Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > records of a family of engineers(Ò»¸ö¹¤³ÌʦµÄ¼ÒÍ¥) >

µÚ4½Ú

records of a family of engineers(Ò»¸ö¹¤³ÌʦµÄ¼ÒÍ¥)-µÚ4½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡Merchant¡­Burgess¡¡of¡¡Edinburgh¡¡of¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Thomas¡¡

Smith¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Smith¡¡pedigree¡¡has¡¡been¡¡traced¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡particularly¡¡than¡¡

the¡¡Stevensons'£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡dearth¡¡of¡¡illustrious¡¡names¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡character¡¡

seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡appeared£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wings¡¡of¡¡history£º¡¡a¡¡

skipper¡¡of¡¡Dundee¡¡who¡¡smuggled¡¡over¡¡some¡¡Jacobite¡¡big¡­wig¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡

of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡'Fifteen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡afterwards¡¡¡¡¡¡drowned¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Dundee¡¡¡¡¡¡harbour¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡

going¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡board¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡ship¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡exception£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡generations¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Smiths¡¡present¡¡no¡¡conceivable¡¡interest¡¡even¡¡to¡¡a¡¡descendant£»¡¡and¡¡Thomas£»¡¡

of¡¡¡¡¡¡Edinburgh£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡issue¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡respectable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡obscurity¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡

father£»¡¡a¡¡skipper¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Broughty¡¡Ferry£»¡¡was¡¡drowned¡¡at¡¡sea¡¡while¡¡Thomas¡¡

was¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡seems¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡owned¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡ship¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡whalers£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

suppose£»¡¡or¡¡coasters¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dundee¡¡Trinity¡¡

House£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡whatever¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡implies¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡death¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡widow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remained¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡

Broughty£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡son¡¡came¡¡to¡¡push¡¡his¡¡future¡¡in¡¡Edinburgh¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡

story¡¡told¡¡of¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡family¡¡which¡¡I¡¡repeat¡¡here¡¡because¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡to¡¡

tell¡¡later¡¡on¡¡a¡¡similar£»¡¡but¡¡more¡¡perfectly¡¡authenticated£»¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡his¡¡

stepson£»¡¡Robert¡¡¡¡¡¡Stevenson¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Word¡¡reached¡¡Thomas¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

unwell£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡prepared¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡Broughty¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡morrow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

between¡¡two¡¡and¡¡three¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡early¡¡northern¡¡daylight¡¡was¡¡

already¡¡¡¡¡¡clear£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡awoke¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡beheld¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡curtains¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bed¡­foot¡¡

drawn¡¡aside¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡the¡¡interval£»¡¡smile¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡for¡¡a¡¡

moment£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡vanish¡£¡¡The¡¡sequel¡¡is¡¡stereo¡­type£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡time¡¡by¡¡

his¡¡watch£»¡¡and¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡Broughty¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡very¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡her¡¡

death¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡incident¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡least¡¡¡¡¡¡curious¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

person¡¡¡­¡¡as¡¡the¡¡tale¡¡is¡¡being¡¡told¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡all¡¡else£»¡¡he¡¡appears¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡¡

ardent£»¡¡passionate£»¡¡¡¡practical£»¡¡¡¡designed¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡affairs¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡prospering¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡them¡¡

far¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡average¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡founded¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡business¡¡in¡¡lamps¡¡and¡¡oils£»¡¡

and¡¡was¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡proprietor¡¡of¡¡a¡¡concern¡¡called¡¡the¡¡Greenside¡¡Company's¡¡

Works¡¡¡­¡¡¡®a¡¡multifarious¡¡concern¡¡it¡¡was£»'¡¡writes¡¡my¡¡cousin£»¡¡Professor¡¡Swan£»¡¡

¡®of¡¡tinsmiths£»¡¡coppersmiths£»¡¡brass¡­¡¡founders£»¡¡blacksmiths£»¡¡and¡¡japanners¡£'¡¡

