an autobiography-第43部分

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ith　the　boiler。　This　was　the　first　power　I　employed　in　starting　my　new　works。

I　must　return　for　a　moment　to　the　twenty　horse…power　engine；　which　had　been　the　proximate　cause　of　my　removal　from　Dale　Street。　　It　was　taken　to　pieces；　packed；　and　sent　off　to　Londonderry。　　When　I　was　informed　that　it　was　erected　and　ready　for　work　I　proceeded　to　Ireland　to　see　it　begin　it's　operations。

I　may　briefly　say　that　the　engine　gave　every　satisfaction；　and　I　believe　that　it　continues　working　to　this　day。　　I　had　the　pleasure　of　bringing　back　with　me　an　order　for　a　condensing　engine　of　forty　horse…power；　required　by　Mr。　John　Munn　for　giving　motion　to　his　new　flax　mill；　then　under　construction。　　I　mention　this　order　because　the　engine　was　the　first　important　piece　of　work　executed　at　the　Bridgewater　Foundry。

This　was　my　first　visit　to　Ireland。　　Being　so　near　the　Giant's　Causeway；　I　took　the　opportunity；　on　my　way　homewards；　of　visiting　that　object　of　high　geologic　interest；　together　with　the　magnificent　basaltic　promontory　of　Fairhead。　　I　spent　a　day　in　clambering　up　the　terrible…looking　crags。　　In　a　stratum　of　red　hematite　clay；　underneath　a　solid　basaltic　crag　of　some　sixty　feet　or　more　in　thickness；　I　found　the　charred　branches　of　treesthe　remains　of　some　forest　that　had；　at　some　inconceivably　remote　period；　been　destroyed　by　a　vast　out…belching　flow　of　molten　lava　from　a　deep…seated　volcanic　store　underneath。

I　returned　to　Patricroft；　and　found　the　wooden　workshops　nearly　finished。　　The　machine　tools　were；　for　the　most　part；　fixed　and　ready　for　use。　　In　August　1836　the　Bridgewater　foundry　was　in　complete　and　efficient　action。　　The　engine　ordered　at　Londonderry　was　at　once　put　in　hand；　and　the　concern　was　fairly　started　in　its　long　career　of　prosperity。　　The　wooden　workshops　had　been　erected　upon　the　grass。　But　the　sward　soon　disappeared。　　The　hum　of　the　driving　belts；　the　whirl　of　the　machinery；　the　sound　of　the　hammer　upon　the　anvil；　gave　the　place　an　air　of　busy　activity。　　As　work　increased；　workmen　increased。　The　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