an autobiography-第68部分

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　the　world。

Mr。　Bessemer　brought　the　subject　of　his　invention　before　the　meeting　of　the　British　Association　at　Cheltenham　in　the　autumn　of　1856。　　There　he　read　his　paper　〃On　the　Manufacture　of　Iron　into　Steel　without　Fuel。〃*　　＇footnote。。。　On　the　morning　of　the　day　on　which　the　paper　was　to　be　read；　Mr。　Bessemer　was　sitting　at　breakfast　at　his　hotel；　when　an　ironmaster　（to　whom　he　was　unknown）　said；　laughing；　to　a　friend　within　his　hearing；　〃Do　you　know　that　there　is　somebody　come　down　from　London　to　read　us　a　paper　on　making　steel　from　cast　iron　without　fuel？　　Did　you　ever　hear　of　such　nonsense？〃　The　title　of　the　paper　was　perhaps　a　misnomer；　but　the　correctness　of　the　principles　on　which　the　pig　iron　was　converted　into　malleable　iron；　as　explained　by　the　inventor；　was　generally　recognised；　and　there　seemed　every　reason　to　anticipate　that　the　process　would　before　long　come　into　general　use。　　。。。＇

I　was　present　on　the　occasion；　and　listened　　to　his　statement　with　mingled　feelings　of　regret　and　enthusiasmof　regret；　because　I　had　been　so　clearly　superseded　and　excelled　in　my　performances；　and　of　enthusiasmbecause　I　could　not　but　admire　and　honour　the　genius　who　had　given　so　great　an　　invention　to　the　mechanical　world。　I　immediately　took　the　opportunity　of　giving　my　assent　to　the　principles　which　he　had　propounded。　　My　words　were　not　reported　at　the　time；　nor　was　Mr。　Bessemer's　paper　printed　by　the　Association；　perhaps　because　it　was　thought　of　so　little　importance　but；　on　applying　to　Mr。　（now　Sir　Henry）　Bessemer；　he　was　so　kind　as　to　give　me　the　following　as　his　recollection　of　the　words　which　I　used　on　the　occasion。

〃I　shall　ever　feel　grateful；〃　says　Sir　Henry；　〃for　the　noble　way　in　which　you　spoke　at　the　meeting　at　Cheltenham　of　my　invention。　If　I　remember　rightly；　you　held　up　a　piece　of　my　malleable　iron；　saying　words　to　this　effect：　　'Here　is　a　true　British　nugget！　　Here　is　a　new　process　that　promises　to　put　an　end　to　all　puddling；　and　I　may　mention　that　at　this　moment　there　are　puddling　furnaces　in　successful　operation　where　my　patent　hollow　steam　Rabbler　is　at　work；　producing　iron　of　superior　quality　by　the　introduction　of　jets　of　steam　in　the　puddling　process。　　I　do　not；　however；　lay　any　claim　to　this　invention　of　Mr。　Bessemer；　but　I　may　fairly　be　entitled　to　say　that　I　have　advanced　along　the　road　on　which　he　has　travelled　so　many　miles；　and　has　effected　such　unexpected　results　that　I　do　not　hesitate　to　say　that　I　may　go　home　from　this　meeting　and　tear　up　my　patent；　for　my　process　of　puddling　is　assuredly　superseded。'〃

After　giving　an　account　of　the　true　origin　of　his　process；　in　which　he　had　met　with　failures　as　well　as　successes；　but　at　last　recognised　the　decarburation　of　pig　iron　by　atmospheric　air；　Sir　Henry　proceeds　to　say：

〃I　prepared　to　try　another　experiment；　in　a　crucible　having　no　hole　the　the　bottom；　but　which　was　provided　with　an　iron　pipe　put　through　a　hole　in　the　cover；　and　passing　down　nearly　to　the　bottom　of　the　crucible。　The　small　lumps　and　grains　of　iron　were　packed　around　fit；　so　as　nearly　to　fill　the　crucible。　　A　blast　of　air　was　to　be　forced　down　the　pipe　so　as　to　rise　up　among　the　pieces　of　granular　iron　and　partially　decarburise　them。　　The　pipe　could　then　be　withdrawn；　and　the　fire　urged　until　the　metal　with　its　coat　of　oxyde　was　fused；　and　cast　steel　thereby　produced。

