an autobiography-第33部分

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tail；　and　his　fine　artistic　feeling。

Soon　after　Mr。　Maudslay's　return；　a　very　interesting　job　was　brought　to　him；　in　which　he　took　even　more　than　his　usual　interest。　　It　was　a　machine　which　his　friend　Mr。　Barton；　of　the　Royal　Mint；　had　obtained　from　France。　　It　was　intended　to　cut　or　engrave　the　steel　dies　used　for　stamping　coin。　　It　was　a　remarkable　and　interesting　specimen　of　inventive　ingenuity。　　It　copied　any　object　in　relief　which　had　been　cast　in　plaster　of　Paris　or　brass　from　the　artist's　original　wax　model。　The　minutest　detail　was　transferred　to　soft　steel　dies　with　absolute　accuracy。　　This　remarkable　machine　could　copy　and　cut　steel　dies　either　in　intaglio　or　in　cameo　of　any　size；　and；　in　short；　enabled　the　mechanic　who　managed　it　to　transfer　the　most　minute　and　characteristic　touches　of　the　original　model　to　the　steel　dies　for　any　variety　of　size　of　coin。　　Nevertheless；　the　execution　of　some　of　the　details　of　the　machine　were　so　defective；　that　after　giving　the　most　tempting　proof　of　its　capabilities　at　the　Royal　Mint；　Mr。　Barton　found　it　absolutely　necessary　to　place　it　in　Maudslay's　hands；　in　order　to　have　its　details　thoroughly　overhauled；　and　made　as　mechanically　perfect　as　its　design　and　intention　merited。

This　interesting　machine　was　accordingly　brought　to　the　private　workshop；　and　placed　in　the　hands　of　the　leading　mechanic；　whom　I　had　the　pleasure　of　being　associated　with；　James　Sherriff；　one　of　our　most　skilled　workmen。　　We　were　both　put　to　our　mettle。　　It　was　a　job　quite　to　my　taste；　and　being　associated　with　so　skilled　a　workman　as　Sherriff；　and　in　constant　communication　with　Mr。　Maudslay；　I　had　every　opportunity　of　bringing　my　best　manipulative　ability　into　action　and　use　while　perfecting　this　beautiful　machine。　　It　is　sufficient　to　say　that　by　our　united　efforts；　by　the　technical　details　suggested　by　Mr。　Maudslay　and　carried　out　by　us；　and　by　the　practical　trials　made　under　the　superintendence　of　Mr。　Wyon　of　the　Mint；　the　apparatus　was　at　length　made　perfect　and　performed　its　duty　to　the　satisfaction　of　every　one　concerned。

Mr。　Maudslay　had　next　a　pair　of　200　horse…power　marine　engines　put　in　hand。　　His　sons　and　partners　were　rather　opposed　to　so　expensive　a　piece　of　work　being　undertaken　without　an　order。　　At　that　time　such　a　power　as　200　horse　nominal　was　scarcely　thought　of；　and　the　Admiralty　Board　were　very　cautious　in　ordering　marine　engines　of　any　sort。　Nevertheless；　the　engines　were　proceeded　with　and　perfected。　They　formed　a　noble　object　in　the　great　erecting　shop。　　They　embodied　in　every　detail　all　Mr。　Maudslay's　latest　improvements。　　In　fact　the　work　was　the　sum　total　of　the　great　master's　inventions　and　adaptations　in　marine　engines。　　The　Admiralty　at　last　secured　them　for　the　purpose　of　being　placed　in　a　very　fine　vessel；　the　Dee；　then　in　course　of　construction。　　Mr。　Maudslay　was　so　much　pleased　with　the　result　that　he　had　a　very　beautiful　model　made　of　the　engines；　and　finding　that　I　had　some　artistic　skill　as　a　draughtsman；　he　set　me　to　work　to　make　a　complete　perspective　drawing　of　their　great　engines　as　they　stood　all　perfect　in　the　erecting…shop。　　This　was　a　work　entirely　to　my　taste。　In　due　time　I　completed　a　graphic　portrait　of　these　noble　engines；　treated；　I　hope；　in　an　artistic　spirit。　　Indeed；　such　a　class　of　drawing　was　rarely　to　be　had　from　any　engineering　draughtsman。　Mere　geometrical　drawing　could　not　give　a　proper　idea；　as　a　whole；　of　so　grand　a　piece　of　mechanism。　　It　required　something　of　the　artistic　spirit　to　fairly　represent　it。　　At　all　events　my　performance　won　the　entire　approval　of　my　master。

