an autobiography-第24部分

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ign　and　in　execution。　I　afterwards　found　that　the　Carmichaels　were　among　the　first　of　the　Scottish　engine　makers　who　gave　due　attention　to　the　employment　of　improved　mechanical　tools；　with　the　object　of　producing　accurate　work　with　greater　ease；　rapidity；　and　economy；　than　could　possibly　be　effected　by　the　hand　labour　of　even　the　most　skilful　workmen。　　I　was　told　that　the　cause　of　the　excellence　of　the　Carmichaels'　work　was　not　only　in　the　ability　of　the　heads　of　the　firm；　but　in　their　employment　of　the　best　engineers'　tools。　　Some　of　their　leading　men　had　worked　at　Maudslay's　machine　shop　in　London；　the　fame　of　which　had　already　reached　Dundee；　and　Maudslay's　system　of　employing　machine　tools　had　been　imported　into　the　northern　steam　factory。

I　had　on　many　occasions；　when　visiting　the　works　where　steam…engines　were　employed；　heard　of　the　name　and　fame　of　Maudslay。　　I　was　told　that　his　works　were　the　very　centre　and　climax　of　all　that　was　excellent　in　mechanical　workmanship。　　These　reports　built　up　in　my　mind；　at　this　early　period　of　my　aspirations；　an　earnest　and　hopeful　desire　that　I　might　some　day　get　a　sight　of　Maudslay's　celebrated　works　in　London。　In　course　of　time　it　developed　into　a　passion。　　I　will　now　proceed　to　show　how　my　inmost　desires　were　satisfied。


CHAPTER　7。　　Henry　Maudslay；　London

The　chief　object　of　my　ambition　was　now　to　be　taken　on　at　Henry　Maudslay's　works　in　London。　　I　had　heard　so　much　of　his　engineering　work；　of　his　assortment　of　machine…making　tools；　and　of　the　admirable　organisation　of　his　manufactory；　that　I　longed　to　obtain　employment　there。　　I　was　willing　to　labour；　in　however　humble　a　capacity；　in　that　far…famed　workshop。

I　was　aware　that　my　father　had　not　the　means　of　paying　the　large　premium　required　for　placing　me　as　an　apprentice　at　Maudslay's　works。　I　was　also　informed　that　Maudslay　had　ceased　to　take　pupils。　After　experience；　he　found　that　the　premium　apprentices　caused　him　much　annoyance　and　irritation。　　They　came　in　〃gloves；〃　their　attendance　was　irregular；　they　spread　a　bad　example　amongst　the　regular　apprentices　and　workmen；　and　on　the　whole　they　were　found　to　be　very　disturbing　elements　in　the　work　of　the　factory。

It　therefore　occurred　to　me　that；　by　showing　some　specimens　of　my　work　and　drawings；　I　might　be　able　to　satisfy　Mr。　Maudslay　that　I　was　not　an　amateur；　but　a　regular　working　engineer。　　With　this　object　I　set　to　work；　and　made　with　special　care　a　most　complete　working　model　of　a　high…pressure　engine。　　The　cylinder　was　2　inches　diameter；　and　the　stroke　6　inches。　　Every　part　of　the　engine；　including　the　patterns；　the　castings；　the　forgings；　were　the　results　of　my　own　individual　handiwork。　　I　turned　out　this　sample　of　my　ability　as　an　engineer　workman　in　such　a　style　as　even　now　I　should　be　proud　to　own。

In　like　manner　I　executed　several　specimens　of　my　ability　as　a　mechanical　draughtsman；　for　I　knew　that　Maudslay　would　thoroughly　understand　my　ability　to　work　after　a　plan。　　Mechanical　drawing　is　the　alphabet　of　the　engineer。　　Without　this　the　workman　is　merely　a　〃hand。〃　With　it　he　indicates　the　possession　of　〃a　head〃　I　also　made　some　samples　of　my　skill　in　hand…sketching　of　machines；　and　parts　of　machines；　in　perspectivethat　is；　as　such　objects　really　appear　when　set　before　us　in　their　natural　aspect。　　I　was　the　more　desirous　of　exhibiting　the　ability　which　I　possessed　in　mechanical　draughtsmanship；　as　I　knew　it　to　be　a　somewhat　rare　and　much…valued　acquirement。　It　was　a　branch　of　delineative　art　that　my　father　had　carefully　taught　me。　Throughout　my　professional　life　I　have　found　this　art　to　be　of　the　utmost　practical　value。

