records of a family of engineers(Ò»¸ö¹¤³ÌʦµÄ¼ÒÍ¥)-µÚ17½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
mechanical¡¡inventor¡¡is¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jib¡¡or¡¡Balance¡¡Crane¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bell¡¡
Rock£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡beautiful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡contrivances¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡merit¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡this¡¡
engineer¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡field¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡engines¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
projector¡¡of¡¡works¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡modifier¡¡of¡¡nature¡¡itself¡£¡¡A¡¡
road¡¡to¡¡be¡¡made£»¡¡a¡¡tower¡¡to¡¡be¡¡built£»¡¡a¡¡harbour¡¡to¡¡be¡¡constructed£»¡¡a¡¡river¡¡to¡¡
be¡¡trained¡¡and¡¡guided¡¡in¡¡its¡¡channel¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡were¡¡the¡¡problems¡¡with¡¡which¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡mind¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡continually¡¡¡¡¡¡occupied£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡similar¡¡¡¡¡¡ends¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
travelled¡¡the¡¡world¡¡for¡¡more¡¡than¡¡half¡¡a¡¡century£»¡¡like¡¡an¡¡artist£»¡¡note¡book¡¡in¡¡
hand¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡once¡¡stood¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡on¡¡at¡¡the¡¡emptying¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡oil¡tube£»¡¡he¡¡
did¡¡so¡¡watch¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡accurately¡¡timed¡¡the¡¡operation£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡so¡¡doing¡¡
offered¡¡the¡¡perfect¡¡type¡¡of¡¡his¡¡profession¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡acquired¡¡might¡¡never¡¡
be¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡use£º¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡acquired£º¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡¡¡¡¡¡link¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡world's¡¡¡¡¡¡huge¡¡¡¡¡¡chain¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
processes¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡figures¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡placed¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡service¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
engineer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®The¡¡very¡¡term¡¡mensuration¡¡sounds¡¡ENGINEER¡LIKE£»'¡¡I¡¡find¡¡
him¡¡¡¡writing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡truth¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡engineer¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡properly¡¡¡¡deals¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡
that¡¡which¡¡can¡¡be¡¡measured£»¡¡weighed£»¡¡and¡¡numbered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡time¡¡of¡¡any¡¡
operation¡¡in¡¡hours¡¡and¡¡minutes£»¡¡its¡¡cost¡¡in¡¡pounds£»¡¡shillings£»¡¡and¡¡pence£»¡¡the¡¡
strain¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡given¡¡¡¡¡¡point¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡foot¡pounds¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡conquests£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡continually¡¡¡¡¡¡furnish¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡mind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡which£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡52¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡53¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡RECORDS¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FAMILY¡¡OF¡¡ENGINEERS¡¡
acquired¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡continually¡¡apply¡¡and¡¡exercise¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡must¡¡be¡¡not¡¡
only¡¡entries¡¡in¡¡note¡books£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hurriedly¡¡consulted£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡actor's¡¡phrase£»¡¡
he¡¡must¡¡be¡¡STALE¡¡in¡¡them£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡word¡¡of¡¡my¡¡grandfather's£»¡¡they¡¡must¡¡be¡¡
¡®fixed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡like¡¡the¡¡ten¡¡fingers¡¡and¡¡ten¡¡toes¡£'¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡These¡¡are¡¡the¡¡certainties¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engineer£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡he¡¡finds¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡footing¡¡
and¡¡clear¡¡views¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡province¡¡of¡¡formulas¡¡and¡¡constants¡¡is¡¡restricted¡£¡¡
Even¡¡the¡¡mechanical¡¡engineer¡¡comes¡¡at¡¡last¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end¡¡of¡¡his¡¡figures£»¡¡and¡¡
must¡¡¡¡¡¡stand¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡practical¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡discrepancies¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
nature¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hiatuses¡¡of¡¡theory¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡is¡¡finished£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
steam¡¡turned¡¡on£»¡¡the¡¡next¡¡is¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡experience¡¡and¡¡an¡¡exquisite¡¡
sympathy¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡teach¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡weight¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡applied¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡nut¡¡
loosened¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡civil¡¡engineer£»¡¡¡¡more¡¡properly¡¡so¡¡called¡¡£¨if¡¡anything¡¡
can¡¡be¡¡proper¡¡with¡¡this¡¡awkward¡¡coinage£©£»¡¡the¡¡obligation¡¡starts¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
beginning¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡always¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡practical¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡rains£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡winds¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
the¡¡waves£»¡¡the¡¡complexity¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fitfulness¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡are¡¡always¡¡before¡¡
him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡deal¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡unpredictable£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡forces¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨in¡¡
Smeaton's¡¡¡¡¡¡phrase£©¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®are¡¡¡¡¡¡subject¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡calculation'£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡
predict£»¡¡still¡¡calculate¡¡them£»¡¡at¡¡his¡¡peril¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡work¡¡is¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡in¡¡being£»¡¡and¡¡
he¡¡must¡¡foresee¡¡its¡¡influence£º¡¡how¡¡it¡¡shall¡¡deflect¡¡the¡¡tide£»¡¡exaggerate¡¡the¡¡
waves£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dam¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rain¡water£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡attract¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡thunderbolt¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡visits¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
piece¡¡of¡¡sea¡board£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡inclination¡¡and¡¡soil¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beach£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
weeds¡¡and¡¡shell¡fish£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡configuration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡and¡¡the¡¡depth¡¡of¡¡
soundings¡¡¡¡¡¡outside£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡deduce¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡magnitude¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡waves¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡
looked¡¡for¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡visits¡¡a¡¡river£»¡¡its¡¡summer¡¡water¡¡babbling¡¡on¡¡shallows£»¡¡and¡¡
he¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡read£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡thousand¡¡¡¡¡¡indications£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡measure¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡winter¡¡
freshets£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡predict¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡violence¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡occasional¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡floods¡£¡¡
Nay£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡more£»¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡only¡¡¡¡consider¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡is£»¡¡¡¡but¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡
may¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡I¡¡find¡¡my¡¡grandfather¡¡writing£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡report¡¡on¡¡the¡¡North¡¡Esk¡¡
Bridge£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®A¡¡¡¡less¡¡¡¡¡¡waterway¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡sufficed£»¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡VALLEYS¡¡¡¡¡¡MAY¡¡
COME¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TO¡¡¡¡¡¡BE¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MELIORATED¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡BY¡¡¡¡¡¡DRAINAGE¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡field¡¡¡¡drained¡¡
after¡¡another¡¡through¡¡all¡¡that¡¡confluence¡¡of¡¡vales£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡come¡¡to¡¡a¡¡time¡¡
when¡¡they¡¡shall¡¡precipitate¡¡by¡¡so¡¡much¡¡a¡¡more¡¡copious¡¡and¡¡transient¡¡flood£»¡¡
as¡¡the¡¡gush¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flowing¡¡drain¡pipe¡¡is¡¡superior¡¡to¡¡the¡¡leakage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡peat¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡plain¡¡there¡¡is¡¡here¡¡but¡¡a¡¡restricted¡¡use¡¡for¡¡formulas¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡53¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡54¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡RECORDS¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FAMILY¡¡OF¡¡ENGINEERS¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡practice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡engineer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡need¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡transcendental¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sense¡£¡¡
Smeaton£»¡¡the¡¡pioneer£»¡¡bade¡¡him¡¡obey¡¡his¡¡¡®feelings'£»¡¡my¡¡father£»¡¡that¡¡¡®power¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡estimating¡¡¡¡¡¡obscure¡¡¡¡¡¡forces¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡supplies¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡coefficient¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
every¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rule¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rules¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡everywhere¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡indeed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡
everywhere¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡modified¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡transcendental¡¡¡¡¡¡coefficient£»¡¡¡¡¡¡everywhere¡¡
bent¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡impression¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡trained¡¡¡¡¡¡eye¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡FEELINGS¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡
engineer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡sentiment¡¡of¡¡physical¡¡laws¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scale¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡which¡¡
shall¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡beginning¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡progressively¡¡¡¡¡¡fortified¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡
observation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡guide¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡recourse¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡most¡¡
opportunity¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡observe¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡hours¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡beach£»¡¡
brooding¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡waves£»¡¡¡¡¡¡counting¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡noting¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡least¡¡¡¡¡¡deflection£»¡¡
noting¡¡when¡¡they¡¡broke¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡Tweedside£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡Lyne¡¡or¡¡Manor£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡
spent¡¡together¡¡whole¡¡afternoons£»¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡extremely¡¡wearisome£»¡¡
to¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡now¡¡sorry¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¡bitterly¡¡mortifying¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡river¡¡was¡¡to¡¡
me¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡and¡¡various¡¡spectacle£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡
see¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡otherwise¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡my¡¡father¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡chequer¡board¡¡of¡¡lively¡¡forces£»¡¡
which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡traced¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pool¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡shallow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡minute¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡appreciation¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
enduring¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'That¡¡bank¡¡was¡¡being¡¡under¡cut£»'¡¡he¡¡might¡¡say¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®Why£¿¡¡
Suppose¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡groin¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡here£»¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡FILUM¡¡
FLUMINIS¡¡be¡¡cast¡¡abruptly¡¡off¡¡across¡¡the¡¡channel£¿¡¡and¡¡where¡¡would¡¡it¡¡
impinge¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡other¡¡shore£¿¡¡and¡¡what¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡result£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Or¡¡suppose¡¡
you¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡blast¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡boulder£»¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡happen£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Follow¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
eyes¡¡God¡¡has¡¡given¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡you¡¡not¡¡see¡¡that¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡land¡¡would¡¡
be¡¡reclaimed¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡side£¿'¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡me¡¡like¡¡school¡¡in¡¡holidays£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡
him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡worn¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡invincible¡¡¡¡¡¡triviality£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡delight¡£¡¡
Thus¡¡he¡¡pored¡¡over¡¡the¡¡engineer's¡¡voluminous¡¡handy¡book¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡thus¡¡
must£»¡¡too£»¡¡have¡¡pored¡¡my¡¡grand¡father¡¡and¡¡uncles¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡of¡¡the¡¡essence¡¡of¡¡this¡¡knowledge£»¡¡or¡¡this¡¡knack¡¡of¡¡mind£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
largely¡¡¡¡¡¡incommunicable¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®It¡¡¡¡cannot¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡imparted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡another£»'¡¡¡¡¡¡says¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
father¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡verbal¡¡¡¡¡¡casting¡net¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡thrown¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡vain¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡evanescent£»¡¡
inferential¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡relations¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡insignificance¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡engineering¡¡
literature¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡science¡¡can¡¡be¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡formulas¡¡or¡¡diagrams£»¡¡
the¡¡book¡¡is¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡art¡¡depends¡¡on¡¡intimate¡¡study¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
ways¡¡of¡¡nature£»¡¡the¡¡author's¡¡words¡¡will¡¡too¡¡often¡¡be¡¡found¡¡vapid¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡54¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡55¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡RECORDS¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FAMILY¡¡OF¡¡ENGINEERS¡¡
fact¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡engineering¡¡looks¡¡one¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡literature¡¡another¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡what¡¡my¡¡
grand¡father¡¡overlooked¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡his¡¡life¡¡long£»¡¡his¡¡pen¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡piling¡¡
up¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡treasury¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡knowledge£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡preparing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡possible¡¡
contingencies¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Scarce¡¡anything¡¡fell¡¡under¡¡his¡¡notice¡¡but¡¡he¡¡perceived¡¡in¡¡
it¡¡some¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡his¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡chronicled¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pages¡¡of¡¡his¡¡journal¡¡in¡¡
his¡¡always¡¡lucid£»¡¡but¡¡sometimes¡¡inexact¡¡and¡¡wordy£»¡¡style¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Travelling¡¡
Diary¡¡£¨so¡¡he¡¡called¡¡it£©¡¡was¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡fascicles¡¡of¡¡ruled¡¡paper£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡at¡¡
last¡¡¡¡¡¡bound¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡rudely¡¡¡¡¡¡indexed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡future¡¡¡¡reference¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Such¡¡
volumes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡reached¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡contain¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡surprising¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡medley£º¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡
details¡¡of¡¡his¡¡employment¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Northern¡¡Lights¡¡and¡¡his¡¡general¡¡practice£»¡¡
the¡¡whole¡¡biography¡¡of¡¡an¡¡enthusiastic¡¡engineer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Much¡¡of¡¡it¡¡is¡¡useful¡¡and¡¡
curious£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡merely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡otiose£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡described¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡an¡¡
attempt¡¡to¡¡impart¡¡that¡¡which¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡imparted¡¡in¡¡words¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡such¡¡are¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡repeated¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡heroic¡¡descriptions¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡reefs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡monuments¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡misdirected¡¡
literary¡¡energy£»¡¡which¡¡le