He¡¡was¡¡also£»¡¡it¡¡seems£»¡¡a¡¡shipowner¡¡and¡¡underwriter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡built¡¡himself¡¡¡®a¡¡

land'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡Nos¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡1¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡2¡¡¡¡¡¡Baxter's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Place£»¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡unfashionable¡¡

neighbourhood¡¡¡­¡¡and¡¡died£»¡¡leaving¡¡his¡¡only¡¡son¡¡in¡¡easy¡¡circumstances£»¡¡and¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡12¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡13¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡RECORDS¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FAMILY¡¡OF¡¡ENGINEERS¡¡



giving¡¡to¡¡his¡¡three¡¡surviving¡¡daughters¡¡portions¡¡of¡¡five¡¡thousand¡¡pounds¡¡

and¡¡upwards¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡standard¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡success¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡life£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡its¡¡

meanings£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡to¡¡succeed¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡opinions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡makes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡figure¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡highly¡¡

characteristic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡high¡¡Tory¡¡and¡¡patriot£»¡¡a¡¡captain¡¡¡­¡¡so¡¡I¡¡find¡¡it¡¡

in¡¡my¡¡notes¡¡¡­¡¡of¡¡Edinburgh¡¡Spearmen£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡duty¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Castle¡¡during¡¡the¡¡

Muir¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Palmer¡¡troubles£»¡¡he¡¡bequeathed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡descendants¡¡a¡¡bloodless¡¡

sword¡¡and¡¡a¡¡somewhat¡¡violent¡¡tradition£»¡¡both¡¡long¡¡preserved¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡judge¡¡

who¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡Muir¡¡and¡¡Palmer£»¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡Braxfield£»¡¡let¡¡fall¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bench¡¡

the¡¡OBITER¡¡DICTUM¡¡¡­¡¡¡®I¡¡never¡¡liked¡¡the¡¡French¡¡all¡¡my¡¡days£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡I¡¡

hate¡¡them¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡Thomas¡¡Smith£»¡¡the¡¡Edinburgh¡¡Spearman£»¡¡were¡¡in¡¡court£»¡¡he¡¡

must¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡tempted¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡applaud¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡land¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

abhorrence£»¡¡he¡¡loathed¡¡Buonaparte¡¡like¡¡Antichrist¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Towards¡¡the¡¡end¡¡he¡¡

fell¡¡into¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡dotage£»¡¡his¡¡family¡¡must¡¡entertain¡¡him¡¡with¡¡games¡¡of¡¡tin¡¡

soldiers£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡took¡¡a¡¡childish¡¡pleasure¡¡to¡¡array¡¡and¡¡overset£»¡¡but¡¡those¡¡

who¡¡played¡¡with¡¡him¡¡must¡¡be¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡guard£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡

always¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡English¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡French£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡be¡¡

defeated£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡trouble¡¡in¡¡Baxter's¡¡Place¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡these¡¡opinions¡¡he¡¡

may¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡suffered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Baptised¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Church¡¡of¡¡Scotland£»¡¡he¡¡had£»¡¡upon¡¡some¡¡conscientious¡¡scruple£»¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡

communion¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Baptists¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Like¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡Nonconformists£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡

inclined¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Liberal¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡politics£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡least¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡beginning£»¡¡

regarded¡¡¡¡¡¡Buonaparte¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡deliverer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡joining¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Spearmen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thomas¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Smith¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡consequence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡bugbear¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡his¡¡

brethren¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡faith¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®They¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sword¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡¡¡perish¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

sword£»'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gave¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®no¡¡¡¡¡¡rest'£»¡¡¡¡¡®his¡¡¡¡position¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡

intolerable'£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡plain¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡choose¡¡¡¡¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡political¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

religious¡¡tenets£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡last¡¡years¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life£»¡¡about¡¡1812£»¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡

the¡¡Church¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fathers¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡August¡¡¡¡¡¡1786¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡date¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡chief¡¡¡¡¡¡advancement£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when£»¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡

designed¡¡a¡¡system¡¡of¡¡oil¡¡lights¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡the¡¡primitive¡¡coal¡¡fires¡¡

before¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡use£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡dubbed¡¡¡¡¡¡engineer¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡newly¡­formed¡¡¡¡¡¡Board¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

Northern¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lighthouses¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡fortunes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bettered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

appointment£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡introduced¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡wider¡¡¡¡¡¡field¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡13¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡14¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡RECORDS¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FAMILY¡¡OF¡¡ENGINEERS¡¡



exercise¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡abilities£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡highly¡¡¡¡¡¡agreeable¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

active¡¡constitution¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡rejoiced¡¡in¡¡the¡¡long¡¡journeys£»¡¡and¡¡

to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡combined¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡practice¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡field¡¡¡¡¡¡sports¡£¡¡¡¡¡®A¡¡¡¡tall£»¡¡¡¡¡¡stout¡¡

man¡¡coming¡¡ashore¡¡with¡¡his¡¡gun¡¡over¡¡his¡¡arm'¡¡¡­¡¡so¡¡he¡¡was¡¡described¡¡to¡¡my¡¡

father¡¡¡­¡¡the¡¡only¡¡description¡¡that¡¡has¡¡come¡¡down¡¡to¡¡me¡¡by¡¡a¡¡light¡­keeper¡¡

old¡¡in¡¡the¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡did¡¡this¡¡change¡¡come¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡9th¡¡July¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡same¡¡year£»¡¡Thomas¡¡Smith¡¡had¡¡been¡¡left¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡a¡¡widower¡£¡¡

