an autobiography-第35部分

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the　mountain　beneath。　　The　town　of　Dudley　lies　quite　close　to　the　castle；　and　was　doubtless　protected　by　it　in　ancient　times。

The　architectural　remains　are　of　various　degrees　of　antiquity；　and　are　well　worthy　of　study；　as　embodying　the　successive　periods　which　they　represent。　　Their　melancholy　grandeur　is　rendered　all　the　more　impressive　by　the　coal　and　iron　works　with　which　they　are　surrounded　the　olden　type　of　buildings　confronting　the　modern。　　The　venerable　trees　struggle　for　existence　under　the　destroying　influence　of　sulphurous　acid；　while　the　grass　is　withered　and　the　vegetation　everywhere　blighted。　　I　sat　down　on　an　elevated　part　of　the　ruins；　and　looked　down　upon　the　extensive　district；　with　its　roaring　and　blazing　furnaces；　the　smoke　of　which　blackened　the　country　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　and　as　I　watched　the　decaying　trees　I　thought　of　the　price　we　had　to　pay　for　our　vaunted　supremacy　in　the　manufacture　of　iron。　　We　may　fill　our　purses；　but　we　pay　a　heavy　price　for　it　in　the　loss　of　picturesqueness　and　beauty。　　I　left　the　castle　with　reluctance；　and　proceeded　to　inspect　the　limestone　quarries　in　the　neighbourhood。　The　limestone　has　long　been　worked　out　from　underneath　the　castle；　but　not　far　from　it　is　Wren's　Nest　Hill；　a　mountain　of　limestone。　The　wrens　have　left；　but　the　quarries　are　there。　　The　walk　to　the　hill　is　along　green　lanes　and　over　quiet　fields。　　I　entered　one　of　the　quarries　opened　out　in　the　sloping　precipice；　and　penetrated　as　far　as　the　glimmer　of　sunlight　enabled　me　to　see　my　way。　　But　the　sound　of　the　dripping　of　water　from　the　root　of　the　cave　warned　me　that　I　was　approaching　some　deep　pool；　into　which　a　false　step　might　plunge　me。　I　therefore　kept　within　the　light　of　day。　　An　occasional　ray　of　the　sun　lit　up　the　enormous　rock　pillars　which　the　quarrymen　had　left　to　support　the　roof。　　It　was　a　most　impressive　sight。

Having　emerged　from　the　subterranean　cave；　I　proceeded　on　my　way　to　Birmingham。　　I　reached　the　town　in　the　evening；　and　found　most　comfortable　quarters。　　On　the　following　day　I　visited　some　of　the　factories　where　processes　were　carried　on　in　connection　with　the　Birmingham　trade。　　I　saw　the　mills　where　sheet　brass　and　copper　were　rolled　for　the　purpose　of　being　plated　with　silver。　　There　was　nothing　in　these　processes　of　novel　interest；　though　I　picked　up　many　practical　hints。　　I　could　not　fail　to　be　attracted　by　the　dexterous　and　rapid　manipulation　of　the　work　in　hand；　even　by　boys　and　girls　whose　quick　sight　and　nimble　fingers　were　educated　to　a　high　degree　of　perfection。　I　could　have　spent　a　month　profitably　among　the　vast　variety　of　small　traders　in　metal；　of　which　Birmingham　is　the　headquarters。　Even　in　what　is　called　〃the　toy　trade；〃　I　found　a　vast　amount　of　skill　displayed　in　the　production　of　goldsmith　work；　in　earrings；　brooches；　gold　chains；　rings；　beads；　and　glass　eyes　for　stuffed　birds；　dolls；　and　men。

I　was　especially　attracted　by　Soho；　once　the　famous　manufacturing　establishment　of　Boulton　and　Watt。　　Although　this　was　not　the　birthplace*　＇footnote。。。　The　birthplace　of　the　condensing　engine　of　Watt　was　the　workshop　in　the　Glasgow　University；　where　he　first　contrived　and　used　a　separate　condenserthe　true　and　vital　element　in　Watt's　invention。　The　condenser　afterwards　attained　its　true　effective　manhood　at　Soho　The　Newcomen　engine　was　in　fact　a　condensing　engine；　but　as　the　condensation　was　effected　inside　the　steam　cylinder　it　was　a　very　costly　source　of　power　in　respect　to　steam。　　Watt's　happy　idea　of　condensing　in　a　separate　vessel　removed　the　defect。　　This　was　first　done　in　his　experimental　engine　in　the　Glasgow　University　workshop；　and　before　he　had　made　the　one　at　Kinniel　for　Dr。　Roebuck。　　。。。＇　of　the　condensing　steam…engine　it　was　the　place　where　it　attained　its　full　manhood　of　efficiency；　and　became　the　source　and　origin　of　English　manufacturing　power。　　Watt's　engine　has　had　a　greater　influence　on　the　productive　arts　of　mankind　than　any　other　that　can　be　named。　　Boulton　also　was　a　thorough　man　of　business；　without　whom；　perhaps；　Watt　could　never　have　made　his　way　against　the　world；　or　perfected　his　magnificent　invention。　　Not　less　interesting　to　my　mind　was　the　memory　of　that　incomparable　mechanic；　　William　Murdoch；　a　man　of　indomitable　energy；　and　Watt's　right…hand　man　in　the　highest　practical　sense。　　Murdoch　was　the　inventor　of　the　first　model　locomotive；　and　the　inventor　of　gas　for　lighting　purposes；　and　yet　he　always　kept　himself　in　the　background；　for　he　was　excessively　modest。　He　was　happiest　when　he　could　best　promote　the　welfare　of　the　great　house　of　Boulton　and　Watt。　　Indeed　he　was　a　man　whose　memory　ought　to　be　held　in　the　highest　regard　by　all　true　engineers　and　mechanics。

