an autobiography-第53章
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I may here be allowed to remark that we owe the greatest advances in mechanical invention to Free Trade in Ability。 If we look carefully into the narratives of the lives of the most remarkable engineers； we shall find that they owed very little to the seven years' rut in which they were trained。 They owed everything to innate industry； energy； skill； and opportunity。 Thus； Brindley advanced from the position of a millwright to that of a canal engineer； Smeaton and Watt； from being mathematical instrument makers； advanced to higher positions；the one to be the inventor of the modern lighthouse； the other to be the inventor of the condensing steam…engine。 Some of the most celebrated mechanical and civil engineerssuch as Rennie； Cubitt； and Fairbairnwere originally millwrights。 All these men were many…handed。 They had many sides to their intellect。 They were resourceful men。 They afford the best illustrations of the result of Free Trade in Ability。
The persistent aim at an indolent equality which Union men aim at； is one of the greatest hindrances to industrial progress。 When the Union Delegates called upon me to insist that none but men who had served seven years' apprenticeship should be employed in the works； I told them that I preferred employing a man who had acquired the requisite mechanical skill in two years rather than another who was so stupid as to require seven years' teaching。 The delegates regarded this statement as preposterous and heretical。 In fact； it was utter high treason。 But in the long run we carried our point。
It is true； we had some indenture…bound apprentices。 These were pupils who paid premiums。 In certain cases we could not very well refuse to take them。 Some of them caused a great deal of annoyance and disturbance。 They were irregular in their attendance； consequently they could not be depended upon for the regular operations of the foundry。 They were careless in their work； and set a bad example to the others。 We endeavoured to check this disturbing element by stipulating that the premium should be payable in six months' portions； and that each party should be free to terminate the connection at the end of each succeeding six months。 By this system we secured more care and regularity on the part of the pupil apprentices； as； while it checked inattention and irregularity； it offered a direct and substantial encouragement to zeal and industry。
But the arrangement which we greatly preferred was to employ intelligent well…conducted young lads； the sons of labourers or mechanics； and advance them by degrees according to their merits。 They took charge of the smaller machine tools； by which the minor details of the machines in progress were brought into exact form without having recourse to the untrustworthy and costly process of chipping and filing。 A spirit of emulation was excited amongst the lads。 They vied with each other in executing their work with precision。 Those who excelled were paid an extra weekly wage。 In course of time they took pride； not only in the quantity but in the quality of their work； and in the long run they became skilful mechanics。 We were always most prompt to recognise their progress in a substantial manner。 There was the most perfect freedom between employer and employed。 Every one of these lads was at liberty to leave at the end of each day's work。 This arrangement acted as an ever…present check upon master and apprentice。 The only bond of union between us was mutual interest。 The best of the lads remained in our service because they knew our work and were pleased with the surroundings； while we on our part were always desirous of retaining the men we had trained； because we knew we could depend upon them。 Nothing could have been more satisfactory than the manner in which this system worked。
In May 1835 I had the great happiness of receiving a visit from my dear father。 I was then in Dale Street； Manchester； where my floor was overloaded with the work in progress。 My father continued to take a great interest in mechanical undertakings； and he was pleased with the prosperity which had followed my settlement in this great manufacturing centre。 He could still see his own lathe； driven by steam power； in full operation for the benefit of his son。 His fame as an artist was well known in Manchester； for many of his works were possessed by the best men of the town。 I had the pleasure of introducing him to the Brothers Grant； John Kennedy； Edward Lloyd； George Murray； James Frazer； William Fairbairn； and Hugh and Joseph Birley； all of whom gave him a most cordial welcome； and invited him to enjoy their hospitality。
＇Image＇ Alexander Nasmyth。 After a cameo by Samuel Joseph
In 1838 he visited me again。 I had removed to Patricroft； and the Bridgewater Foundry was in full operation。 My father was then in his eightieth year。 He was still full of life and intellect。 He was vastly delighted in witnessing the rapid progress which I had made since his first visit。 He took his daily walk through the workshops； where many processes were going on which greatly interested him。 He was sufficiently acquainted with the technical details of mechanical work to enjoy the sight； especially when self…acting tools were employed。 It was a great source of pleasure to him to have 〃a crack〃 with the most intelligent foremen and mechanics。 These； on their part； treated him with the most kind and respectful attention。 The Scotch workmen regarded him with special veneration。 They knew that he had been an intimate friend of Robert Burns； their own best…beloved poet； whose verses shed a charm upon their homes； and were recited by the fireside； in the fields； or at the workman's bench。
They also knew that he had painted the only authentic portrait of their national bard。 This fact invested my father with additional interest in their eyes。 Their respect for him culminated in a rather extraordinary demonstration。 On the last day of his visit the leading Scotch workmen procured 〃on the sly〃 an arm…chair； which they fastened to two strong bearing poles。 When my father left the works at the bell…ringing at mid…day； he was approached by the workmen； and respectfully requested to 〃take the chair。〃 He refused； but it was of no use。 He was led to the chair； and took it。 He was then raised and carried in triumph to my house。 He was carefully set down at the little garden…gate； where the men affectionately took leave of him； and ended their cordial good wishes for his safe return home with three hearty cheers。 I need scarcely say that my father was greatly affected by this kind demonstration on the part of the workmen。
His life was fast drawing to a close。 He had borne the heat and burden of the day； and was about to be taken home like a shock of corn in full season。 After a long and happy life； blessed and cheered by a most affectionate wife； he laid down his brushes and went to rest。 In his later years he rejoiced in the prosperity of his children； which was all the more agreeable as it was the result of the example of industry and perseverance which he had ever set before them。 My father untiringly continued his professional occupations until 1840； when he had attained the age of eighty…two。 His later works may be found wanting in that degree of minute finish which characterised his earlier productions； but in regard to their quality there was no falling off； even to the last picture which he painted。 The delicate finish was amply compensated by the increase in general breadth and effectiveness； so that his later works were even more esteemed by his brother…artists。 The last picture he painted was finished eight days before his death。 It was a small work。 The subject was a landscape with an autumnal evening effect。 There was a picturesque cottage in the middle distance； a rustic bridge over a brook in the foreground； and an old labouring man； followed by his dog； wearily passing over it on his way towards his home。 From the chimney of his cottage a thin streak of blue smoke passed upward through the tranquil evening air。 All these incidents suggested the idea； which no doubt he desired to convey； of the tranquil conclusion of his own long and active l