Having　thus　provided　myself　with　such　visible　and　tangible　evidences　　of　my　capabilities　as　a　young　engineer；　I　carefully　packed　up　my　　working　model　and　drawings；　and　prepared　to　start　for　London。　On　the　19th　of　May　1829；　accompanied　by　my　father；　I　set　sail　by　the　Leith　smack　Edinburgh　Castle；　Captain　Orr；　master。　　After　a　pleasant　voyage　of　four　days　we　reached　the　mouth　of　the　Thames。　　We　sailed　up　from　the　Nore　on　Saturday　afternoon；　lifted　up；　as　it　were；　by　the　tide；　for　it　was　almost　a　dead　calm　the　whole　way。

The　sight　of　the　banks　of　the　famous　river；　with　the　Kent　orchards　in　full　blossom；　and　the　frequent　passages　of　steamers　with　bands　of　music　and　their　decks　crowded　with　pleasure…seekers；　together　with　the　sight　of　numbers　of　noble　merchant　ships　in　the　river；　formed　a　most　glorious　and　exciting　scene。　　It　was　also　enhanced　by　the　thought　that　I　was　nearing　the　great　metropolis；　around　which　so　many　bright　but　anxious　hopes　were　centred；　as　the　scene　of　my　first　important　step　into　the　anxious　business　of　life；　The　tide；　which　had　carried　us　up　the　river　as　far　as　Woolwich　suddenly　turned；　and　we　remained　there　during　the　night。　　Early　next　morning　the　tide　rose；　and　we　sailed　away　again。　It　was　a　bright　mild　morning。　　The　sun　came　〃dancing　up　the　east〃　as　we　floated　past　wharfs　and　woodyards　and　old　houses　on　the　banks；　past　wherries　and　coal　boats　and　merchant　ships　on　the　river；　until　we　reached　our　destination　at　the　Irongate　Wharf；　near　the　Tower　of　London。　　I　heard　St。　Paul's　clock　strike　six　just　as　we　　reached　our　mooring　ground。

Captain　Orr　was　kind　enough　to　allow　us　to　make　the　ship　our　hotel　during　the　Sunday；　as　it　was　by　no　means　convenient　for　us　to　remove　our　luggage　on　that　day。　　My　father　took　me　ashore　and　we　walked　to　Regent's　Park。　　One　of　my　sisters；　who　was　visiting　a　friend　in　London；　was　residing　in　that　neighbourhood。　　My　father　so　planned　his　route　as　to　include　many　of　the　most　remarkable　streets　and　buildings　and　sights　of　London。　　He　pointed　out　the　principal　objects；　and　gave　me　much　information　about　their　origin　and　history。

I　was　much　struck　with　the　beautiful　freshness　and　luxuriant　growth　of　the　trees　and　shrubs　in　the　squares；　for　spring　was　then　in　its　first　beauty。　　The　loveliness　of　Regent's　Park　surprised　me。　　The　extent　of　the　space；　the　brilliancy　of　the　fresh…leaved　trees；　and　the　handsome　buildings　by　which　the　park　was　surrounded；　made　it　seem　to　me　more　splendid　than　a　picture　from　the　Arabian　Nights。　　Under　the　happy　aspect　of　a　brilliant　May　forenoon；　this　first　long　walk　through　London；　with　all　its　happy　attendant　circumstances；　rendered　it　one　of　the　most　vividly　remembered　incidents　in　my　life。　　After　visiting　my　sister　and　giving　her　all　the　details　of　the　last　news　from　home；　she　joined　us　in　our　walk　down　to　Westminster　Abbey。　　The　first　view　of　the　interior　stands　out　in　my　memory　as　one　of　the　most　impressive　sights　I　ever　beheld。　　I　had　before　read；　over　and　over　again；　the　beautiful　description　of　the　Abbey　given　by　Washington　Irving　in　the　Sketch　Book；　one　of　the　most　masterly　pieces　of　writing　that　I　know　of　I　now　found　one　of　my　day…dreams　realised。

