an autobiography-第39部分

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he　workshops　were　enlarged。　　Wood　gave　place　to　brick。　Cottages　for　the　accommodation　of　the　work…people　sprang　up　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　what　had　once　been　quiet　grassy　fields　became　the　centre　of　a　busy　population。

＇Image＇　Bridgewater　Foundry。　　From　a　sketch　by　Alexander　Nasmyth。

It　was　a　source　of　vast　enjoyment　to　me；　while　engaged　in　the　anxious　business　connected　with　the　establishment　of　the　foundry；　to　be　surrounded　with　so　many　objects　of　rural　beauty。　　The　site　of　the　works　being　on　the　west　side　of　Manchester；　we　had　the　benefit　of　breathing　pure　air　during　the　greater　part　of　the　year。　　The　scenery　round　about　was　very　attractive。　　Exercise　was　a　source　of　health　to　the　mind　as　well　as　the　body。　　　As　it　was　necessary　that　I　should　reside　as　near　as　possible　to　the　works；　I　had　plenty　of　opportunities　for　enjoying　the　rural　scenery　of　the　neighbourhood。　　I　had　the　good　fortune　to　become　the　tenant　of　a　small　cottage　in　the　ancient　village　of　Barton；　in　Cheshire；　at　the　very　moderate　rental　of　#15　a　year。　　The　cottage　was　situated　on　the　banks　of　the　river　Irwell；　and　was　only　about　six　minutes'　walk　from　the　works　at　Patricroft。　　It　suited　my　moderate　domestic　arrangements　admirably。

The　village　was　surrounded　by　apple　orchards　and　gardens；　and　situated　in　the　midst　of　tranquil　rural　scenery。　　It　was　a　great　treat　to　me；　after　a　long　and　busy　day　at　the　foundry；　especially　in　summer　time；　to　take　my　leisure　walks　through　the　green　lanes；　and　pass　the　many　picturesque　old　farmhouses　and　cottages　which　at　that　time　presented　subjects　of　the　most　tempting　kind　for　the　pencil。　　Such　quiet　summer　evening　strolls　afforded　me　the　opportunity　for　tranquil　thought。　Each　day's　transactions　furnished　abundant　subjects　for　consideration。　It　was　a　happy　period　in　my　life。　　I　was　hopeful　for　the　future；　as　everything　had　so　far　prospered　with　me。

When　I　had　got　comfortably　settled　in　my　cosy　little　cottage；　my　dear　sister　Margaret　came　from　Edinburgh　to　take　charge　of　my　domestic　arrangements。　　By　her　bright　and　cheerful　disposition　she　made　the　cottage　a　very　happy　home。　　Although　I　had　neither　the　means　nor　the　disposition　to　see　much　company；　I　frequently　had　visits　from　some　of　my　kind　friends　in　Manchester。　　I　valued　them　all　the　more　for　my　sister's　sake；　inasmuch　as　she　had　come　from　a　bright　household　in　Edinburgh；　full　of　cheerfulness；　part　of　which　she　transferred　to　my　cottage。

At　the　same　time；　it　becomes　me　to　say　a　word　or　two　about　the　great　kindness　which　I　received　from　my　friends　and　well…wishers　at　Manchester　and　the　neighbourhood。　　Amongst　these　were　the　three　brothers　Grant；　Benjamin　Hick　of　Bolton；　Edward　Lloyd　the　banker；　John　Kennedy；　and　William　Fairbairn。　　I　had　not　much　leisure　during　the　week　days；　but　occasionally　on　Sunday　afternoons　my　sister　and　myself　enjoyed　their　cordial　hospitality。　　In　this　way　I　was　brought　into　friendly　intercourse　with　the　most　intelligent　and　cultivated　persons　in　Lancashire。　　The　remembrance　of　the　delightful　evenings　I　spent　in　their　society　will　ever　continue　one　of　the　most　cherished　recollections　of　my　early　days　in　Manchester。