〃While　the　blowing　apparatus　for　this　experiment　was　being　fitted　up；　I　was　taken　with　one　of　those　short　but　painful　illnesses　to　which　I　was　subject　at　that　time。　　I　was　confined　to　my　bed；　and　it　was　then　that　my　mind；　dwelling　for　hours　together　on　the　experiment　about　to　be　made；　suggested　that　instead　of　trying　to　decarburise　the　granulated　metal　by　forcing　the　air　down　the　vertical　pipe　among　the　pieces　of　iron；　the　air　would　act　much　more　energetically　and　more　rapidly　if　I　first　melted　the　iron　in　the　crucible；　and　forced　the　air　down　the　pipe　below　the　surface　of　the　fluid　metal；　and　thus　burn　out　the　carbon　and　silicum　which　it　contained。

〃This　appeared　so　feasible；　and　in　every　way　so　great　an　improvement；　that　the　experiment　on　the　granular　pieces　was　at　once　abandoned；　and；　as　soon　as　I　was　well　enough；　I　proceeded　to　try　the　experiment　of　forcing　the　air　under　the　fluid　metal。　　The　result　was　marvellous。　Complete　decarburation　was　effected　in　half　an　hour。　　The　heat　produced　was　immense；　but；　unfortunately　more　than　half　the　metal　was　blown　out　of　the　pot。　　This　led　to　the　use　of　pots　with　large　hollow　perforated　covers；　which　effectually　prevented　the　loss　of　metal。　These　experiments　continued　from　January　to　October　1855。　　I　have　by　me　on　the　mantelpiece　at　this　moment；　a　small　piece　of　rolled　bar　iron　which　was　rolled　at　Woolwich　arsenal；　and　exhibited　a　year　later　at　Cheltenham。

〃I　then　applied　for　a　patent；　but　before　preparing　my　provisional　specification　（dated　October　17；　1855）；　I　searched　for　other　patents　to　ascertain　whether　anything　of　the　sort　had　been　done　before。　I　then　found　your　patent　for　puddling　with　the　steam　rabble；　and　also　Martin's　patent　for　the　use　of　steam　in　gutters　while　molten　iron　was　being　conveyed　from　the　blast　furnace　to　a　finery；　there　to　be　refined　in　the　ordinary　way　prior　to　puddling。

〃I　then　tried　steam　in　my　cast　steel　process；　alone；　and　also　mixed　with　air。　　I　found　that　it　cooled　the　metal　very　much；　and　of　itself　could　not　be　used；　as　it　always　produced　solidification。　I　was　nevertheless　advised　to　claim　the　use　of　steam　as　well　as　air　in　my　particular　process　（lest　it　might　be　used　against　me）；　at　the　same　time　disclaiming　its　employment　for　any　purpose　except　in　the　production　of　fluid　malleable　iron　or　steel。　　And　I　have　no　doubt　it　is　to　this　fact　that　I　referred　when　speaking　to　you　on　the　occasion　you　mention。　　I　have　deemed　it　best　that　the　exact　truthso　far　as　a　short　history　can　give　itshould　be　given　at　once　to　you；　who　are　so　true　and　candid。　　Had　it　not　been　for　you　and　Martin　I　should　probably　never　have　proposed　the　use　of　steam　in　my　process；　but　the　use　of　air　came　by　degrees；　just　in　the　way　I　have　described。〃

It　was　thoroughly　consistent　with　Mr。　Bessemer's　kindly　feelings　towards　me；　that；　after　our　meeting　at　Cheltenham；　he　made　me　an　offer　of　one…third　share　of　the　value　of　his　patent。　　This　would　have　been　another　fortune　to　me。　　But　I　had　already　made　money　enough。　I　was　just　then　taking　down　my　signboard　and　leaving　business。　I　did　not　need　to　plunge　into　any　such　tempting　enterprise；　and　I　therefore　thankfully　declined　the　offer。

Many　long　years　of　pleasant　toil　and　exertion　had　done　their　work。　A　full　momentum　of　prosperity　had　been　given　to　my　engineering　business　at　Patricroft。　　My　share　in　the　financial　results　accumulated　with　accelerated　rapidity　to　an　amount　far　beyond　my　most　sanguine　hopes。　But　finding；　from　long　continued　and　incessant　mental　efforts；　that　my　nervous　system　was　beginning　to　become　shaken；　especially　in　regard　to　an　affection　of　the　eyes；　which　in　some　respects　damaged　my　sight；　I　thought　the　time　had　arrived　for　me　to　retire　from　commercial　life。

