an autobiography-第27部分

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fternoon；　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。　Maudslay；　〃If　you　would　only　permit　me　to　do　such　a　job　as　that　in　your　service；　I　should　consider　myself　most　fortunate！〃　I　shall　never　forget　the　keen　but　kindly　look　that　he　gave　me。　　〃So　；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　one　of　that　sort；　are　you？〃　I　was　inwardly　delighted　at　his　words。

When　our　round　of　the　works　was　concluded；　I　ventured　to　say　to　Mr。　Maudslay　that　〃I　had　brought　up　with　me　from　Edinburgh　some　working　models　of　steam…engines　and　mechanical　drawings；　and　I　should　feel　truly　obliged　if　he　would　allow　me　to　show　them　to　him？〃　〃By　all　means；〃　said　he；　〃bring　them　to　me　tomorrow　at　twelve　o'clock。〃　I　need　not　say　how　much　pleased　I　was　at　this　permission　to　exhibit　my　handiwork；　and　how　anxious　I　felt　as　to　the　result　of　Mr。　Maudslay's　inspection　of　it。

I　carefully　unpacked　my　working　model　of　the　steam…engine　at　the　carpenter's　shop；　and　had　it　conveyed；　together　with　my　drawings；　on　a　hand…cart　to　Mr。　Maudslay's　next　morning　at　the　appointed　hour。　I　was　allowed　to　place　my　work　for　his　inspection　in　a　room　next　his　office　and　counting…house。　　I　then　called　at　his　residence　close　by；　where　he　kindly　received　me　in　his　library。　　He　asked　me　to　wait　until　he　and　his　partner；　Joshua　Field；　had　inspected　my　handiwork。

I　waited　anxiously。　　Twenty　long　minutes　passed。　　At　last　he　entered　the　room；　and　from　a　lively　expression　in　his　countenance　I　observed　in　a　moment　that　the　great　object　of　my　long　cherished　ambition　had　been　attained！　　He　expressed；　in　good　round　terms；　his　satisfaction　at　my　practical　ability　as　a　workman　engineer　and　mechanical　draughtsman。　Then；　opening　the　door　which　led　from　his　library　into　his　beautiful　private　workshop；　he　said；　〃This　is　where　I　wish　you　to　work；　beside　me；　as　my　assistant　workman。　　From　what　I　have　seen　there　is　no　need　of　an　apprenticeship　in　your　case。〃

He　then　proceeded　to　show　me　the　collection　of　exquisite　tools　of　all　sorts　with　which　his　private　workshop　was　stored。　　They　mostly　bore　the　impress　of　his　own　clearheadedness　and　common…sense。　　They　were　very　simple；　and　quite　free　from　mere　traditional　forms　and　arrangements。　At　the　same　time　they　were　perfect　for　the　special　purposes　for　which　they　had　been　designed。　　The　workshop　was　surrounded　with　cabinets　and　drawers；　filled　with　evidences　of　the　master's　skill　and　industry。　Every　tool　had　a　purpose。　　It　had　been　invented　for　some　special　reason。　　Sometimes　it　struck　the　keynote；　as　it　were；　to　many　of　the　important　contrivances　which　enable　man　to　obtain　a　complete　mastery　over　materials。

There　were　also　hung　upon　the　walls；　or　placed　upon　shelves；　many　treasured　relics　of　the　first　embodiments　of　his　constructive　genius。　There　were　many　models　explaining；　step　by　step；　the　gradual　progress　of　his　teeming　inventions　and　contrivances。　　The　workshop　was　thus　quite　a　historical　museum　of　mechanism。　　It　exhibited　his　characteristic　qualities　in　construction。　　I　afterwards　found　out　that　many　of　the　contrivances　preserved　in　his　private　workshop　were　treasured　as　suggestive　of　some　interesting　early　passage