Mr。　Maudslay　was　a　man　of　a　wide　range　of　mechanical　abilities。　He　was　always　ready　to　enter　upon　any　new　work　requiring　the　exercise　of　special　skill。　　It　did　not　matter　whether　it　was　machine　tools；　engraving　dies；　block　machinery；　or　astronomical　instruments。　　While　at　Berlin　he　went　to　see　the　Royal　Observatory。　　He　was　naturally　much　interested　by　the　fine　instruments　therethe　works　of　Repsoldt　and　Hertz；　the　pioneers　of　improved　astronomical　workmanship。　The　continental　instrument　makers　were　then　far　in　advance　of　those　of　England。　　Mr。　Maudslay　was　greatly　impressed　with　the　sight　of　the　fine　instruments　in　the　Berlin　Observatory。　　He　was　permitted　to　observe　some　of　the　most　striking　and　remarkable　of　the　heavenly　bodies　Jupiter；　Saturn；　and　the　Moon。　　It　was　almost　a　new　revelation　to　him；　for　the　subject　was　entirely　novel。　　To　be　able　to　make　such　instruments　seemed　to　him　to　be　a　glorious　achievement　of　refined　mechanism　and　manipulative　skill。　　He　returned　home　full　of　the　wonderful　sights　he　had　seen。　　It　was　a　constant　source　of　pleasure　to　him　to　dwell　upon　the　splendour　and　magnificence　of　the　heavenly　bodies。

He　became　anxious　to　possess　a　powerful　telescope　of　his　own。　His　principal　difficulty　was　in　procuring　a　lens　of　considerable　diameter；　possessed　of　high　perfection　of　defining　power。　　I　suggested　to　him　the　employment　of　a　reflecting　telescope；　by　means　of　which　the　difficulties　connected　with　the　employment　of　glass　could　be　avoided。　This　suggestion　was　based　upon　some　knowledge　I　had　acquired　respecting　this　department　of　refined　mechanical　art。　　I　knew　that　the　elder　Herschel　had　by　this　means　vastly　advanced　our　knowledge　of　the　heavenly　bodies；　indeed　to　an　extent　far　beyond　what　had　been　achieved　by　the　most　perfect　of　glass　lens　instruments。　　Mr。　Maudslay　was　interested　in　the　idea　I　suggested；　and　he　requested　me　to　show　him　what　I　knew　of　the　art　of　compounding　the　alloy　called　speculum　metal。　He　wished　to　know　how　so　brittle　a　material　could　be　cast　and　ground　and　polished；　and　kept　free　from　flaws　or　defects　of　every　kind。

I　accordingly　cast　for　him　a　speculum　of　8　inches　diameter。　　I　ground　and　polished　it；　and　had　it　fitted　up　in　a　temporary　manner　to　exhibit　its　optical　capabilities；　which　were　really　of　no　mean　order。　But；　as　his　ambition　was　to　have　a　grand　and　powerful　instrument　of　not　less　than　24　inches　diameter；　the　preparation　for　such　a　speculum　became　a　subject　to　him　of　the　highest　interest。　　He　began　to　look　out　for　a　proper　position　for　his　projected　observatory。　　He　made　inquiry　about　a　residence　at　Norwood；　where　he　thought　his　instrument　might　have　fair　play。　　It　would　there　be　free　from　the　smoke　and　disturbing　elements　of　such　a　place　as　Lambeth。　　　His　mind　was　full　of　this　idea　when　he　was　called　away　by　the　claims　of　affection　to　visit　a　dear　old　friend　at　Boulogne。　　He　remained　there　for　more　than　a　week；　until　assured　of　his　friend's　convalescence。　　But　on　his　return　voyage　across　the　Channel　he　caught　a　severe　cold。　　On　reaching　London　he　took　to　his　bed　and　never　left　it　alive。　　After　three　or　four　weeks'　suffering　he　died　on　the　14th　of　February　1831。

