an autobiography-第52节
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blades from the stock； or flukes from the bladesand leave the vessel； which relied upon the security of its anchor； at the risk of the winds and the waves。 By means of the steam hammer these risks were averted。 The slag was driven out during the hammering process。 The anchor was sound throughout because it was welded as a whole。
Those who are technically acquainted with smith work as it used to be practised； by what I term the 〃bit by bit〃 systemthat is； of building up from many separate parts of iron； afterwards welded together into the required formcan appreciate the vast practical value of the Die method brought into general use by the controllable but immense power of the steam hammer。 At a very early period of my employment of the steam hammer； I introduced the system of stamping masses of welding hot iron as if it had been clay； and forcing it into suitable moulds or dies placed upon the anvil。 This practice had been in use on a small scale in the Birmingham gun trade； The ironwork of firearms was thus stamped into exact form。 But； until we possessed the wide range and perfectly controllable powers of the steam hammer； the stamping system was confined to comparatively small portions of forge work。 The new power enabled the die and stamp system to be applied to the largest class of forge work； and another era in the working of ponderous masses of smith and forge work commenced； and has rapidly extended until the present time。 Without entering into further details； the steam hammer has advanced the mechanical arts； especially with relation to machinery of the larger class； to an extent that is of incalculable importance。
Soon after my steam hammer had exhibited its merits as a powerful and docile agent in percussive force； and shown its applicability to some of the most important branches of iron manufacture； I had the opportunity of securing a patent for it in the United States。 This was through the kind agency of my excellent friend and solicitor； the late George Humphries of Manchester。 Mr。 Humphries was a native of Philadelphia； and the intimate friend of Samuel Vaughan Merrick； founder of the eminent engineering firm of that city。 Through his instrumentality I forwarded to Mr。 Merrick all the requisite documents to enable a patent to be secured at the United States Patent Office at Washington。 I transferred the patent to Mr。 Merrick in order that it might be worked to our mutual advantage。 My invention was thus introduced into America under the most favourable auspices。 The steam hammer soon found its way into the principal ironworks of the country。 The admirable straightforward manner in which our American agent conducted the business from first to last will ever command my grateful remembrance。
CHAPTER 14。 Travels in France and Italy。
I have already referred to my visit to Creuzot； in France。 I must explain how it was that I was induced to travel abroad。 The French Government had ordered from our firm some powerful machine tools； which were manufactured； delivered； and found to give every satisfaction。 Shortly after； I received a letter from M。 Bouchier； the Minister of Marine； inviting me to make a personal visit to the French naval arsenals for the purpose of conferring with the directing officials as to the mechanical equipments of their respective workshops。
I accordingly proceeded to Paris； and was received most cordially by the Minister of Marine。 After conferring with him； I was furnished with letters of introduction to the directing officers at Cherbourg； Brest； Rochefort； Indret； and Toulon。 While in Paris I visited some of the principal manufacturing establishments； the proprietors of which had done business with our firm。 I also visited Arago at the Observatory； and saw his fine array of astronomical instruments。 The magnificent collections of antiquities at the Louvre and Hotel Cluny occupied two days out of the four I spent in Paris； after which I proceeded on my mission。 Rouen lay in my way； and I could not fail to stay there and indulge my love for Gothic architecture。 I visited the magnificent Cathedral and the Church of St。 Ouen； so exquisite in its beauty； together with the refined Gothic architectural remains scattered about in that interesting and picturesque city。 I was delighted beyond measure with all that I saw。 With an eye to business； however； I paid a visit to the works which had been established by the late Joseph Locke in the neighbourhood of Rouen for the supply of locomotives to the Havre； Rouen； and Paris Railway。 The works were then under the direction of Mr。 Buddicom。 I went onward through Caen to Bayeux。 There I rested for a few hours for the purpose of visiting the superb Norman Cathedral； and also to inspect the celebrated Bayeux tapestry。 I saw the needlework of Queen Matilda and her handmaidens； which so graphically commemorates the history of the Norman Conquest。 In the evening I reached Cherbourg。 I was cordially received by the directing officer of the dockyard； which is of very large extent and surrounded by fortifications。 My business was with the smithy or atelier des forges； and the workshops or ateliers des machiness。 There I recognised many of the machine…tools manufactured at the Bridgewater Foundry； doing excellent work。
My next visit was to Brest； the chief naval arsenal of France。 It combines a dockyard； arsenal； and fortress of the first class。 Everything has been done to make the place impregnable。 The harbour is situated on the north side of one of the finest havens in the world； and is almost land…locked。 Around the harbour run quays of great extent； alongside of which the largest ships can liefive artificial basins being excavated out of the solid rock。 The whole of the harbour is defended by tier above tier of batteries。 Foreigners are not permitted to enter the dockyard without special permission； but as I was armed with my letter of introduction from the Minister of Marine； I was admitted and cordially received； as at Cherbourg。 I went through the Government foundry and steam…factory； for which I had supplied many of my machine tools。 I found the establishment to be the largest and most complete that I had seen。 From Brest I went to Rochefort； an excellent naval arsenal； though much smaller than those at Cherbourg and Brest。 Next to Indret on the Loire。 Here is the large factory where marine engines are made for the royal steamers。 The works were superintended by M。 Rosine； a most able man。* ＇footnote。。。 The only man I ever met； to whom I might compare Rosine； was my lamented friend Francis Humphries； engineer of the Great Western Steamship Company。 Both were men of the same type； though Rosine was several octaves…higher in the compass and vividness of his intellect。 。。。＇
I was so much pleased with him that I spent two days in his society。 I have rarely met with a more perfect union of the sound practical mechanic； of strong common…sense； and yet with a vivid imagination； which threw a light upon every subject that he touched。 It was delightful to see the perfect manner in which he had arranged all the details of the engine factory under his superintendence； and to observe the pride which he took in the accuracy of the work turned out by his excellent machinery。 It was a treat to see the magnificent and intricate iron castings produced there。
As M。 Rosine spoke English fluently； we had discussions on a vast variety of topics； not only relating to technical subjects； but on other matters relating to art and mechanical drawing。 He was one of the few men I have met who had in perfection the happy accomplishment of sketching with true artistic spirit any object that he desired to bring before you。 His pencil far outstripped language in conveying distinct ideas on constructive and material objects。 The time that I spent in the company of this most interesting man will ever remain vivid in my memory。 It grieved me greatly to hear of his premature death about two years after the date of my visit。 He must have been a sad loss to his deeply attached friends； as well as to the nation whom he so faith fully served。
On my way to Toulon I passed through Bordeaux； and by Avignon to Nismes。 At the latter city I was delighted with the sight of the exquisite Roman temple； the Maison Carree。 It is almost perfect。 But the most interesting of the Roman remains at Nismes is the magnificent Amphitheatre。 In viewing this grand specimen of architecture； as well as the old temples； cathedrals； and castles； I felt that we moderns are comparative pigmies。 Our architecture wants breadth； grandeur； sublimity。
It appears to me that one of the chief causes of the inferiority and defects of Modern Architecture is； that our designers are so anxious to display their taste in ornamentation。 They first design the exterior； and then fit into it the interior of their building。 The purpose of the building is thus regarded as a secondary consideration。 In short； they utilise ornament instead of ornamenting utilitytotal inversion； as it appears to me； of the fundamental principle which ought to govern all classes of architectural structures。 This is； unfortunately； too evident in most of our public buildings。 See； for instance； our