As¡¡he¡¡was¡¡still¡¡but¡¡thirty¡­three¡¡years¡¡old£»¡¡prospering¡¡in¡¡his¡¡affairs£»¡¡newly¡¡

advanced¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡world£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡encumbered¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡family¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

children£»¡¡five¡¡in¡¡number£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡natural¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡entertain¡¡the¡¡notion¡¡

of¡¡another¡¡wife¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Expeditious¡¡in¡¡business£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡no¡¡less¡¡so¡¡in¡¡his¡¡choice£»¡¡

and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡later¡¡than¡¡June¡¡1787¡¡¡­¡¡for¡¡my¡¡grandfather¡¡is¡¡described¡¡as¡¡

still¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fifteenth¡¡year¡¡¡­¡¡that¡¡he¡¡married¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡of¡¡Alan¡¡Stevenson¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡perilous¡¡¡¡¡¡experiment¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡bringing¡¡¡¡¡¡together¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡families¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡

succeeded¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Smith's¡¡two¡¡eldest¡¡daughters£»¡¡Jean¡¡and¡¡Janet£»¡¡fervent¡¡in¡¡

piety£»¡¡unwearied¡¡in¡¡kind¡¡deeds£»¡¡were¡¡well¡¡qualified¡¡both¡¡to¡¡appreciate¡¡and¡¡

to¡¡attract¡¡the¡¡stepmother£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡son£»¡¡¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡

found¡¡immediate¡¡favour¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Smith¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡

exaggerate¡¡the¡¡ready¡­made¡¡resemblances£»¡¡the¡¡tired¡¡woman¡¡must¡¡have¡¡done¡¡

much¡¡to¡¡fashion¡¡girls¡¡who¡¡were¡¡under¡¡ten£»¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡lusty¡¡and¡¡opinionated£»¡¡

must¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡stamped¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡impression¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡boy¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡fifteen¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

cleavage¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡family¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡marked£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡identity¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡character¡¡¡¡and¡¡

interest¡¡¡¡¡¡produced¡¡¡¡¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡hand£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡

women¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡was¡¡too¡¡complete¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡influence¡¡

alone¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Particular¡¡¡¡¡¡bonds¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡union¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡pre¡­existed¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡£¡¡

And¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡doubt¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡boy¡¡¡¡¡¡met¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡common¡¡

ambitions£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡common¡¡¡¡¡¡bent£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡practice¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡so¡¡

long¡¡before¡¡acquired¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡civil¡¡engineering¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡profession¡¡which¡¡is¡¡now¡¡so¡¡thronged£»¡¡famous£»¡¡and¡¡influential£»¡¡

was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡yesterday¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡grandfather¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡anecdote¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

Smeaton£»¡¡probably¡¡learned¡¡from¡¡John¡¡Clerk¡¡of¡¡Eldin£»¡¡their¡¡common¡¡friend¡£¡¡

Smeaton¡¡was¡¡asked¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Argyll¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡the¡¡West¡¡Highland¡¡coast¡¡

for¡¡a¡¡professional¡¡purpose¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡refused£»¡¡appalled£»¡¡it¡¡seems£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rough¡¡

travelling¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®You¡¡can¡¡recommend¡¡some¡¡other¡¡fit¡¡person£¿'¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡Duke¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡14¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡15¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡RECORDS¡¡OF¡¡A¡¡FAMILY¡¡OF¡¡ENGINEERS¡¡



¡®No£»'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Smeaton£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®I'm¡¡¡¡sorry¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡can't¡£'¡¡¡¡¡®What£¡'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡cried¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Duke£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®a¡¡

profession¡¡with¡¡only¡¡one¡¡man¡¡in¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pray£»¡¡who¡¡taught¡¡you£¿'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®Why£»'¡¡said¡¡

Smeaton£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®I¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡I¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