The　sight　which　I　obtained　of　the　vast　series　of　workshops　of　this　celebrated　establishmentfilled　with　evidences　of　the　mechanical　genius　of　these　master　mindsmade　me　feel　that　I　was　indeed　on　classic　ground　in　regard　to　everything　connected　with　steam…engine　machinery。　　Some　of　the　engines　designed　by　Wattthe　prototypes　of　the　powerful　condensing　engines　of　the　present　daywere　still　performing　their　daily　quota　of　work。　　There　was　〃Old　Bess；〃　a　sort　of　experimental　engine；　upon　which　Watt　had　tried　many　adaptations　and　alterations；　for　the　purpose　of　suiting　it　for　pumping　water　from　coal　mines。　　There　was　also　the　engine　with　the　sun…and…planet　motion；　an　invention　of　William　Murdoch's。　Both　of　these　engines　were　still　at　work。

I　went　through　the　workshops；　where　I　was　specially　interested　by　seeing　the　action　of　the　machine　tools。　　There　I　observed　Murdoch's　admirable　system　of　transmitting　power　from　one　central　engine　to　other　small　vacuum　engines　attached　to　the　individual　machines　they　were　set　to　work。　　The　power　was　communicated　by　pipes　led　from　the　central　air　or　exhaust　pump　to　small　vacuum　or　atmospheric　engines　devoted　to　the　driving　of　each　separate　machine；　thus　doing　away　with　all　shafting　and　leather　belts；　the　required　speed　being　kept　up　or　modified　at　pleasure　without　in　any　way　interfering　with　the　other　machines。　This　vacuum　method　of　transmitting　power　dates　from　the　time　of　Papin；　but　until　it　received　the　masterly　touch　of　Murdoch　it　remained　a　dead　contrivance　for　more　than　a　century。

I　concluded　my　visits　to　the　workshops　of　Birmingham　by　calling　upon　a　little　known　but　very　ingenious　man；　whose　work　I　had　seen　before　I　left　Edinburgh；　in　a　beautifully　constructed　foot　turning…lathe　made　by　John　Drain。　　I　was　so　much　impressed　with　the　exquisite　design；　execution；　and　completeness　of　the　lathe；　that　I　made　it　one　of　my　chief　objects　to　find　out　John　Drain's　workshop。　　It　was　with　some　difficulty　that　I　found　him。　　He　was　little　known　in　Birmingham。　His　workshops　were　very　small；　they　consisted　of　only　one　or　two　rooms。　His　exquisite　lathes　were　not　much　in　demand。　　They　found　their　way　chiefly　to　distant　parts　of　the　country；　where　they　were　highly　esteemed。

I　found　that　he　had　some　exquisitely　finished　lathes　completed　and　in　hand　for　engraving　the　steel　plates　for　printing　bank　notes。　　They　were　provided　with　the　means　of　producing　such　intricate　ornamental　patterns　as　to　defy　the　utmost　skill　of　the　forger。　　Perkins　had　done　a　good　deal　in　the　same　way；　but　Drain's　exquisite　mechanism　enabled　his　engraving　lathes　to　surpass　anything　that　had　before　been　attempted　in　the　same　line。　　I　believe　that　Drain's　earnest　attention　to　his　work；　in　which　he　had　little　or　no　assistance；　undermined　his　health；　and　arrested　the　career　of　one　who；　had　he　lived；　would　have　attained　the　highest　position　in　his　profession。　　I　shall　never　forget　the　rare　treat　which　his　fine　mechanism　afforded　me。　　Its　prominent　quality　was　absolute　truth　and　accuracy　in　every　part。

Having　now　had　enough　of　the　Black　Country　and　of　Birmingham　workshops；　I　proceeded　towards　London。　　There　were　no　more　manufacturing　districts　to　be　visited。　　Everything　now　was　to　be　green　lanes；　majestic　trees；　old　mansions；　venerable　castles；　and　picturesque　scenery。　　There　is　no　way　of　seeing　a　country　properly　except　on　foot。　　By　railway　you　whiz　past　and　see　nothing。　　Even　by　coach　the　best　parts　of　the　scenery　are　unseen。　　〃Shank's　naig〃　is　the　best　of　all　methods；　provided　you　have　time。　　I　had　still　some　days　to　spare　before　the　conclusion　of　my　holiday。　　I　therefore　desired　to　see　some　of　the　beautiful　scenery　and　objects　of　antiquarian　interest　before　returning　to　work。

I　made　my　way　across　country　to　Kenilworth。　　The　weather　was　fine；　and　the　walk　was　perfect。　　The　wayside　was　bordered　by　grassy　sward。　Wide　and　irregular　margins　extended　on　each　side　of　the　road；　and　noble　trees　and　untrinnned　hedges；　in　their　glowing　autumnal　tint；　extended　far　and　wide。　　Everything　was　in　the　most　gloriously　neglected　and　therefore　highly　picturesque　condition。　　Here　and　there　old　farmhouses　and　labourers'　cottages　peeped　up　from　amidst　the　trees　and　hedges　worthy　of　the　landscape　painter's　highest　skill。

I　reached　Kenilworth　about　half　an　hour　before　sunset。　　I　made　my　way　direct　to　the　castle；　glorious　in　its　decay。　　The　fine　mellow　glow　of　the　setting　sun　lit　up　the　grand　and　extensive　ruins。　　The　massive　Norman　keep　stood　up　with　melancholy　dignity；　and　attracted　my　attention　more　than　any