I　may　mention　that　one　of　the　principal　advantages　of　the　site　of　my　works　was　its　connection　with　the　Liverpool　and　Manchester　Railway；　as　well　as　with　the　Bridgewater　Canal。　　There　was　a　stone…edged　roadway　along　the　latter；　where　the　canal　barges　might　receive　and　deliver　traffic　in　the　most　convenient　manner。　　As　the　wharfage　boundary　was　the　property　of　the　trustees　of　the　Bridgewater　Canal；　it　was　necessary　to　agree　with　them　as　to　the　rates　to　be　charged　for　the　requisite　accommodation。　　Their　agent　deferred　naming　the　rent　until　I　had　finally　settled　with　Squire　Trafford　as　to　the　lease　of　his　land；　and　then；　after　he　supposed　he　had　got　me　into　a　cleft　stick；　he　proposed　so　extravagant　a　rate　that　I　refused　to　use　the　wharf　upon　his　terms。

It　happened；　fortunately　for　me；　that　this　agent　had　involved　himself　in　a　Chancery　suit　with　the　trustees；　which　eventually　led　to　his　retirement。　　The　property　then　merged　into　the　hands　of　Lord　Francis　Egerton；　heir　to　the　Bridgewater　Estates。　　The　canal　was　placed　under　the　management　of　that　excellent　gentleman；　James　Loch；　M。P。　Lord　Francis　Egerton；　on　his　next　visit　to　Worsley　Hall；　called　upon　me　at　the　foundry。　　He　expressed　his　great　pleasure　at　having　us　as　his　near　neighbours；　and　as　likely　to　prove　such　excellent　customers　of　the　canal　trustees。　　Because　of　this　latter　circumstance；　he　offered　me　the　use　of　the　wharf　free　of　rent。　　This　was　quite　in　accordance　with　his　generous　disposition　in　all　matters。　　But　as　I　desired　the　agreement　to　be　put　in　a　regular　business…like　form；　I　arranged　with　Mr。　Loch　to　pay　5s。　per　annum　as　a　formal　acknowledgment；　and　an　agreement　to　this　effect　was　accordingly　drawn　up　and　signed　by　both　parties。

Lord　Francis　Egerton　was　soon　after　created　Earl　of　Ellesmere。　He　became　one　of　the　most　constant　visitors　at　the　foundry；　in　which　he　always　took　a　lively　interest。　　He　delighted　to　go　through　the　workshops；　and　enjoy　the　sight　of　the　active　machinery　and　the　work　in　progress。　When　he　had　any　specially　intelligent　visitors　at　Worsley　Hall；　which　was　frequently　the　case；　he　was　sure　to　bring　them　down　to　the　foundry　in　his　beautiful　private　barge；　and　lead　them　through　the　various　departments　of　the　establishment。　　One　of　his　favourite　sights　was　the　pouring　out　of　the　molten　iron　into　the　moulds　for　the　larger　class　of　castings；　when　some　twelve　or　sixteen　tons；　by　the　aid　of　my　screw　safety　ladle；　were　decanted　with　as　much　neatness　and　exactness　as　the　pouring　out　of　a　glass　of　wine　from　a　decanter。　　When　this　work　was　performed　towards　dark；　Lord　Ellesmere's　poetic　fancy　and　artistic　eye　enabled　him　to　enjoy　the　sight　exceedingly。*　　＇footnote。。。　I　had　the　happiness　to　receive　the　kindest　and　most　hospitable　attention　from　Lord　Ellesmere　and　his　family。　　His　death；　which　occurred　in　1857；　at　the　early　age　of　fifty…seven；　deprived　me　of　one　of　my　warmest　friends。　　The　Countess　of　Ellesmere　continued　the　friendship　until　her　death；　which　occurred　several　years　later。　The　same　kindly　feelings　still　exist　in　the　children　of　the　lamented　pair；　all　of　whom　evince　the　admirable　qualities　which　so　peculiarly　distinguished　their　parents；　and　made　them　universally　beloved　by　all　classes；　rich　and　poor。　　。。。＇

I　must　here　say　a　few　words　as　to　my　Screw　Safety　Ladle。　I　had　observed　the　great　danger　occasioned　to　workmen　by　the　method　of　emptying　the　molten　iron　into　the　casting　moulds。　　The　white…hot　fluid　was　run　from　the　melting　furnace　into　a　large　ladle　with　one　or　two　cross　handles　and　levers；　worked　by　a　dozen　or　fifteen　men。　　The　ladle　contained　many　tons　of　molten　iron；　and　was　transferred　by　a　crane　to　the　moulds。　　To　do　this　required　the　greatest　caution　and　steadiness。　If　a　stumble　took　place；　and　the　ladle　was　in　the　slightest　degree　upset；　there　was　a　splash　of　hot　metal　on　the　floor；　which；　in　the　recoil；　flew　against　the　men's　clothes；　set　them　on　fire；　or　occasioned　frightful　scalds　and　burns。

