an autobiography-第55部分

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burnt　up　and　ruined。　　Almost　every　field　at　the　base　of　Vesuvius　contains　a　neat　little　oratory；　with　a　statue　of　the　Virgin　and　Child；　to　which　the　cultivators　repair　in　times　of　peril　and　calamity。　　But　chapel；　statue；　and　gardens　are　alike　swept　away　by　the　tremendous　descent　of　the　molten　lava。

As　the　night　was　growing　dark；　I　made　my　way　from　these　riskful　farms　to　Rosina；　a　little　village　on　the　way　back　to　Naples。　　As　I　had　had　nothing　to　eat　or　drink　during　this　thirst…producing　journey；　I　went　into　a　wine　shop　and　asked　for　some　refreshment。　　The　wine　shop　was　a　sort　of　vault；　with　a　door　like　that　of　a　coach…house；　but　with　a　bench　and　narrow　table。　　The　good　woman　brought　me　a　great　green　glass　bottle　like　a　vitriol　carboy！　　It　contained　more　than　six　gallons　of　wine；　and　she　left　me　with　a　big　glass　to　satisfy　my　wants。　　The　wine　was　the　veritable　Lachryma；　Christia　delightful　light　claretfor　producing　which　the　vineyards　at　the　base　of　Vesuvius　are　famous。　After　some　most　glorious　swigs　from　this　generous　and　jovial　carboy；　accompanied　with　some　delightful　fresh　made　bread；　I　felt　myself　up　to　anything。　　After　washing　down　the　dust　that　I　had　swallowed　during　the　day；　I　settled　with　my　liberal　landlady　（indeed　she　was　mightily　pleased　with　only　tenpence）；　and　started　for　Naples。

I　had　still　an　eight…mile　walk　before　me；　but　that　was　nothing　to　my　vigorous　powers　at　that　time。　　The　moon　had　risen　during　my　stay　in　the　wine　house；　and　it　shone　with　a　bright　clear　light。　　After　a　few　miles'　walking　I　felt　a　little　tired；　for　the　day's　exercise　had　been　rather　toilsome。　　A　fine　carriage　passed　me　on　the　road　with　a　most　tempting　platform　behind。　　I　hailed　the　driver；　and　was　allowed　to　mount。　　I　was　soon　bowling　along　the　lava　paved　road；　and　in　a　short　time　I　arrived　at　Naples。　　I　made　another　excursion　to　the　crater　of　Vesuvius　before　I　left；　as　well　as　visits　to　Herculaneum　and　Pompeii；　which　exceedingly　interested　me。　　But　these　I　need　not　attempt　to　relate。　　I　refer　my　readers　to　Murray's　Guide　Book；　where　both　are　admirably　described。

After　completing　my　business　affairs　at　Naples；　and　sowing　the　seeds　of　several　orders；　which　afterwards　bore　substantial　results；　I　left　the　city　by　the　same　line　of　steamers。　　I　passed　again　Civita　Vecchia；　Leghorn；　Genoa；　and　Marseilles。　　On　passing　through　the　South　of　France　I　visited　the　works　of　several　of　our　employers；　and　carried　back　with　me　many　orders。　　It　was　when　at　Creuzot　that　I　saw　the　child　of　my　brain；　the　steam　hammer；　in　full　and　efficient　work。　But　this　I　have　referred　to　in　a　previous　chapter。


CHAPTER　15。　　Steam　Hammer　Pile…driver。　　　　　　　　

In　1840　I　furnished　Sir　Edward　Parry　with　a　drawing　of　my　steam　hammer；　in　the　hope　that　I　might　induce　him　to　recommend　its　adoption　in　the　Royal　Dockyards。　　Sir　Edward　was　at　that　time　the　head　director　of　the　steam　marine　of　England。　　That　was　after　the　celebrity　he　had　acquired　through　his　Arctic　voyages。　　I　was　of　opinion　that　the　hammer　might　prove　exceedingly　useful　in　forging　anchors　and　large　iron　work　in　those　great　establishments。　　Sir　Edward　appeared　to　be　much　struck　with　the　simplicity　and　probable　efficiency　of　the　invention。　But　the　Admiralty　Board　were　very　averse　to　introducing　new　methods　of　manufacturing　into　the　dockyards。　　Accordingly；　my　interview　with　Sir　Edward　Parry；　notwithstanding　his　good　opinion；　proved　fruitless。

