an autobiography-第40部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

to　their　little　order；　and　it　was　the　forerunner　of　better　things　to　come。

Orders　soon　came　in。　　My　planing　machine　was　soon　fully　occupied。　When　not　engaged　in　executing　other　work　it　was　employed　in　planing　the　flat　cast…iron　inking　tables　for　printing　machines。　　These　were　made　in　considerable　numbers　by　Messrs。　　Wren　and　Bennett　（my　landlords）　under　the　personal　superintendence　of　Ebenezer　Cowper；　brother　of　the　inventor；　who；　in　conjunction　with　Mr。　Applegath；　was　the　first　to　produce　a　really　effective　newspaper　printing　machine。　　I　had　many　small　subsidiary　jobs　sent　to　me　to　execute。　　They　not　only　served　to　keep　my　machine　tools　properly　employed；　but　tended　in　the　most　effective　way　to　make　my　work　known　to　some　of　the　best　firms　in　Manchester；　who　in　course　of　time　became　my　employers。

In　order　to　keep　pace　with　the　influx　of　work　I　had　to　take　on　fresh　hands。　　I　established　a　smithy　down　in　the　cellar　flat　of　the　old　mill　in　Dale　Street；　so　that　all　forge　work　in　iron　and　steel　might　be　promptly　and　economically　produced　on　the　premises。　　There　was　a　small　iron　foundry　belonging　to　a　Mr。　Heath；　about　three　minutes　walk　from　my　workshop；　where　I　had　all　my　castings　of　iron　and　brass　done　with　promptness；　and　of　excellent　quality。　　Mr。　Heath　very　much　wanted　a　more　powerful　steam…engine　to　drive　his　cupola　blowing　fan。　　I　had　made　a　steam…engine　in　Edinburgh　and　brought　it　with　me。　　There　it　lay　in　my　workshop；　where　it　remained　unused；　for　I　was　sufficiently　supplied　with　power　from　the　rotating　shaft。　　Mr。　Heath　offered　to　buy　it。　The　engine　was　accordingly　removed　to　his　iron　foundry；　and　I　received　my　full　quota　of　value　in　castings。

Week　by　week　my　orders　grew；　and　the　flat　of　the　old　mill　soon　assumed　a　very　busy　aspect。　　By　occasionally　adding　to　the　number　of　my　lathes；　drilling　machines；　and　other　engineers'　tools；　I　attracted　the　attention　of　employers。　　When　seen　in　action　they　not　only　facilitated　and　economised　the　production　of　my　own　work；　but　became　my　best　advertisements。　　Each　new　tool　that　I　constructed　had　some　feature　of　novelty　about　it。　　I　always　endeavoured　after　greater　simplicity　and　perfectness　of　workmanship。　　I　was　punctual　in　all　my　engagements。　The　business　proved　safe　and　profitable。　　The　returns　were　quick。　Sometimes　one…third　of　the　money　was　paid　in　advance　on　receipt　of　the　order；　and　the　balance　was　paid　on　delivery　at　my　own　premises。　All　risk　of　bad　debts　was　avoided。　　Thus　I　was　enabled　to　carry　on　my　business　with　a　very　moderate　amount　of　capital。

My　crowded　workshop　and　the　active　scene　it　presented；　together　with　the　satisfaction　my　work　gave　to　my　employers；　induced　several　persons　to　offer　to　enter　into　partnership　with　me。　　Sometimes　it　was　on　their　own　account；　or　for　a　son　or　relation　for　whom　they　desired　an　opening。　But　I　fought　shy　of　such　proposals。　　It　was　a　very　riskful　affair　to　admit　as　partners　young　men　whose　character　for　ability　might　be　very　doubtful。　　I　was　therefore　satisfied　to　go　on　as　before。　Besides；　I　had　the　kind　and　disinterested　offer　of　the　Brothers　Grant；　which　was　always　available；　though；　indeed；　I　did　not　need　to　make　use　of　it。　I　had　also　the　good　fortune　to　be　honoured　by　the　friendship　of　Edward　Lloyd；　the　head　of　the　firm　of　Jones；　Lloyd；　and　Co。　　I　had　some　moderate　financial　transactions　with　the　bank。　　Mr。　Lloyd　had；　no　doubt；　heard　something　of　my　industry　and　economy。　　I　never　asked　him　for　any　accommodation；　but　on　one　occasion　he　invited　me　into　his　parlour；　not　to　sweat　me；　but　to　give　me　some　most　kindly　hints　and　advice　as　to　the　conduct　of　my　financial　affairs。　　He　volunteered　an　offer　which　I　could　not　but　feel　proud　of。　　He　said　that　I　should　have　a　credit　of　#1000　at　my　service；　at　the　usual　bank　rate。　　He　added；　〃As　soon　as　you　can；　lay　by　a　little　capital　of　your　own；　and　baste　it　with　its　own　gravy！〃　　A　receipt　which　I　have　carefully　followed　through　life；　and　I　am　thankful　to　say　with　satisfactory　results。