We　next　proceeded　over　Westminster　Bridge　to　call　upon　my　brother　Patrick。　　We　found　him　surrounded　by　paintings　from　his　beautiful　sketches　from　Nature。　　Some　of　them　were　more　or　less　advanced　in　the　form　of　exquisite　pictures；　which　now　hang　on　many　walls；　and　will　long　commemorate　his　artistic　life。　　We　closed　this　ever　memorable　day　by　dining　at　a　tavern　at　the　Surrey　end　of　Waterloo　Bridge。　　We　sat　at　an　upper　window　which　commanded　a　long　stretch　of　the　river；　and　from　which　we　could　see　the　many　remarkable　buildings；　from　St。　Paul's　to　Westminster　Abbey　and　the　Houses　of　Parliament；　which　lay　on　the　other　side　of　the　Thames。

On　the　following　day　my　father　and　I　set　out　in　search　of　lodgings；　hotels　being　at　that　time　beyond　our　economical　method　of　living。　We　succeeded　in　securing　a　tidy　lodging　at　No。　　14　Agues　Place；　Waterloo　Road。　　The　locality　had　a　special　attraction　for　me；　as　it　was　not　far　from　that　focus　of　interestMaudslay's　factory。　　Our　luggage　was　removed　from　the　ship　to　the　lodgings；　and　my　ponderous　cases；　containing　the　examples　of　my　skill　as　an　engineer　workman；　were　deposited　in　a　carpenter's　workshop　close　at　hand。

I　was　now　anxious　for　the　interview　with　Maudslay。　　My　father　had　been　introduced　to　him　by　a　mutual　friend　some　two　or　three　years　before；　and　that　was　enough。　　On　the　morning　of　May　the　26th　we　set　out　together；　and　reached　his　house　in　Westminster　Road；　Lambeth。　It　adjoined　his　factory。　　My　father　knocked　at　the　door。　　My　own　heart　beat　fast。　　Would　he　be　at　home？　　Would　he　receive　us？　　Yes！　　he　was　at　home；　and　we　were　invited　to　enter。

Mr。　Maudslay　received　us　in　the　most　kind　and　frank　manner。　　After　a　little　conversation　my　father　explained　the　object　of　his　visit。　〃My　son；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　me；　〃is　very　anxious　to　have　the　opportunity　of　acquiring　a　thorough　practical　knowledge　of　mechanical　engineering；　by　serving　as　an　apprentice　in　some　such　establishment　as　yours〃　〃Well；〃　replied　Maudslay；　〃I　must　frankly　confess　to　you　that　my　experience　of　pupil　apprentices　has　been　so　unsatisfactory　that　my　partner　and　myself　have　determined　to　discontinue　to　receive　themno　matter　at　what　premium。　　This　was　a　very　painful　blow　to　myself；　for　it　seemed　to　put　an　end　to　my　sanguine　expectations。

Mr。　Maudslay　knew　that　my　father　was　interested　in　all　matters　relating　to　mechanical　engineering；　and　he　courteously　invited　him　to　go　round　the　works。　　Of　course　I　accompanied　them。　　The　sight　of　the　workshops　astonished　me。　　They　excelled　all　that　I　had　anticipated。　The　beautiful　machine　tools；　the　silent　smooth　whirl　of　the　machinery；　the　active　movements　of　the　men；　the　excellent　quality　of　the　work　in　progress；　and　the　admirable　order　and　management　that　pervaded　the　whole　establishment；　rendered　me　more　tremblingly　anxious　than　ever　to　obtain　some　employment　there；　in　however　humble　a　capacity。

Mr。　Maudslay　observed　the　earnest　interest　which　I　and　my　father　took　in　everything　going　on；　and　explained　the　movements　of　the　machinery　and　the　rationale　of　the　proceedings　in　the　most　lively　and　kindly　manner。　　It　was　while　we　were　passing　from　one　part　of　the　factory　to　another　that　I　observed　the　beautiful　steam…engine　which　gave　motion　to　the　tools　and　machinery　of　the　workshops。　　The　man　who　attended　it　was　engaged　in　cleaning　out　the　ashes　from　under　the　boiler　furnace；　in　order　to　wheel　them　away　to　their　place　outside。　　On　the　spur　of　the　moment　I　said　to　Mr。　Mauds