an autobiography-第59部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


nd　well…directed　energy。　　It　works　like　an　electric　thrill；　and　soon　pervades　the　whole　department。　　I　may　also　mention　General　Dundas；　director　of　the　Royal　Gun…Factory；　and　General　Hardinge；　head　of　the　Royal　Laboratories。*　　＇footnote。。。　The　term　〃Laboratory〃　may　appear　an　odd　word　to　use　in　connection　with　machinery　and　mechanical　operations。　　Yet　its　original　signification　was　quite　appropriate；　inasmuch　as　it　related　to　the　preparation　of　explosive　substances；　such　as　shells；　rockets；　fusees；　cartridges；　and　percussion　caps；　where　chemistry　was　as　much　concerned　as　mechanism　in　producing　the　required　results。　　。。。＇

This　latter　department　included　all　processes　connected　with　explosives。　It　was　superintended　by　Captain　Boxer；　an　officer　of　the　highest　talent　and　energy；　who　brought　everything　under　his　control　to　the　highest　pitch　of　excellence。　　I　must　also　add　a　most　important　person；　my　old　and　much　esteemed　friend　John　Anderson；　then　general　director　of　the　Machinery　of　the　arsenal。　　He　was　an　admirable　mechanic；　a　man　of　clear　practical　good　sense　and　judgment；　and　he　eventually　raised　himself　to　the　highest　position　in　the　public　service。

The　satisfactory　performance　of　the　machinery　which　had　been　supplied　to　the　workshops　of　the　royal　dock　yards　and　arsenals；　led　to　further　demands　for　similar　machinery　for　foreign　Governments。　　Foreign　visitor　were　allowed　freely　to　inspect　all　that　had　been　done　whatever　may　be　said　of　the　wisdom　of　this　proceeding　it　is　certainly　true　that　no　mechanical　improvement　can　long　be　kept　secret　nowadays。　Everything　is　published　and　illustrated　in　our　engineering　journals。　And　if　the　foreigners　had　not　been　allowed　to　obtain　their　new　machines　from　England；　they　were　provided　with　facilities　enough　for　constructing　them　for　themselves。　　At　all　events；　one　result　of　the　improved　working　of　the　new　machines　at　the　Royal　Arsenal　at　Woolwich；　was　the　receipt　of　large　orders　for　our　firm　for　the　supply　of　foreign　Governments。　For　instance；　that　of　Spain　employed　us　liberally；　principally　tor　the　equipment　of　the　royal　dockyards　of　Ferrol　and　Cartagena。　These　orders　came　to　us　through　Messrs。　Zuluatta　Brothers；　who　conducted　their　proceedings　with　us　in　a　prompt　and　business…like　way　for　many　years。　　Through　the　same　firm　we　obtained　orders　to　furnish　machinery　for　the　Spanish　royal　dockyard　at　Havana。

In　1849　we　received　an　extensive　order　from　the　Russian　Government。　This　was　transmitted　to　us　through　the　Imperial　Consulate　in　London。　The　machinery　was　required　for　the　equipment　of　a　very　extensive　rope　factory　at　the　naval　arsenal　of　Nicolaiev；　on　the　Black　Sea　This　order　included　all　the　machinery　requisite　for　the　factory；　from　the　heckling　of　the　hemp　to　the　twisting　of　the　largest　ropes　and　cables　required　in　the　Russian　naval　service。　　The　design　and　organisation　of　this　machinery　in　its　minutest　detail　caused　me　to　made　a　special　study　of　the　art　of　rope…making。　　It　was　a　comparatively　new　subject　to　me；　but　I　found　it　full　of　interest。　　It　was　difficulty；　and　therefore　to　be　overcome。　And　in　this　lies　a　great　deal　of　the　pleasure　of　contriving　and　inventing。