Some　of　my　friends　advised　me　to　〃slack　off；〃　and　not　to　retire　entirely　from　Bridgewater　Foundry。　　But　to　do　so　was　not　in　my　nature。　I　could　not　be　indifferent　to　any　concern　in　which　I　was　engaged。　I　must　give　my　mind　and　heart　to　it　as　before。　　I　could　not　give　half　to　leisure；　and　half　to　business。　　I　therefore　concluded　that　a　final　decision　was　necessary。　　Fortunately　I　possessed　an　abundant　and　various　stock　of　hobbies。　　I　held　all　these　in　reserve　to　fall　back　upon。　　They　would　furnish　me　with　an　almost　inexhaustible　source　of　healthy　employment。　　They　might　give　me　occupation　for　mind　and　body　as　long　as　I　lived。　　I　bethought　me　of　the　lines　of　Burns：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Wi'　steady　aim　some　Fortune　chase；　　Keen　hope　does　ev'ry　sinew　brace；　　Thro'　fair；　thro'　foul；　they　urge　the　race；　　And　seize　the　prey：　　Then　cannie；　in　some　cosy　place；　　They　close　the　day。〃

It　was　no　doubt　a　great　sorrow　for　me　and　my　dear　wife　to　leave　the　Home　in　which　we　had　been　so　happy　and　prosperous　for　so　many　years。　It　was　a　cosy　little　cottage　at　Patricroft。　　We　had　named　it　〃Fireside。〃　It　was　small；　but　suitable　for　our　requirements。　We　never　needed　to　enlarge　it；　for　we　had　no　children　to　accommodate。　It　was　within　five　minutes'　walk　of　the　Foundry；　and　I　was　scarcely　ever　out　of　reach　of　the　Fireside；　where　we　were　both　so　happy。　It　had　been　sanctified　by　our　united　love　for　thirteen　years。　It　was　surrounded　by　a　nice　garden；　planted　with　trees　and　shrubs。　Though　close　to　the　Bridgewater　Canal；　and　a　busy　manufacturing　population　was　not　far　off；　the　cottage　was　perfectly　quiet。　It　was　in　this　garden；　when　I　was　arranging　the　telescope　at　night；　that　I　had　been　detected　by　the　passing　boatman　as　〃The　Patricroft　Ghost〃

When　we　were　about　to　leave　Patricroft；　the　Countess　of　Ellesmere；　who；　as　well　as　the　Earl；　had　always　been　our　attached　friends；　wrote　to　my　wife　as　follows：　　〃I　can　well　understand　Mr。　Nasmyth's　satisfaction　at　the　emancipation　he　looks　forward　to　in　December　next。　But　I　hope　you　do　not　expect　us　to　share　it！　for　what　is　so　much　natural　pleasure　to　you　is　a　sad　loss　and　privation　to　us。　I　really　don't　know　how　we　shall　get　on　at　Worsley　without　you。　You　have　nevertheless　my　most　sincere　and　hearty　good　wishes　that　the　change　may　be　as　grateful　to　you　both　as　anything　in　this　world　can　be。〃

Yet　we　had　to　tear　ourselves　away　from　this　abode　of　peace　and　happiness。　　I　had　given　notice　to　my　partner*　　＇footnote。。。　The　〃Partner〃　here　referred　to；　was　my　excellent　friend　Henry　Garnett；　Esq。；　of　Wyre　Side；　near　Lancaster。　　He　had　been　my　sleeping　partner　or　〃Co。〃　for　nearly　twenty　years；　and　the　most　perfect　harmony　always　existed　between　us。　　。。。＇　that　it　was　my　intention　to　retire　from　business　at　the　end　of　1856。　The　necessary　arrangements　were　accordingly　made　for　carrying　on　the　business　after　my　retirement。　　All　was　pleasantly　and　satisfactorily　settled　several　months　before　I　finally　left；　and　the　character　and　prosperity　of　the　Bridgewater　Foundry　have　been　continued　to　the　present　day。

But　where　was　I　to　turn　to　for　a　settled　home？　　Many　years　before　I　had　seen　a　charming　picture　by　my　brother　Patrick　of　〃A　Cottage　in　Kent〃　It