enabled him to set to work with his usual zeal； and in the course of a short time he was able to execute； con amore； the commission of the Brothers Grant。 So soon as I had completed my sketches I wrote to Daniel Grant and informed him of the result of my journey。 He afterwards expressed himself most warmly as to my prompt zeal in obtaining for him authentic pictures of places so dear to the brothers； and so much associated with their earliest and most cherished recollections。
I have already referred to the Brothers Cowper。 They were among my most attached friends at Manchester。 Many of my most pleasant associations are connected with them。 Edward Cowper was one of the most successful mechanics in bringing the printing machine to a state of practical utility。 He was afterwards connected with Mr。 Applegath of London； the mechanical engineer of the Times newspaper* ＇footnote。。。 Mr。 Koeig's machines； first used at the Times office； were patented in 1814。 They were too complicated and expensive； and the inking was too imperfect for general adoption。 They were superseded by Mr。 Edward Cowper's machine； which he invented and patented in 1816。 He afterwards added the inking roller and table to the common press。 The effect of Mr。 Cowper's invention was to improve the quality and speed of printing； and to render literature accessible to millions of readers。 。。。＇ he invented for the proprietors a machine that threw off from 4500 to 5000 impressions in the hour。
In course of time the Brothers Cowper removed the manufacture of their printing machines from London ；to Manchester。 There they found skilled and energetic workmen； ready to carry their plans into effect。 They secured excellent premises； supplied with the best modern machine tools； in the buildings of Wren and Bennett； about two minutes' walk from my workshop； which I rented from the same landlords。
I had much friendly intercourse with the Cowpers； especially with Ebenezer the younger brother； who took up his residence at Manchester for the purpose of specially superintending the manufacture of printing machines。 These were soon in large demand； not only for the printing of books but of newspapers。 One of the first booksellers who availed himself of the benefits of the machine was Mr。 Charles Knight； who projected the Penny Magazine of 1832； and sold it to the extent of about 180；000 copies weekly。 It was also adopted by the Messrs。 Chambers of Edinburgh； and the proprietors of the Magasin Pittoresque of Paris。 The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge also used Cowper's machine in printing vast numbers of bibles and prayer…books； thereby reducing their price to one…third of the former cost。 There was scarcely a newspaper of any importance in the country that was not printed with a Cowper's machine。
As I possessed some self…acting tools that were specially suited to execute some of the most refined and important parts of the printing machine； the Messrs。 Cowper transferred their execution to me。 This was a great advantage to both。 They were relieved of the technical workmanship； while I kept my men and machine tools fully employed at times when they might otherwise have been standing idle。 Besides； I derived another advantage from my connection with the Brothers Cowper； by having frequent orders to supply my small steam…engines； which were found to be so suitable for giving motion to the printing machines。 At first the machines were turned by hand； and very exhausting work it was； but the small steam…engine soon relieved the labourer from his heavy work。
Edward frequently visited Manchester to arrange with his brother as to the increasing manufacture of the printing machines； and also to introduce such improvements in the minor details as the experience and special requirements of the printing trade suggested。 It was on these occasions that I had the happy opportunity of becoming intimately acquainted with him； and this resulted in a firm friendship which continued until the close of his admirable life。 The clear and masterly way in which； by some happy special faculty； he could catch up the essential principles and details of any mechanical combination； however novel the subject might be； was remarkable； and the quaint and humorous manner in which he treated all such subjects； in no small degree caused his shrewd and intelligent remarks to take a lasting hold of the memory。
On many occasions Edward Cowper gave Friday evening lectures on technical subjects at the Royal Institution； London。 Next to Faraday； no one held the attention of a delighted audience in so charming a manner as he did。 Like Faraday； he possessed the power of clearly unveiling his subject； and stripping it of all its complicated perplexities。 His illustrations were simple； clear； and understandable。 Technical words were avoided as much as possible。 He threw the ordinary run of lecturers far into the shade。 Intelligent boys and girls could understand him。 Next to Faraday； no one filled the theatre of the Institution with such eager and crowded audiences as he did。 His choice of subjects； as well as his masterly treatment； always rendered his lectures instructive and attractive。 He was one of the most kind…hearted of men； and the cheerful way in which he laid aside his ordinary business to give instruction and pleasure to others endeared him to a very wide circle of devoted friends。
CHAPTER 11。 Bridgewater FoundryPartnership。
My business went on prosperously。 I had plenty of orders； and did my best to execute them satisfactorily。 Shortly after the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway there was a largely increased demand for machine…making tools。 The success of that line led to the construction of other lines； concentrating in Manchester； and every branch of manufacture shared in the prosperity of the time。
There was a great demand for skilled； and even for unskilled labour。 The demand was greater than the supply。 Employers were subjected to exorbitant demands for increased rates of wages。 The workmen struck； and their wages were raised。 But the results were not always satisfactory。 Except in the cases of the old skilled hands； the work was executed more carelessly than before。 The workmen attended less regularly； and sometimes； when they ought to have been at work on Monday mornings； they did not appear until Wednesday。 Their higher wages had been of no use to them； but the reverse。 Their time had been spent for the most part in two days' extra drinking。
The irregularity and carelessness of the workmen naturally proved very annoying to the employers。 But it gave an increased stimulus to the demand for self…ac