Time　passed　by。　　I　had　furnished　steam　hammers　to　the　principal　foundries　in　England。　　I　had　sent　them　abroad；　even　to　Russia。　At　length　it　became　known　to　the　Lords　of　the　Admiralty　that　a　new　power　in　forging　had　been　introduced。　　This　was　in　1843；　three　years　after　I　had　submitted　my　design　to　Sir　Edward　Parry。　　The　result　was　that　my　Lords　appointed　a　deputation　of　intelligent　officers　to　visit　my　foundry　at　Patricroft　to　see　the　new　invention。　　It　consisted　of　Captain　Benison　（brother　of　the　late　Speaker）；　and　Captain　Burgman；　Resident　Engineer　at　Devonport　Dockyard。　　They　were　well　able　to　understand　the　powerful　agency　of　the　steam　hammer　for　marine　forge　work。　　I　gave　them　every　opportunity　for　observing　its　action。　They　were　much　pleased；　and　I　may　add　astonished；　at　its　range；　power；　and　docility。

Besides　showing　them　my　own　steam　hammer；　I　took　the　deputation　to　the　extensive　works　of　Messrs。　　Rushton　and　Eckersley；　where　they　saw　one　of　my　five…ton　hammer…block　steam　hammers　in　full　action。　It　was　hammering　out　some　wrought…iron　forgings　of　the　largest　class；　as　well　as　working　upon　smaller　forgings。　　By　exhibiting　the　wide　range　of　power　of　the　steam　hammer；　these　gentlemen　were　entirely　satisfied　of　its　fitness　for　all　classes　of　forgings　for　the　naval　service。　They　reported　to　the　Admiralty　accordingly；　and　in　a　few　days　we　received　an　official　letter；　with　an　order　for　a　steam　hammer　having　a　50　cwt。　　hammer…block；　together　with　the　appropriate　boiler；　crane；　and　forge　furnace；　so　as　to　equip　a　complete　forge　shop　at　Devonport　Dockyard。　　This　was　my　first　order　from　the　Government　for　a　steam　hammer。

When　everything　was　ready；　I　set　out　for　Devonport　to　see　the　hammer　and　the　other　portions　of　the　machinery　carefully　erected。　In　about　a　fortnight　it　was　ready　for　its　first　stroke。　　As　good　luck　would　have　it；　the　Lords　of　the　Admiralty　were　making　their　annual　visit　of　inspection　to　the　dockyard　that　day。　　They　arrived　too　late　in　the　afternoon　for　a　general　inspection　of　the　establishment；　but　they　asked　the　superintending　admiral　if　there　was　anything　of　importance　which　they　might　see　before　the　day　closed。　　The　admiral　told　them　that　the　most　interesting　novelty　in　the　dockyard　was　the　starting　of　Nasmyth's　steam　hammer。　　〃Very　well；　they　said；　〃let　us　go　and　see　that〃。