During　the　progress　of　the　work　I　had　the　advantage　of　the　frequent　presence　of　an　able　Russian　officer；　Captain　Putchkraskey；　whose　intelligent　supervision　was　a　source　of　much　satisfaction。　We　had　also　occasional　visits　from　Admiral　Kornileff；　a　man　of　the　highest　order　of　intelligence。　　He　was　not　only　able　to　appreciate　our　exertions　to　execute　the　order　in　first…rate　style；　but　to　enter　into　all　the　special　details　and　contrivances　of　the　work　while　in　progress。　I　had　often　occasion　to　meet　Russian　officers　while　at　the　Bridgewater　Foundry。　　They　were　usually　men　of　much　ability；　selected　by　the　Russian　Government　to　act　as　their　agents　abroad；　in　order　to　keep　them　well　posted　up　in　all　that　had　a　bearing　upon　their　own　interests。　They　certainly　reflected　the　highest　credit　on　their　Government；　as　proving　their　careful　selection　of　the　best　men　to　advance　the　interests　of　Russia。

During　the　visit　of　the　Grand　Duke　Constantine　to　England　about　that　time；　he　resided　for　some　days　with　the　Earl　of　Ellesmere　at　Worsley　Hall；　about　a　mile　and　a　half　from　Bridgewater　Foundry。　We　were　favoured　with　several　visits　from　the　Grand　Duke；　accompanied　by　Baron　Brunnow；　Admiral　Hoyden；　and　several　other　Russian　officials。　They　came　by　Lord　Ellesmere's　beautiful　barge；　which　drew　up　alongside　our　wharf；　where　the　party　landed　and　entered　the　works。　The　Grand　Duke　carefully　inspected　the　whole　place；　and　expressed　himself　as　greatly　pleased　with　the　complete　mastery　which　man　had　obtained　over　obdurate　materials；　through　the　unfailing　agency　of　mechanical　substitutes　for　manual　dexterity　and　muscular　force。

I　was　invited　to　meet　this　distinguished　party　at　Worsley　Hall　on　more　than　one　occasion；　and　was　much　pleased　with　the　frank　and　intelligent　conversation　of　the　Grand　Duke；　in　his　reference　to　what　he　had　seen　in　his　visits　to　our　works。　　It　was　always　a　source　of　high　pleasure　to　me　to　receive　visits　from　Lord　Ellesmere；　as　he　was　generally　accompanied　by　men　of　distinction　who　were　well　able　to　appreciate　the　importance　of　what　had　been　displayed　before　them。　　The　visits；　for　instance；　of　Rajah　Brooke；　the　Earl　of　Elgin；　the　Duke　of　Argyll；　Chevalier　Bunsen；　and　Count　Flahault；　stand　out　bright　in　my　memory。

But　to　return　to　my　rope…making　machinery。　　It　was　finished　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　Russian　officers。　　It　was　sent　off　by　ship　to　the　Black　Sea　in　July　1851；　and　fitted　up　at　Nicolaiev　shortly　after。　I　received　a　kind　and　pressing　invitation　from　Admiral　Kornileff　to　accompany　him　on　the　first　trip　of　a　magnificent　steamer　which　had　been　constructed　in　England　under　his　supervision。　　His　object　was；　not　only　that　I　might　have　a　pleasant　voyage　in　his　company；　but　that　I　might　see　my　machinery　in　full　action　at　Nicolaiev；　and　also　that　I　might　make　a　personal　survey　of　the　arsenal　workshops　at　Sebastopol。　It　would；　no　doubt；　have　been　a　delightful　trip；　but　it　was　not　to　be。　The　unfortunate　disruption　occurred　between　our　Government　and　that　of　Russia；　which　culminated　in　the　disastrous　Crimean　War。　One　of　the　first　victims　was　Admiral　Kornileff。　　He　was　killed　by　one　of　our　first　shots　while　engaged　in　placing　some　guns　for　the　defence　of　the　entrance　to　the　harbour　of　Sebastopol。


CHAPTER　18。　　Astronomical　pursuits。

Let　me　turn　for　a　time　from　the　Foundry；　the　whirr　of　the　self…acting　tools；　and　the　sound　of　the　steam　hammers；　to　my　quieter　pursuits　at　home。　There　I　had　much　tranquil　enjoyment　in　the　company　of　my　dear　wife。　I　had　many　hobbies。　　Drawing　was　as　familiar　to　me　as　language。　Indeed；　it　was　often　my　method　of　speaking。　　It　has　always　been　the　way　in　which　I　have　illustrated　my　thoughts。　　In　the　course　of　my　journeys　at　home　and　abroad　I　made　many　drawings　of　places　and　objects；　which　were　always　full　of　interest；　to　me　at　least；　and　they　never　ceased　to　bring　up　a　store　of　happy　remembrances。

