an autobiography-第44章
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nsive premises。 It was now let out in flats for manufacturing purposes。 Power was supplied to each flat from a shaft connected with a large mill up the street； the owner of which had power to spare。 The flat shown to me was 130 feet long by 27 feet wide； and the rent was only #50 a year。 I thought the premises very suitable； but I took a night to sleep over it。 I thanked Mr。 Kennedy very much for his kindness； and for the trouble which he had taken on behalf of an unknown stranger。
On this memorable day I had another introduction； through the kindness of Mr。 Chippendale； which proved of great service to me。 It was to the Messrs。 Grant； the famous 〃Brothers Cheeryble〃 of Dickens。 I was taken to their counting…house in Cannon Street； where I was introduced to Daniel Grant。 Although business was at its full height； he gave me a cordial reception。 But； to save time； he invited me to come after the Exchange was over and take 〃tiffin〃 with him at his hospitable mansion in Mosely Street。
There； he said； I should meet some of the most enterprising men in Lancashire。 I was most happy； of course； to avail myself of his invitation。 I went thither accordingly； and the first thing that Daniel did was to present me in the most cordial manner to 〃his noble brother William；〃 as he always affectionately called him。 William was the head of the firm； and he； too； gave me a warm and hearty welcome。 He asked me to sit beside him at the head of the table。
During dinnerfor indeed it was such； being the survival of the old…fashioned one o'clock dinner of a departing ageWilliam entered into conversation with me。 He took occasion to inquire into the object of my visit to Manchester。 I told him； as briefly as I could； that I intended to begin the business of a mechanical engineer on a very moderate scale； and that I had been looking out for premises wherein to commence operations。 He seemed interested； and asked more questions。 I related to him my little history； and told him of my desires； hopes； and aspirations。 What was my age？ 〃Twenty…six。〃 〃That is a very young age at which to begin business on your own account〃 〃Yes； but I have plenty of work in me； and I am very economical。〃 Then he pressed his questions home。 〃But what is your capital？〃 I told him that my capital in cash was #63。 〃What！〃 he said； 〃that will do very little for you when Saturday nights come round。〃 〃That's true；〃 I answered； 〃but as there will be only myself and Archy Torry to provide for； I think I can manage to get along very well until profitable work comes in。〃
He whispered to me； 〃Keep your heart up！〃 With such views； he said； I was sure to do well。 And if； he added； on any Saturday night I wanted money to pay wages or other expenses； I would find a credit for #500 at 3 per cent at his office in Cannon Street； 〃and no security。〃 These were his very words。 What could have been more generous？ I could only whisper my earnest thanks for his warm…hearted kindness。 He gave me a kindly squeeze of the hand in return； which set me in a glow of gladness。 He also gave me a sort of wink that I shall never forgeta most knowing wink。 In looking at me he seemed to turn his eye round and brought his eyebrows down upon it in a sudden and extraordinary manner。 I thought it was a mere confirmation of his kind advice to 〃keep my heart up！〃 It was not until two years after that I found； from a mutual friend； that the eye in question was made of glass！ Sometimes the glass eye got slightly out of its place； and Mr。 Grant had to force it in again by this odd contortion of his eyebrows； which I had translated into all manner of kind intentions。 As soon as the party broke up I went to Wren and Bennett； the agents for the flat of the old mill which I had seen in Dale Street。 I inspected it again； and found that it was in all respects suitable for my purpose。 I may mention in passing that the flat below mine was in the occupation of a glass…cutter； whose glass…cutting lathes and grindstones were supplied with power from the same upright shaft that was to serve me in the same manner on the flat above； Encouraged by the support of William Grant； I immediately entered into a contract for the premises as a yearly tenant。 Nothing could have been more happily arranged for my entering into business as a mechanical engineer and machine tool maker。 The situation of the premises was excellent； being in the heart of Manchester There was a powerful crab crane； or hoisting apparatus； in the upper story； and the main chains came down in front of the wide door of my workshop； so that heavy castings or cases of machinery might be lifted up or let down with the utmost case and convenience。 At the same time I was relieved from looking after the moving power and its natural accompaniment of trouble and expense in the way of fuel and attendance。
＇Image＇ My factory flat at Manchester
When I had settled the contract for taking the place； I wrote down to Edinburgh by that night's post to tell my father of the happy results of my visit to Manchester； and also to inform my right hand man； Archy Torry； that I should soon be with him。 He was to prepare for packing up my lathes； planing machines； drilling machines； and other smaller tools； not forgetting my father's foot lathe； of which I had made such effective use。* ＇footnote。。。 I have still this foot…lathe in full and perfect and almost daily action。 I continue to work with it now； after sixty…three years of almost constant use。 It is a lathe that I duly prize and venerate； not only because it was my father's； but also because it was； in practical fact； the progenitor； more or less directly； of all the mechanical productions of my long and active life。 。。。＇
I soon followed up my letter。 I was in Edinburgh in a few days' time； and had all my tools packed up。 In the course of about ten days I returned to Manchester； and was followed by Archy Torry and the ponderous cases of machinery and engineer's tools。 They were all duly delivered； hoisted to my flat； and put in their proper places。 I was then ready for work。
The very first order I received was from my friend Edward Tootal。 It was a new metallic piston for the small steam…engine that gave motion to his silk…winding machinery。 It was necessary that it should be done over night； in order that his factory should be at work as usual in the morning。
My faithful Archy and I set to work accordingly。 We removed the old defective piston； and replaced it by a new and improved one； made according to my own ideas of how so important a part of a steam…engine should be constructed。 We conveyed it to Mr。 Tootal's factory over night； and by five o'clock in the morning gave it a preliminary trial to see that everything was in order。 The 〃hands〃 came in at six； and the machine was set to work。 It was no doubt a very small order； but the piston was executed perfectly and satisfactorily。 The result of its easier action； through reduced friction； was soon observable in the smaller consumption of coal。 Mr。 Tootal and his brother were highly pleased at my prompt and careful attention 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。 H