＇Image＇　　Old　foundry　ladle

To　prevent　these　accidents　I　invented　my　Safety　Foundry　Ladle。　I　applied　a　screw　wheel；　keyed　to　the　trunnion　of　the　ladle；　which　was　acted　on　by　an　endless　screw　attached　to　the　sling　of　the　ladle；　and　by　this　means　one　man　could　move　the　largest　ladle　on　its　axis；　and　pour　out　its　molten　contents　with　the　most　perfect　ease　and　safety。　Not　only　was　all　risk　of　accident　thus　removed；　but　the　perfection　of　the　casting　was　secured　by　the　steady　continuous　flow　of　the　white…hot　metal　into　the　mould。　　The　nervous　anxiety　and　confusion　that　usually　attended　the　pouring　of　the　metal　required　for　the　larger　class　of　castings　was　thus　entirely　avoided。

＇Image＇　　Safety　foundry　ladle

At　the　same　time　I　introduced　another　improvement　in　connection　with　these　foundry　ladles　which；　although　of　minor　importance；　has　in　no　small　degree　contributed　to　the　perfection　of　large　castings。　This　consisted　in　hanging　〃the　skimmer〃　to　the　edge　of　the　ladle；　so　as　to　keep　back　the　scorae　that　invariably　float　on　the　surface　of　the　melted　metal。　　This　was　formerly　done　by　hand；　and　many　accidents　were　the　consequence。　　But　now　the　clear　flow　of　pure　metal　into　the　moulds　was　secured；　while　the　scoriae　were　mechanically　held　back。　All　that　the　attendant　has　to　do　is　to　regulate　the　inclination　of　the　Skimmer　so　as　to　keep　its　lower　edge　sufficiently　under　the　surface　of　the　outflowing　metal。　　The　preceding　illustrations　will　enable　the　reader　to　understand　these　simple　but　important　technical　improvements。

These　inventions　were　made　in　1838。　　I　might　have　patented　them；　but　preferred　to　make　them　over　to　the　public。　　I　sent　drawings　and　descriptions　of　the　Safety　Foundry　Ladle　to　all　the　principal　founders　both　at　home　and　abroad；　and　I　was　soon　after　much　gratified　by　their　cordial　expression　of　its　practical　value。　　The　ladle　is　now　universally　adopted。　　The　Society　of　Arts　of　Scotland；　to　whom　I　sent　drawings　and　descriptions；　did　me　the　honour　to　present　me　with　their　large　silver　medal　in　acknowledgment　of　the　invention。

In　order　to　carry　on　my　business　with　effectiveness　it　was　necessary　that　I　should　have　some　special　personal　assistance。　　I　could　carry　on　the　whole　〃mechanical〃　department　as　regards　organisation；　designing；　and　construction；　but　there　was　the　〃financial〃　business　to　be　attended　to；the　counting…house；　the　correspondence；　and　the　arrangement　of　money　affairs。　　I　wanted　some　help　with　respect　to　these　outer　matters。

When　I　proceeded　to　take　my　plot　of　land　at　Patricroft　some　of　my　friends　thought　it　a　very　bold　stroke；　especially　for　a　young　man　who　had　been　only　about　three　years　in　business。　　Nevertheless；　there　were　others　who　watched　my　progress　with　special　interest；　and　were　willing　to　join　in　my　adventurethough　adventure　it　was　not。　They　were　ready　to　take　a　financial　interest　in　my　affairs。　They　did　me　the　compliment　of　thinking　me　a　good　investment；　by　offering　to　place　their　capital　in　my　concern　as　sleeping　partners。　　But　I　was　already　beyond　the　〃sleeping　partner〃　state　of　affairs。　　Whoever　joined　me　must　work　as　　energetically　as　I　did；　and　must　give　the　faculties　of　his　mind　to　the　prosperity