records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第16节
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continual； and it did not end with their lives。 He tried to manage their
successions； he thought no pains too great to arrange between a widow
and a son who had succeeded his father； he was often harassed and
perplexed by tales of hardship； and I find him writing； almost in despair；
of their improvident habits and the destitution that awaited their families
upon a death。 ‘The house being completely furnished； they come into
possession without necessaries； and they go out NAKED。 The insurance
seems to have failed； and what next is to be tried？' While they lived he
wrote behind their backs to arrange for the education of their children； or
to get them other situations if they seemed unsuitable for the Northern
Lights。 When he was at a lighthouse on a Sunday he held prayers and
heard the children read。 When a keeper was sick； he lent him his horse
and sent him mutton and brandy from the ship。 ‘The assistant's wife
having been this morning confined； there was sent ashore a bottle of
sherry and a few rusks … a practice which I have always observed in this
service；' he writes。 They dwelt； many of them； in uninhabited isles or
desert forelands； totally cut off from shops。 Many of them were； besides；
fallen into a rustic dishabitude of life； so that even when they visited a city
they could scarce be trusted with their own affairs； as （for example） he
who carried home to his children； thinking they were oranges； a bag of
lemons。 And my grandfather seems to have acted； at least in his early
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years； as a kind of gratuitous agent for the service。 Thus I find him
writing to a keeper in 1806； when his mind was already preoccupied with
arrangements for the Bell Rock： ‘I am much afraid I stand very
unfavourably with you as a man of promise； as I was to send several
things of which I believe I have more than once got the memorandum。
All I can say is that in this respect you are not singular。 This makes me
no better； but really I have been driven about beyond all example in my
past experience； and have been essentially obliged to neglect my own
urgent affairs。' No servant of the Northern Lights came to Edinburgh but
he was entertained at Baxter's Place to breakfast。 There； at his own table；
my grandfather sat down delightedly with his broad…spoken； homespun
officers。 His whole relation to the service was； in fact； patriarchal； and I
believe I may say that throughout its ranks he was adored。 I have spoken
with many who knew him； I was his grandson； and their words may have
very well been words of flattery； but there was one thing that could not be
affected； and that was the look and light that came into their faces at the
name of Robert Stevenson。
In the early part of the century the foreman builder was a young man
of the name of George Peebles； a native of Anstruther。 My grandfather
had placed in him a very high degree of confidence； and he was already
designated to be foreman at the Bell Rock； when； on Christmas…day 1806；
on his way home from Orkney； he was lost in the schooner TRAVELLER。
The tale of the loss of the TRAVELLER is almost a replica of that of the
ELIZABETH of Stromness； like the ELIZABETH she came as far as
Kinnaird Head； was then surprised by a storm； driven back to Orkney； and
bilged and sank on the island of Flotta。 It seems it was about the dusk of
the day when the ship struck； and many of the crew and passengers were
drowned。 About the same hour； my grandfather was in his office at the
writing…table； and the room beginning to darken； he laid down his pen and
fell asleep。 In a dream he saw the door open and George Peebles come in；
‘reeling to and fro； and staggering like a drunken man；' with water
streaming from his head and body to the floor。 There it gathered into a
wave which； sweeping forward； submerged my grandfather。 Well； no
matter how deep； versions vary； and at last he awoke； and behold it was a
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dream！ But it may be conceived how profoundly the impression was
written even on the mind of a man averse from such ideas； when the news
came of the wreck on Flotta and the death of George。
George's vouchers and accounts had perished with himself； and it
appeared he was in debt to the Commissioners。 But my grandfather
wrote to Orkney twice； collected evidence of his disbursements； and
proved him to be seventy pounds ahead。 With this sum； he applied to
George's brothers； and had it apportioned between their mother and
themselves。 He approached the Board and got an annuity of 5 pounds
bestowed on the widow Peebles； and we find him writing her a long letter
of explanation and advice； and pressing on her the duty of making a will。
That he should thus act executor was no singular instance。 But besides
this we are able to assist at some of the stages of a rather touching
experiment； no less than an attempt to secure Charles Peebles heir to
George's favour。 He is despatched； under the character of ‘a fine young
man'； recommended to gentlemen for ‘advice； as he's a stranger in your
place； and indeed to this kind of charge； this being his first outset as
Foreman'； and for a long while after； the letter…book； in the midst of that
thrilling first year of the Bell Rock； is encumbered with pages of
instruction and encouragement。 The nature of a bill； and the precautions
that are to be observed about discounting it； are expounded at length and
with clearness。 ‘You are not； I hope； neglecting； Charles； to work the
harbour at spring…tides； and see that you pay the greatest attention to get
the well so as to supply the keeper with water； for he is a very helpless
fellow； and so unfond of hard work that I fear he could do ill to keep
himself in water by going to the other side for it。' … ‘With regard to spirits；
Charles； I see very little occasion for it。' These abrupt apostrophes sound
to me like the voice of an awakened conscience； but they would seem to
have reverberated in vain in the ears of Charles。 There was trouble in
Pladda； his scene of operations； his men ran away from him； there was at
least a talk of calling in the Sheriff。 ‘I fear；' writes my grandfather； ‘you
have been too indulgent； and I am sorry to add that men do not answer to
be too well treated； a circumstance which I have experienced； and which
you will learn as you go on in business。' I wonder； was not Charles
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Peebles himself a case in point？ Either death； at least； or disappointment
and discharge； must have ended his service in the Northern Lights； and in
later correspondence I look in vain for any mention of his name … Charles；
I mean； not Peebles： for as late as 1839 my grandfather is patiently writing
to another of the family： ‘I am sorry you took the trouble of applying to
me about your son； as it lies quite out of my way to forward his views in
the line of his profession as a Draper。'
III
A professional life of Robert Stevenson has been already given to the
world by his son David； and to that I would refer those interested in such
matters。 But my own design； which is to represent the man； would be
very ill carried out if I suffered myself or my reader to forget that he was；
first of all and last of all； an engineer。 His chief claim to the style of a
mechanical inventor is on account of the Jib or Balance Crane of the Bell
Rock；