It　was　a　very　sad　thing　for　me　to　lose　my　dear　old　master。　　He　was　so　good　and　so　kind　to　me　in　all　ways。　　He　treated　me　like　a　friend　and　companion。　　He　was　always　generous；　manly；　and　upright　in　his　dealings　with　everybody。　　How　his　workmen　loved　him；　how　his　friends　lamented　him！　　He　directed；　before　his　death；　that　he　should　be　buried　in　Woolwich　Churchyard；　where　a　cast　iron　tomb；　made　to　his　own　design；　was　erected　over　his　remains。　　He　had　ever　a　warm　heart　for　Woolwich；　where　he　had　been　born　and　brought　up。　　He　began　his　life　as　a　mechanic　there；　and　worked　his　way　steadily　upwards　until　he　reached　the　highest　point　of　his　profession。　　He　often　returned　to　Woolwich　after　he　had　left　it；　sometimes　to　pay　a　share　of　his　week's　wages　to　his　mother；　while　she　lived；　sometimes　to　revisit　the　scenery　of　his　youth。　He　liked　the　green　common；　with　the　soldiers　about　it；　Shooter's　Hill；　with　its　wide　look…out　over　Kent　and　down　the　valley　of　the　Thames；　the　river　busy　with　shipping；　the　Dockyard　wharf；　with　the　royal　craft　loading　and　unloading　their　armaments。　　He　liked　the　clangour　of　the　arsenal　smithy；　where　he　had　first　learned　his　art；　and　all　the　busy　industry　of　the　place。　　It　was　natural；　therefore；　that　being　so　proud　of　his　early　connection　with　Woolwich　he　should　wish　his　remains　to　be　laid　there；　and　Woolwich；　on　its　part；　has　equal　reason　to　be　proud　of　Henry　Maudslay。

After　the　death　of　my　master　I　passed　over　to　the　service　of　his　worthy　partner；　Joshua　Field。　　I　had　an　equal　pleasure　in　working　under　him。　His　kindness　in　some　degree　mitigated　the　sad　loss　I　had　sustained　by　the　death　of　my　lamented　friend　and　employer。　　The　first　work　I　had　to　perform　for　Mr。　Field　was　to　assist　him　in　making　the　working　drawings　of　a　200　horse…power　condensing　steam…engine；　ordered　by　the　Lambeth　Waterworks　Company。　　The　practical　acquaintance　which　I　had　by　this　time　acquired　of　the　mechanism　of　steam…engines　enabled　me　to　serve　Mr。　Field　in　a　satisfactory　manner。　　I　drew　out　in　full　practical　detail　the　rough　but　excellent　hand　sketches　with　which　he　supplied　me。　They　were　handed　out　for　execution　in　the　various　parts　of　the　factory；　and　I　communicated　with　the　foremen　as　to　the　details　and　workmanship。

While　I　was　occupied　beside　Mr。　Field　in　making　these　working　drawings；　he　gave　me　many　most　valuable　hints　as　to　the　designing　of　machinery　in　general。　　In　after　years　I　had　many　opportunities　of　making　good　use　of　them。　　One　point　he　often　impressed　upon　me。　　It　was；　he　said；　most　important　to　bear　in　mind　the　get…at…ability　of　partsthat　is；　when　any　part　of　a　machine　was　out　of　repair；　it　was　requisite　to　get　at　it　easily　without　taking　the　machine　to　pieces。　　This　may　appear　a　very　simple　remark；　but　the　neglect　of　such　an　arrangement　occasions　a　vast　amount　of　trouble；　delay；　and　expense。　　None　but　those　who　have　had　to　do　with　the　repair　of　worn…out　or　damaged　parts　of　machinery　can　adequately　value　the　importance　of　this　subject。

I　found　Mr。　Field　to　be　a　most　systematic　man　in　all　business　affairs。　I　may　specially　name　one　of　his　arrangements　which　I　was　quick　to　take　up　and　appreciate。　　I　carried　it　out　with　great　advantage　in　my　after　life。　　It　was；　to　record　subjects　of　conversation　by　means　of　〃graphic〃　memoranda。　　Almost　daily；　persons　of　note　came　to　consult　with　him　about　machinery。　　On　these　occasions　the　consultations　took　place　either　with　reference　to　proposed　new　work；　or　as　to　the　progress　of　orders　then　in　hand。　　Occasionally　some　no