an autobiography-第33章
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ing…room； from the large windows of which we observed a view almost unmatched in the world； with the great tower of Windsor in the distance。 I need not speak of the entertainment； which was everything that the kindest and most genial hospitality could offer。 After a pleasant stroll in the Park； amidst the noble and venerable oak trees； which give such a dignity to the place； and after another visit to the Terrace； where we saw the sun set in a blaze of glory beyond the distant scenery； we strolled down the hill to the steamer； and descended the Thames in the cool of the summer evening。
I must not； however； omit to mention the lodgings taken for me by my father before he left London。 It was necessary that they should be near Maudslay's works for the convenience of going and coming。 We therefore looked about in the neighbourhood of Waterloo Road。 One of the houses we visited was situated immediately behind the Surrey theatre。 It seemed a very nice tidy house； and my father seemed to have taken a liking for it。 But when we were introduced into the room where I was to sleep； he observed an ultra…gay bonnet lying on the bed； with flashy bright ribbons hanging from it。 This sight seemed to alter his ideas； and he did not take the lodgings； but took another where there was no such bonnet。
I have no doubt about what passed through his mind at the time。 We were in the neighbourhood of the theatre。 There was evidently some gay young woman about the house。 He thought the position might be dangerous for his son。 I afterwards asked him why we had not taken that nice lodging。 〃Well；〃 he said； 〃did not you see that ultra…gay bonnet lying on the bed？ I think that looks rather suspicious！〃 Afterwards he added； 〃At all events； James； you will find that though there are many dirty roads in life； if you use your judgment you may always be able to find a clean crossing！〃 And so the good man left me。 After an affectionate parting he returned to Edinburgh； and I remained in London to work out the plan of my life。
CHAPTER 8。 Maudslay's Private Assistant
On the morning of Monday； the 30th of May 1829； I commenced my regular attendance at Mr。 Maudslay's workshop。 My first job was to assist him in making some modifications in the details of a machine which he had contrived some years before for generating original screws。 I use the word 〃generating〃 as being most appropriate to express the objects and results of one of Mr。 Maudslay's most original inventions。
It consisted in the employment of a knife…edged hardened steel instrument； so arranged as to be set at any required angle； and its edge caused to penetrate the surface of a cylindrical bar of soft steel or brass。 This bar being revolved under the incisive action of the angularly placed knife…edged instrument； it thus received a continuous spiral groove cut into its surface。 It was then in the condition of a rudimentary screw； the pitch； or interval between the threads； being determined by the greater or less angle of obliquity at which the knife…edged instrument was set with respect to the axis of the cylindrical bars revolving under its incisive action。
The spiral groove； thus generated； was deepened to the required extent by a suitable and pointed hard steel tool firmly held in the jaws of an adjustable slide made for the purpose； as part and parcel of the bed of the machine。 In the case of square…threaded screws being required； a square…pointed tool was employed in place of the V or angle…threaded tool。 And in order to generate or produce right hand or left hand screws； all that was necessary was to set the knife…edged instrument to a right or left hand inclination in respect to the axis of the cylindrical bar at the outset of the operation。
This beautiful and truly original contrivance became； in the hands of its inventor； the parent of a vast progeny of perfect screws； whose descendants； whether legitimate or not； are to be found in every workshop throughout the world； wherever first…class machinery is constructed。 The production of perfect screws was one of Maudslay's highest ambitions and his principal technical achievement。 It was a type of his invaluable faculty of solving the most difficult problems by the most direct and simple methods。
It was by the same method that he produced the Guide screw。 His screw…cutting lathe was moved by combination wheels； and by its means he could； by the one Guide screw； obtain screws of every variety of pitch and diameter。 As an illustration of its complete accuracy I may mention that by its means a screw of five feet in length and two inches in diameter was cut with fifty threads to the inch； the Nut to fit on to it being twelve inches long； and containing six hundred threads！ This screw was principally used for dividing scales for astronomical and other metrical purposes of the highest class。 By its means divisions were produced with such minuteness that they could only be made visual by a microscope。
This screw was sent for exhibition to the Society of Arts。 It is still preserved with the utmost care at the Lambeth Works amongst the many admirable specimens of Henry Maudslay's inventive genius and delicate handiwork。 Every skilled mechanic must thoroughly enjoy the sight of it； especially when he knows that it was not produced by an exceptional tool； but by the machine that was daily employed in the ordinary work of the factory。
I must not； however； omit to say that I took an early opportunity of presenting Brougham's letter of introduction to Faraday at the Royal Institution。 I was received most cordially by that noble…minded man； whose face beamed with goodness and kindness。 After some pleasant conversation he said he would call upon me at Maudslay's； whom he knew very well。 Not long after Faraday called； and found me working beside Maudslay in his beautiful little workshop。 A vice had been fitted up for me at the bench where he himself daily worked。 Faraday expressed himself as delighted to find me in so enviable a position。 He congratulated me on my special good fortune in having the inestimable advantage of being associated as assistant workman with one of the greatest mechanical engineers of the day。
Mr。 Maudslay offered to conduct Faraday through his workshops； and I was permitted to accompany them。 I was much impressed with the intelligent conversation of Faraday； as well as with the quickness he exhibited in appreciating not only the general excellence of the design and execution of the works in progress； but his capacity for entering into the technical details of the composite tools and machinery which he saw during his progress through the place。 This most pleasant and memorable meeting with the great philosopher initiated a friendship which I had the good fortune to continue until the close of his life。
It was； of course； an immense advantage for me to be so intimately associated with Mr。 Maudslay in carrying on his experimental work。 I was not； however； his apprentice； but his assistant workman。 It was necessary； therefore； in his opinion； that I should receive some remuneration for my services。 Accordingly； at the conclusion of my first week in his service； he desired me to go to his chief cashier and arrange with him for receiving whatever amount of weekly wages I might consider satisfactory。 I went to the counting…house and had an interview with Mr。 Young the cashier； a most worthy man* ＇footnote。。。 I may mention that he was brother to Dr。 Thomas Young； the celebrated natural philosopher。 。。。＇ Knowing as I did the great advantages of my situation； and having a very modest notion of my own worthiness to occupy it； I said； in answer to Mr。 Young's question as to the amount of wages I desired； that 〃if he did not think ten shillings a week too much I could do well enough with that。〃 〃Very well〃 said he；〃let it be so〃 And he handed me over half a sovereign！
I had determined； after I obtained a situation； not to cost my father another shilling。 I knew how many calls he had upon him； at a time when he had his own numerous household to maintain。 I therefore resolved； now that I had begun life on my own resources； to maintain myself； and to help him rather than be helped any
