an autobiography-第58节
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gave them all a very wide berth。 But worst of all are the men who get their employment through parliamentary influence。 They are a detestable set。 They always have some 〃grievance〃 to pester people about。 I hope things are better now。
I may add； with respect to the steam hammer pile…driving machines； that I received an order for two of them from Mohammed Ali； the Pasha of Egypt。 These were required for driving the piles in that great work the barrage of the Nile near Cairo。 The good services of these machines so pleased the Pasha that he requested us to receive three selected Arab men into our works。 He asked that they should have the opportunity of observing the machinery processes and the system of management of an English engineering factory。 The object of the Pasha was that the men should return to Egypt and there establish an engine manufactory； so as to render him in a measure independent of foreign help。 For British workmen； when imported into Egypt； had a great tendency to degenerate when removed from the wholesome stimulus to exertion in competition with their fellows。
My firm had no objection to the introduction of the Arab workmen。 Accordingly； one day we received a visit from an excellent Egyptian officer； Edim Bey； accompanied by his secretary Rushdi Effendi； who spoke English fluently。 He thus made our interview with the Bey easy and agreeable。 He conveyed to us； in the most courteous manner； the wishes of the Pasha； and the three workmen were at once received。 Every opportunity was given them to observe and understand the works going forward。 They were intelligent…looking young men； about twenty…five years of age。 One of them was especially bright looking； quick in the expression of his eyes； and active in his manner； His name was Affiffi Lalli； the names of the others I forget。
These young men were placed under charge of the foremen of the departments that each fancied to be most to his taste。 Affiffi was placed in the fitting department； in which skilful manipulation was required。 He exhibited remarkable aptitude； and was soon able to hold his own alongside of our best workmen。 Another was set to the turning department； and did fairly well。 The third was placed in the foundry； where he soon became efficient in moulding and casting brass and iron work。 He lent a hand all round； and picked up a real practical knowledge of the various work in his department。 During their sojourn in our works they became friendly with their colleagues； and in fact became quite favourites with the men； who were always willing to help them。 But Affiffi Lalli was regarded as the genius of the trio。 He showed a marked and intelligent aptitude for acquiring technical skill in all the branches of our business。
After remaining with us for about four years they were ready to return to Cairo； and show what they had learned in practical and technical mechanical knowledge during their stay in England。 The three Arab workmen were placed in their suitable departments in the Pasha's work shops。 But such was the natural energy of Affiffi； that when he was set to work beside the slow； dilatory； and stupid native workmen； he became greatly irritated。 The contrast between the active energetic movements which he had seen at the Bridgewater Foundry and the ineffective； blundering； and untechnical work of his fellows was such that he could not stand it any longer。 So one fine day he disappeared from the works； took refuge on board a British steamer； and at the risk of his neck made his way back to the Bridgewater Foundry！
As we were reluctant to take back a man who had escaped from the Pasha's employmentexcellent workman though he waswe declined to employ him。 But I gave Affiffi a note of introduction to Boulton and Watt of Soho； Birmingham； and there he was employed。 He afterwards passed into other firms； and having employed his skill in making some needle machinery at Redditch； he settled down there。 He married a Warwickshire lass； and had a familyhalf Arab； half English and has now a thriving foundry and engineer workshop of his own。 This little narrative shows that the Arab has still much of the wonderful energy and skill that once made the Moors masters of a large part of South…Western Europe。
We had many visitors at the foundryfrom London； from the manufacturing districts； and from foreign countries。 One day a young gentleman presented a letter from Michael Faraday； dated 〃Royal Institution； 29th May 1847；〃 requesting me to pay him some attention and show him round the works。 I did so with all my heart； and wrote to Mr。 Faraday intimating how much pleasure it gave me to serve him in any respect。 I cannot refrain from giving his answer。 He said：
〃MY DEAR SIRThat you should both show kindness to the bearer of my letter； and prove that you did so with pleasure by writing me a letter in return； was indeed more than I ought or could have expected； but it was very gratifying and pleasant to my mind。 I only wish that the circumstances of my life were such as to enable me to take advantage of such goodwill on your part； and to be more in your company and conversation than is at present possible。
〃I could imagine great pleasure from such a condition of things； but though our desires； and even our hopes at times spread out beforehand over a large extent； it is wonderful how； as the future becomes the present； the circumstances that surround us limit the sphere to which our real life is circumscribed If ever I come your way I hope to see your face； and the hope is pleasant； though the reality may never arrive。
〃You tell me of the glorious work of your pile…driver； and it must be indeed a great pleasure to witness the result。 Is it not Shakespeare who says； 'The pleasure we delight in physics pain'？ In all your fatigue and labour you must have this pleasure in abundance； and a most delightful and healthy enjoyment it is。 I shall rejoice to see some day a blow of the driver and a tap of the hammer。
〃You speak of some experiments on hardening and tempering steel in which we can help you。 I hope when you do come to town you will let us have the pleasure of doing so。 Our apparatus； such as it is； shall be entirely at your service。 I made； a long while ago； a few such experiments on steel wire； but could eliminate no distinct or peculiar results。 You will know how to look at things； and at your hand I should expect much。
〃Here we are just lecturing away； and I am too tired to attempt anything； much less to do anything just now； but the goodwill of such men as you is a great stimulus； and will； I trust even with me； produce something else praiseworthy。
Ever； my dear Nasmyth； yours most truly； M。 FARADAY。〃
CHAPTER 16。 NurembergSt。 PetersburgDannemora。
In the autumn of 1842 I had occasion to make a journey to Nuremberg in company with my partner Mr。 Gaskell。 We had been invited to a conference with the directors of the Nuremberg and Munich Railroad as to the supply of locomotives for working their line。 As this was rather an important and extensive transaction； we thought it better not to trust to correspondence； but to see the directors on the spot。 We found that there were several riskful conditions attached to the proposed contract； which we considered it imprudent to agree to。 We had afterwards good reason to feel satisfied that we had not yielded to the very tempting commercial blandishments that were offered to us； but that we refrained from undertaking an order that required so many important modifications。
Nevertheless； I was exceedingly delighted with the appearance of the city of Nuremberg。 It carries one back to the mediaeval times！ The architecture； even of the ordinary houses； is excellent。 St。 Lawrence； St。 Sebald's； and the Frauenkirche； are splendid specimens of Gothic design。 The city is surrounded by old walls and turrets； by ramparts and bastions； enclosed by a ditch faced with masonry。 Very few cities have so well escaped the storm of war and sieges in the Middle Ages； and even in modern times。 Everything has been carefully preserved； and many of the best houses are still inhabited by the families whose forefathers originally constructed them。 But 〃progress〃 is beginning to affect Nuremberg。 It is the centre of railways； buildings are extending in all directions； tram…cars are running in the streets； and before long； I fear； the ditch will be filled up； the surrounding picturesque walls and towers demolished； and the city thrown open to the surrounding country。
I visited the house of Albert Durer； one of the greatest artists who ever lived。 He was a man of universal geniusa painter； sculptor； engraver； mathematician； and engineer。 He was to Germany what Leonardo da Vinci was to Italy。 His house is wonderfully preserved。 You see his entrance hall； his exhibition room； his bedroom； his studio； and the opening into which his wifethat veritable Xantippe thrust the food that was to sustain him during his solitary hours of labour。 I saw his grave； too； in the old churchyard beyond the Thiergarten gate。 I saw the bronze plate commemorating the day of his death。 〃Emigravit 8 idus Aprilis 1528。〃 〃Emigravit〃 only； for the true artist never dies。 Hans Sachs's grave
