an autobiography-第32章
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is was no other than Henry Brougham。 He was descending the steps leading into St。 James's Park； from the place where the Duke of York's monument now stands。 Brougham immediately recognised my father。 There was a hearty shaking of hands； and many inquiries on either side。 〃And what brings you to London now？〃 asked Brougham。 My father told him that it was about his son here； who had obtained an important position at Maudslay's the engineer。
〃If I can do anything for you；〃 said Brougham； addressing me； 〃let me know。 It will afford me much pleasure to give you introductions to men of science in London。〃 I ventured to say that 〃Of all the men of science in London that I most wished to see； was Mr。 Faraday of the Royal Institution。〃 〃 Well；〃 said Brougham； 〃I will send you a letter of introduction。 We then parted。
My father availed himself of the opportunity of introducing me to several of his brother artists。 We first went to the house of David Wilkie； in Church Street； Kensington。 We found him at home； and he received us most kindly。 We next visited Clarkson Stanfield； David Roberts； and some other artists。 They were much attached to my father； and had； in the early part of their career； received much kindness from him while living in Edinburgh。 They all expressed the desire that I should visit them frequently。 I had thus the privilege of entree to a number of pleasant and happy homes； and my visits to them while in London was one of my principal sources of enjoyment。
On returning home to our lodgings that evening we found a note from Brougham； enclosing letters of introduction to Faraday and other scientific men； and stating that if at any time he could be of service to me he hoped that I would at once make use of him。 My father was truly gratified with the substantial evidence of Brougham's kindly remembrance of him； and I？ how could I be grateful enough？ not only for my father's never…failing attention to my growth in knowledge and wisdom； but to his ever…willing readiness to help me onward in the path of scientific working and mechanical engineering。 And now I was fortunate in another respect； in being admitted to the school； and I may say the friendship； of the admirable Henry Maudslay。 Everything now depended upon myself； and whether I was worthy of all these advantages or not。
One of the days of this most interesting and memorable week was devoted to accompanying Mr。 Maudslay in a visit to Somerset House。 In the Admiralty Museum； then occupying a portion of the building； was a complete set of the working models of the celebrated block…making machinery。 Most of these were the result of Maudslay's own skilful handiwork。 He also designed； for the most part； this wonderful and complete series of machines。 Sir Samuel Bentham and Mr。 Brunel had given the idea； and Maudslay realised it in all its mechanical details。 These working models contained the prototypes of nearly all the modern engineer tools which have given us so complete mastery over materials； and done so much for the age we live in。
It added no little to the enjoyment of this visit to hear Mr。 Maudslay narrate； in his quaint and graphic language； the difficulties he had to encounter in solving so many mechanical problems。 It occupied him nearly six years to design and complete these working models。 They were forty…four in numberall masterly pieces of workmanship。 To describe them was to him like living over again the most interesting and eventful part of his life。 And no doubt the experience which he had thus obtained formed the foundation of his engineering fortunes。
Mr。 Maudslay next conducted us to the Royal Mint on Tower Hill。 Here we saw many of his admirable machines at work。 He had a happy knack； in his contrivances and inventions； of making 〃short cuts〃 to the object in view。 He avoided complexities； did away with roundabout processes； however ingenious； and went direct to his point。 〃Simplicity〃 was his maxim in every mechanical contrivance。 His mastermind enabled him to see through and attain the end he sought by the simplest possible means。 The reputation which he had acquired by his minting machinery enabled him to supply it in its improved form to the principal Governments of the world。
Some of the other days of the week were occupied by my father in attending to his own professional affairs； more particularly in connection with the Earl of Cassiliswhose noble mansion in London； and whose castle at Colzean； on the coast of Ayrshire； contain some of my father's finest works。 The last day was most enjoyable。 Mr。 Maudslay invited my father； my brother Patrick； and myself； to accompany him in his beautiful small steam yacht； the Endeavour； from Westminster to Richmond Bridge； and afterwards to dine with him at the Star and Garter。 I must first； however； say something of the origin of the Endeavour。
Mr。 Maudslay's son； Joseph； inherited much of his father's constructive genius。 He had made a beautiful arrangement of William Murdoch's original invention of the vibrating cylinder steam…engine； and adapted it for the working of paddle…wheel steamers。 He first tried the action of the arrangement in a large working model； and its use was found to be in every respect satisfactory。 Mr。 Maudslay resolved to give his son's design a full…sized trial。 He had a combined pair of vibrating engines constructed； of upwards of 20 horse…power； which were placed in a beautiful small steam vessel； appropriately named the Endeavour。 The result was perfectly successful。 The steamer became a universal favourite。 It was used to convey passengers and pleasure parties from Blackfriars Bridge to Richmond。 Eventually it became the pioneer of a vast progeny of vessels propelled by similar engines； which still crowd the Thames。 All these are the legitimate descendants of the bright and active little Endeavour。
To return to my trip to Richmond。 We got on board the boat on the forenoon of May the 29th。 It was one of the most beautiful days of the year。 The spring was at its loveliest。 The bright fresh green of the trees was delightful。 I shall never forget the pleasure with which I beheld； for the first time； the beautiful banks of the Thames。 There was at that time a noble avenue of elm trees extending along the southern bank of the river； from Westminster Bridge to Lambeth Palace； while； on the northern side； many equally fine trees added picturesque grace to the then Houses of Parliament； while behind them were seen the great roof of Westminster Hall and the noble towers of Westminster Abbey。 As we sped along we admired the ancient cedars； which gave dignity to the Bishop's grounds； on the one side； and the elms； laburnums； and lilacs； then in full bloom； which partially shaded the quaint old mansions of Cheyne Row； on the other。 Alas！ the march of improvement and the inevitable extension of the metropolis is rapidly destroying these vestiges of the olden time。
The beautiful views that came into sight； as we glided up the river； kept my father and my brother in a state of constant excitement。 There were so many truly picturesque and paintable objects。 Patrick's deft pencil was constantly at work； taking graphic notes of 〃glorious bits〃 Dilapidated farm…buildings； old windmills； pollarded willows； were rapidly noted； to be afterwards revisited and made immortal by his brush。 There were also the fine mansions and cosy villas； partially shrouded by glorious trees； with their bright velvety lawns sloping down towards the river； not forgetting the delicate streams of thin blue smoke rising lazily through the trees in the tranquil summer air； and reminding one of the hospitable preparations then in progress。
We landed at Richmond Bridge； and walked up past the quaint old…fashioned mansions which gave so distinct a character to Richmond at that time。 We then passed on to the celebrated Richmond Terrace； at the top of the hill； from which so glorious a view of the windings of the Thames is seen； with the luxuriant happy…looking landscape around。 The enjoyment of this glorious day now reached its climax。 We dined in the great dining…room； from the large windows of which we observed a view almost unmatched in the world； with the