I　was　there；　with　the　two　mechanics　I　had　brought　with　me　from　Patricroft　to　erect　the　steam　hammer。　　I　took　share　and　share　alike　in　the　work。　　The　Lords　were　introduced　to　me；　and　I　proceeded　to　show　them　the　hammer。　　I　passed　it　through　its　paces。　　I　made　it　break　an　eggshell　in　a　wine…glass　without　injuring　the　glass。　　It　was　as　neatly　effected　by　the　two…and…a…half　ton　hammer　as　if　it　had　been　done　by　an　egg…spoon。　　Then　I　had　a　great　mass　of　white…hot　iron　swung　out　of　the　furnace　by　a　crane　and　placed　upon　the　anvil　block。　　Down　came　the　hammer　on　it　with　ponderous　blows。　　My　Lords　scattered　to　the　extremities　of　the　workshop；　for　the　splashes　and　sparks　of　hot　metal　flew　about。　　I　went　on　with　the　hurtling　blows　of　the　hammer；　and　kneaded　the　mass　of　iron　as　if　it　had　been　clay　into　its　devised　forms。

After　finishing　off　the　forging；　my　Lords　gathered　round　the　hammer　again；　when　I　explained　to　them　the　rationale　of　its　working；　and　the　details　of　its　construction。　　They　were　greatly　interested；　especially　Mr。　Sidney　Herbert　（afterwards　Lord　Herbert　of　Lea）；　then　Secretary　to　the　Admiralty；　and　Sir　George　Cockburn；　a　fine　specimen　of　the　old　admiral。　　Indeed；　all　the　members　of　the　Board　were　more　or　less　remarkable　men。　　They　honoured　me　with　their　careful　attention；　and　expressed　their　admiration　at　the　hammer's　wonderful　range　of　power　and　delicacy　of　touch；　in　this　new　application　of　the　force　of　steam。

The　afternoon　was　a　most　important　one　for　me　in　more　ways　than　one；　although　I　cannot　venture　to　trouble　my　readers　with　the　details。　It　was　followed；　however；　by　an　order　to　supply　all　the　Royal　Dockyard　forge　departments　with　a　complete　equipment　of　steam　hammers；　and　all　the　requisite　accessories。　　These　were　supplied　in　due　time；　and　gave　in　every　case　the　highest　satisfaction。　　The　forgings　were　found　to　be　greatly　better；　and　almost　absurdly　cheaper　than　those　done　by　the　old　bit　by　bit　building…up　process。　　The　danger　of　flaws　was　entirely　done　away　with；　and；　in　the　case　of　anchors；　this　was　a　consideration　of　life　and　death　to　the　seamen；　who　depend　for　their　safety　upon　the　soundness　of　the　forgings。

Besides　my　introduction　to　that　admirable　man；　Mr。　Sidney　Herbert；　I　had　the　happiness　of　being　introduced　to　Captain　Brandreth；　Director　of　Naval　Works。　　The　whole　of　the　buildings　on　shore；　including　the　dockyards；　were　under　his　control。　　One　of　the　most　important　affairs　that　the　Lords　of　the　Admiralty　had　to　attend　to　on　their　visit　to　Devonport　was　to　conclude　the　contract　for　constructing　the　great　docks　at　Keyham。　　This　was　a　large　extension　of　the　Devonport　Docks；　intended　for　the　accommodation　of　the　great　steamships　of　the　Royal　Navy；　as　well　as　for　an　increase　of　the　graving　docks　and　workshops　for　their　repair。　　An　immense　portion　of　the　shore　of　the　Hamoaze　had　to　be　walled　in　so　as　to　exclude　the　tide　and　enable　the　space　to　be　utilised　for　the　above　purposes。　　To　effect　this　a　vast　amount　of　pile…driving　was　rendered　necessary；　in　order　to　form　a　firm　foundation　for　the　great　outer　dock　wall；　about　a　mile　and　a　quarter　in　length。

Messrs。　Baker　and　Sons　were　the　contractors　for　this　work。　They　were　present　at　the　first　start　of　my　steam　hammer　at　Devonport。　They　were；　like　the　others；　much　impressed　by　its　vast　power　and　manageableness。　　They　had　an　interview　with　me　as　to　its　applicability　for　driving　piles　for　the　immense　dock；　this　being　an　important　part　of　their　contract。　　Happily；　I　had　already　given　some　attention　to　this　applicat