Now　and　then　I　drew　upon　my　fancy；　and　with　pen　and　ink　I　conjured　up　〃The　Castle　of　Udolpho；〃　〃　A　Bit　of　Old　England；〃　〃The　Fairies　are　Out；〃　and　〃Everybody　for　Ever。〃　　The　last　is　crowded　with　thousands　of　figures　and　heads；　so　that　it　is　almost　impossible　to　condense　the　drawing　into　a　small　compass。　　To　these　I　added　〃The　Alchemist；〃　〃Old　Mortality；〃　〃Robinson　Crusoe；〃　and　a　bit　of　English　scenery；　which　I　called　〃Gathering　Sticks。〃　　I　need　not　say　with　how　much　pleasure　I　executed　these　drawings　in　my　evening　hours。　　They　were　not　〃published；〃　but　I　drew　them　with　lithographic　ink；　and　had　them　printed　by　Mr。　Maclure。　I　afterwards　made　presents　of　the　series　to　some　of　my　most　intimate　friends。

＇Image＇　　The　Antiquarian。　　By　James　Nasmyth　（Facsimile）

In　remembrance　of　the　great　pleasure　which　I　had　derived　from　the　perusal　of　Washington　Irving's　fascinating　works；　I　sent　him　a　copy　of　my　sketches。　　His　answer　was　charming　and　characteristic。　His　letter　was　dated　〃　Sunnyside；〃　Massachusetts；　where　he　lived。　He　said　（17th　January　1859）：

DEAR　SIRAccept　my　most　sincere　and　hearty　thanks　for　the　exquisite　fancy　sketches　which　you　have　had　the　kindness　to　send　me；　and　for　the　expressions　of　esteem　and　regard　in　the　letter　which　accompanied　them。　It　is　indeed　a　heartfelt　gratification　to　me　to　think　that　I　have　been　able　by　any　exercise　of　my　pen　to　awaken　such　warm　and　delicate　sympathies；　and　to　call　forth　such　testimonials　of　pleasure　and　approbation　from　a　person　of　your　cultivated　taste　and　intellectual　elevation。　　With　high　respect　and　regard；　I　remain；　nay　dear　sir；　your　truly　obliged　friend；　Washington　Irving。〃

＇Image＇　　The　Fairies。　　By　James　Nasmyth。　　（Facsimile）

Viscount　Duncan；　afterwards　Earl　Camperdown；　also　acknowledged　receipt　of　the　drawings　in　a　characteristic　letter。　　He　said：　〃We　are　quite　delighted　with　them；　especially　with　'The　Fairies；'　which　a　lady　to　whom　I　showed　them　very　nearly　stole；　as　she　declared　that　it　quite　realised　her　dreams　of　fairyland。　　I　am　only　surprised　that　amidst　your　numerous　avocations　you　have　found　time　to　execute　such　detailed　works　of　art；　and　I　shall　have　much　pleasure　in　being　reminded　as　I　look　at　the　drawings　that　the　same　hand　and　head　that　executed　them　invented　the　steam　hammer；　and　many　other　gigantic　pieces　of　machinery　which　will　tend　to　immortalise　the　Anglo…saxon　race。〃

But　my　most　favourite　pursuit；　after　my　daily　exertions　at　the　Foundry；　was　Astronomy。　　There　were　frequently　clear　nights　when　the　glorious　objects　in　the　Heavens　were　seen　in　most　attractive　beauty　and　brilliancy。

I　cannot　find　words　to　express　the　thoughts　which　the　impressive　grandeur　of　the　Stars；　seen　in　the　silence　of　the　night；　suggested　to　me；　especially　when　I　directed　my　Telescope；　even　at　random；　on　any　portion　of　the　clear　sky；　and　considered　that　each　Star　of　the　multitude　it　revealed　to　me；　was　a　SUN！　the　centre　of　a　system！　Myriads　of　such　stars；　invisible　to　the　unassisted　eye；　were　rendered　perfectly　distinct　by　the　aid　of　the　telescope。　　The　magnificence　of　the　sight　was　vastly　increased　when　the　telescope　was　directed　to　any　portion　of　the　Milky　Way。　　It　revealed　such　countless　multitudes　of　stars　that　I　had　only　to　sit　before　the　eyepiece；　and