an autobiography-第85章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cessful operation where my patent hollow steam Rabbler is at work； producing iron of superior quality by the introduction of jets of steam in the puddling process。 I do not； however； lay any claim to this invention of Mr。 Bessemer； but I may fairly be entitled to say that I have advanced along the road on which he has travelled so many miles； and has effected such unexpected results that I do not hesitate to say that I may go home from this meeting and tear up my patent； for my process of puddling is assuredly superseded。'〃
After giving an account of the true origin of his process； in which he had met with failures as well as successes； but at last recognised the decarburation of pig iron by atmospheric air； Sir Henry proceeds to say：
〃I prepared to try another experiment； in a crucible having no hole the the bottom； but which was provided with an iron pipe put through a hole in the cover； and passing down nearly to the bottom of the crucible。 The small lumps and grains of iron were packed around fit； so as nearly to fill the crucible。 A blast of air was to be forced down the pipe so as to rise up among the pieces of granular iron and partially decarburise them。 The pipe could then be withdrawn； and the fire urged until the metal with its coat of oxyde was fused； and cast steel thereby produced。
〃While the blowing apparatus for this experiment was being fitted up； I was taken with one of those short but painful illnesses to which I was subject at that time。 I was confined to my bed； and it was then that my mind； dwelling for hours together on the experiment about to be made； suggested that instead of trying to decarburise the granulated metal by forcing the air down the vertical pipe among the pieces of iron； the air would act much more energetically and more rapidly if I first melted the iron in the crucible； and forced the air down the pipe below the surface of the fluid metal； and thus burn out the carbon and silicum which it contained。
〃This appeared so feasible； and in every way so great an improvement； that the experiment on the granular pieces was at once abandoned； and； as soon as I was well enough； I proceeded to try the experiment of forcing the air under the fluid metal。 The result was marvellous。 Complete decarburation was effected in half an hour。 The heat produced was immense； but； unfortunately more than half the metal was blown out of the pot。 This led to the use of pots with large hollow perforated covers； which effectually prevented the loss of metal。 These experiments continued from January to October 1855。 I have by me on the mantelpiece at this moment； a small piece of rolled bar iron which was rolled at Woolwich arsenal； and exhibited a year later at Cheltenham。
〃I then applied for a patent； but before preparing my provisional specification （dated October 17； 1855）； I searched for other patents to ascertain whether anything of the sort had been done before。 I then found your patent for puddling with the steam rabble； and also Martin's patent for the use of steam in gutters while molten iron was being conveyed from the blast furnace to a finery； there to be refined in the ordinary way prior to puddling。
〃I then tried steam in my cast steel process； alone； and also mixed with air。 I found that it cooled the metal very much； and of itself could not be used； as it always produced solidification。 I was nevertheless advised to claim the use of steam as well as air in my particular process （lest it might be used against me）； at the same time disclaiming its employment for any purpose except in the production of fluid malleable iron or steel。 And I have no doubt it is to this fact that I referred when speaking to you on the occasion you mention。 I have deemed it best that the exact truthso far as a short history can give itshould be given at once to you； who are so true and candid。 Had it not been for you and Martin I should probably never have proposed the use of steam in my process； but the use of air came by degrees； just in the way I have described。〃
It was thoroughly consistent with Mr。 Bessemer's kindly feelings towards me； that； after our meeting at Cheltenham； he made me an offer of one…third share of the value of his patent。 This would have been another fortune to me。 But I had already made money enough。 I was just then taking down my signboard and leaving business。 I did not need to plunge into any such tempting enterprise； and I therefore thankfully declined the offer。
Many long years of pleasant toil and exertion had done their work。 A full momentum of prosperity had been given to my engineering business at Patricroft。 My share in the financial results accumulated with accelerated rapidity to an amount far beyond my most sanguine hopes。 But finding； from long continued and incessant mental efforts； that my nervous system was beginning to become shaken； especially in regard to an affection of the eyes； which in some respects damaged my sight； I thought the time had arrived for me to retire from commercial life。
Some of my friends advised me to 〃slack off；〃 and not to retire entirely from Bridgewater Foundry。 But to do so was not in my nature。 I could not be indifferent to any concern in which I was engaged。 I must give my mind and heart to it as before。 I could not give half to leisure； and half to business。 I therefore concluded that a final decision was necessary。 Fortunately I possessed an abundant and various stock of hobbies。 I held all these in reserve to fall back upon。 They would furnish me with an almost inexhaustible source of healthy employment。 They might give me occupation for mind and body as long as I lived。 I bethought me of the lines of Burns： 〃Wi' steady aim some Fortune chase； Keen hope does ev'ry sinew brace； Thro' fair； thro' foul； they urge the race； And seize the prey： Then cannie； in some cosy place； They close the day。〃
It was no doubt a great sorrow for me and my dear wife to leave the Home in which we had been so happy and prosperous for so many years。 It was a cosy little cottage at Patricroft。 We had named it 〃Fireside。〃 It was small； but suitable for our requirements。 We never needed to enlarge it； for we had no children to accommodate。 It was within five minutes' walk of the Foundry； and I was scarcely ever out of reach of the Fireside； where we were both so happy。 It had been sanctified by our united love for thirteen years。 It was surrounded by a nice garden； planted with trees and shrubs。 Though close to the Bridgewater Canal； and a busy manufacturing population was not far off； the cottage was perfectly quiet。 It was in this garden； when I was arranging the telescope at night； that I had been detected by the passing boatman as 〃The Patricroft Ghost〃
When we were about to leave Patricroft； the Countess of Ellesmere； who； as well as the Earl； had always been our attached friends； wrote to my wife as follows： 〃I can well understand Mr。 Nasmyth's satisfaction at the emancipation he looks forward to in December next。 But I hope you do not expect us to share it！ for what is so much natural pleasure to you is a sad loss and privation to us。 I really don't know how we shall get on at Worsley without you。 You have nevertheless my most sincere and hearty good wishes that the change may be as grateful to you both as anything in this world can be。〃
Yet we had to tear ourselves away from this abode of peace and happiness。 I had given notice to my partner* ＇footnote。。。 The 〃Partner〃 here referred to； was my excellent friend Henry Garnett； Esq。； of Wyre Side； near Lancaster。 He had been my sleeping partner or 〃Co。〃 for nearly twenty years； and the most perfect harmony always existed between us。 。。。＇ that it was my intention to retire from business at the end of 1856。 The necessary arrangements were accordingly made for carrying on the business after my retirement。 All was pleasantly and satisfactorily settled several months before I finally left； and the character and prosperity of the Bridgewater Foundry have been continued to the present day。
But where was I to turn to for a settled home？ Many years before I had seen a charming picture by my brother Patrick of 〃A Cottage in Kent〃 It