Before　I　conclude　this　chapter；　let　me　add　something　more　about　my　kind　friends　the　Brothers　Grant。　　It　is　well　that　their　history　should　be　remembered；　as　the　men　who　personally　knew　them　will　soon　be　all　dead。　The　three　brothers；　William；　Daniel；　and　John　Grant；　were　the　sons　of　a　herdsman　or　cattle…dealer；　whose　occupation　consisted　in　driving　cattle　from　the　far　north　of　Scotland　to　the　rich　pastures　of　Cheshire　and　Lancashire。　　The　father　was　generally　accompanied　by　his　three　sons；　who　marched　barefoot；　as　was　the　custom　of　the　north　country　lads　in　those　days。　　Being　shrewd　fellows；　they　observed　with　interest　the　thriving　looks　and　well…fed　condition　of　the　Lancashire　folks。　They　were　attracted　by　the　print　works　and　cotton　mills　which　lay　by　the　Irwell；　as　it　crept　along　in　its　bright　and　rural　valley　towards　Manchester。　　When　passing　the　works　of　Sir　Robert　Peel　at　Nuttal；　near　Bury；　they　admired　the　beauty　of　the　situation。　　The　thought　possessed　them　that　they　would　like　to　obtain　some　employment　in　the　neighbourhood。　They　went　together　in　search　of　a　situation。　　It　is　said　that　when　they　reached　the　crown　of　the　hill　near　Walmsley；　from　which　a　beautiful　prospect　is　to　be　seen；　they　were　in　doubt　as　to　the　line　of　road　which　they　should　pursue。　　To　decide　their　course；　a　stick　was　put　up；　and　they　agreed　to　follow　the　direction　in　which　it　should　fall。　The　stick　fell　in　the　direction　of　Ramsbottom；　then　a　little　village　in　the　bottom　of　the　valley；　on　the　river　Irwell。　　There　they　went；　and　found　employment。

They　were　thrifty；　economical；　and　hard…working；　and　they　soon　saved　money。　　Their　savings　became　capital；　and　they　invested　it　in　a　little　print　work。　　Their　capital　grew；　and　they　went　on　investing　it　in　print　works　and　cotton　mills。

They　became　great　capitalists　and　manufacturers；　and　by　their　industry；　ability；　and　integrity；　were　regarded　as　among　the　best　men　in　Lancashire。　　As　a　memorial　of　the　event　which　enabled　them　to　take　up　their　happy　home　at　Ramsbottom；　they　caused　to　be　erected　at　the　top　of　Walmsley　Hill　a　lofty　tower；　overlooking　the　valley；　as　a　kind　of　public　thank…offering　for　the　prosperity　and　success　which　they　had　achieved　in　their　new　home。　　Their　well…directed　diligence　made　the　valley　teem　with　industry；　activity；　health；　joy；　and　opulence。　They　never　forgot　the　working　class　from　which　they　had　sprung；　and　as　their　labours　had　contributed　to　their　wealth；　they　spared　no　expense　in　providing　for　the　moral；　intellectual；　and　physical　interests　of　their　work…people。　　Whenever　a　worthy　object　was　to　be　achieved；　the　Brothers　Grant　were　always　ready　with　their　hearty　and　substantial　help。　They　contributed　to　found　schools；　churches；　and　public　buildings；　and　many　a　deserving　man　did　they　aid　with　their　magnanimous　bounty。

I　may　also　mention　that　they　never　forgot　their　first　impression　of　the　splendid　position　of　the　first　Sir　Robert　Peel's　works　at　Nuttal。　In　course　of　time　Sir　Robert　had；　by　his　skill　and　enterprise；　acquired　a　large　fortune；　and　desired　to　retire　from　business。　　By　this　time　the　Grant　Brothers　had　succeeded　so　well　that　they　were　enabled　to　purchase　the　whole　of　his　works　and　property　in　the　neighbourhood。　They　proceeded　to　introduce　every　improvement　in　the　way　of　machinery　and　calico　printing；　and　thus　greatly　added　to　the　quality　of　their　productions。　　Their　name　became　associated　with　everything　that　was　admirable。　　They　abounded　in　hospitality　and　generosity。　In　the　course　of　many　long　years　of　industry；　enterprise；　and　benevolence；　they　earned　the　goodwill　of　thousands；　the　gratitude　of　many；　and　the　respect　of　all　who　knew　them。　　I　was　only　one　of　many　who　had　cause　to　remember　them　with　gratefulness。　　How　could　I　acknowledge　their　kindness？　　There　was　one　way；　it　was　a　very　small　way；　but　I　will　relate　it。　　　Soon　after　my　introduction　to　the　Grants；　and　before　I　had　brought　my　tools　to　Manchester；　William　invited　me　to　join　a　gathering　of　his　friends　at　Ramsbottom。　　The　church　built　at　his　cost　had　just　been　finished；　and　it　was　to　be　opened　with　great　eclat　on　the　following　Sunday。　　He　asked　me　to　be　his　guest；　and　I　accepted　his　invitation　with　pleasure。　　As　it　was　a　very　fine　day　at　the　end　of　May；　I　walked　out　to　Ramsbottom；　and　enjoyed　the　scenery　of　the　district。　Here　was　the　scene　of　the　Grant　Brothers'　industry　and　prosperity。　I　met　many　enterprising　and　intelligent　men；　to　whom　William　Grant　introduced　me。　　I　was　greatly　pleased　with　the　ceremonies　connected　with　the　opening　of　the　church。

On　the　Monday　morning　William　Grant；　having　seen　some　specimens　of　my　father's　artistic　skill　as　a　landscape　painter；　requested　me　to　convey　to　him　his　desire　that　he　should　paint　two　picturesone　of　Castle　Grant；　the　residence　of　the　chief　of　the　Clan　Grant；　and　the　other　of　Elgin　Cathedral。　　These　places　were　intimately　associated　with　his　early　recollections；　The　brothers　had　been　born　in　the　village　adjoining　Castle　Grant；　and　Elgin　Cathedral　was　one　of　the　principal　old　buildings　of　the　north。　　My　father　replied；　saying　that　he　would　be　delighted　to　execute　the　pictures　for　a　gentleman　who　had　given　me　so　kindly　a　reception；　but　that　he　had　no　authentic　datano　drawings；　no　engravingsfrom　which　to　paint　them；　and　that　he　was　now　too　old　t