an autobiography-第62章
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e 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 application of the powers of the steam hammer。 In fact； I had secured a patent for it。 I had the drawings for the steam hammer pile…driving machine with me。 I submitted them to Mr。 Baker； and he saw its importance in a moment。 〃That；〃 he 'said； 〃is the very thing that I want to enable me to complete my contract satisfactorily。〃 Thousands of enormous piles had to be driven down into the deep silt of the Shore； and to have driven them down by the old system of pile…driving would have occupied a long time； and would also have been very expensive。
The drawings were of course submitted to Captain Brandreth。 He was delighted with my design。 The steam pile…driver would be； in his opinion； the prime agent for effecting the commencement of the great work originated by himself。 At first the feat of damming out such a high tide as that of the Hamoaze seemed very doubtful； because the stiff slate silt was a treacherous and difficult material to penetrate。 But now； he thought； the driving would be rendered comparativel
