an autobiography-第16章
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ove my collection gave me choice specimens of bronze and other coins of the Roman emperors； usually duplicates from their own collection。
These coins had the effect of promoting my knowledge of Roman history。 I read up in order to find out the acts and deeds of the old rulers of the civilised world。 Besides collecting the coins； I used to make careful drawings of the obverse and reverse faces of each in an illustrated catalogue which I kept in my little coin cabinet。
I remember one day； when sitting beside my father making a very careful drawing of a fine bronze coin of Augustus； that Sir Walter Scott entered the room。 He frequently called upon my father in order to consult him with respect to his architectural arrangements。 Sir Walter caught sight of me； and came forward to look over the work I was engaged in。 At his request I had the pleasure of showing him my little store of coin treasures； after which he took out of his waistcoat pocket a beautiful silver coin of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots； and gave it to me as being his 〃young brother antiquarian。〃 I shall never forget the kind fatherly way in which he presented it。 I considered it a great honour to be spoken to in so friendly a way by such a man； besides； it vastly enriched my little collection of coins and medals。
It was in the year 1817 that I had the pleasure； never to be forgotten； of seeing the great engineer； James Watt。 He was then close upon his eighty…second year。 His visit to Edinburgh was welcomed by the most distinguished scientific and literary men of the city。 My father had the honour of meeting him at a dinner given by the Earl of Buchan； at his residence in George Street。 There were present； Sir James Hall； President of the Royal Society； Francis Jeffrey； Editor of the Edinburgh Review； Walter Scott； still the Great Unknown； and many other distinguished notabilities。 The cheerful old man delighted them with his kindly talk； as well as astonished them with the extent and profundity of his information。
On the following day Mr。 Watt paid my father a visit he carefully examined his artistic and other works。 Having inspected with great pleasure some landscape paintings of various scenes in Scotland executed by my sisters； who were then highly efficient artists； he purchased a specimen of each； as well as three landscapes painted by my father； as a record of his pleasant visit to the capital of his native country。 I well remember the sight I then got of the Great Engineer。 I had just returned from the High School when he was leaving my father's house。 It was but a glimpse I had of him。 But his benevolent countenance and his tall but bent figure made an impression on my mind that I can never forget。 It was even something to have seen for a few seconds so truly great and noble a man。
I did not long continue my passion for the collection of coins； I felt a greater interest in mechanical pursuits。 I have a most cherished and grateful remembrance of the happy hours and days that I spent in my father's workroom。 When the weather was cold or wet ；he took refuge with his lathe and tools； and there I followed and watched him。 He took the greatest pleasure in instructing me。 Even in the most humble mechanical job he was sure to direct my attention to the action of the tools and to the construction of the work he had in hand； and pointed out the manipulative processes requisite for its being effectually carried out。 My hearty zeal in assisting him was well rewarded by his implanting in my mind the great fundamental principles on which the practice of engineering in its grandest forms is based。 But I did not learn this all at once。 It came only gradually； and by dint of constant repetition and inculcation。 In the meantime I made a beginning by doing some little mechanical work on my own account。
While attending the High School； from 1817 to 1820； there was the usual rage amongst boys for spinning…tops； 〃peeries；〃 and 〃young cannon。〃 By means of my father's excellent foot…lathe I turned out the spinning…tops in capital style； so much so that I be came quite noted amongst my school companions。 They all wanted to have specimens of my productions。 They would give any price for them。 The peeries were turned with perfect accuracy； and the steel shod； or spinning pivot； was centred so as to correspond exactly with the axis of the top。 They could spin twice as long as the bought peeries。 When at full speed they would 〃sleep；〃 that is； revolve without the slightest waving。 This was considered high art as regarded top…spinning。
Flying…kites and tissue paper balloons were articles that I was somewhat famed for producing。 There was a good deal of special skill required for the production of a flying…kite。 It must be perfectly still and steady when at its highest flight in the air。 Paper messengers were sent up to it along the string which held it to the ground。 The top of the Calton Hill was the most favourite place for enjoying this pleasant amusement。
Another article for which I became equally famous was the manufacture of small brass cannon。 These I cast and bored； and mounted on their appropriate gun…carriages。 They proved very effective； especially in the loudness of the report when fired。 I also converted large cellar…keys into a sort of hand…cannon。 A touch…hole was bored into the barrel of the key； with a sliding brass collar that allowed the key…guns to be loaded and primed and ready for firing。 The principal occasion on which the brass cannon and hand…guns were used was on the 4th of JuneKing George the Thirds birthday。 This was always celebrated with exuberant and noisy loyalty。 The guns of the Castle were fired at noon； and the number of shots corresponded with the number of years that the king had reigned。 The grand old Castle was enveloped in smoke； and the discharges reverberated along the streets and among the surrounding hills。 Everything was in holiday order。 The coaches were hung with garlands； the shops were ornamented； the troops were reviewed on Bruntsfield Links； and the citizens drank the king's health at the Gross； throwing the glasses over their shoulders。 The boys fired off gunpowder； or threw squibs or crackers from morning till night。 It was one of the greatest schoolboy events of the year。 My little brass cannon and hand…guns were very busy during that day。 They were fired until they became quite hot。 These were the pre…lucifer days。 The fire to light the powder at the touch…hole was obtained by the use of a flint； a steel； and a tinder…box。 The flint was struck sharply on the steel； a spark of fire fell into the tinderbox； and the match of hemp string； soaked in saltpetre； was readily lit； and fired off the little guns。
I carried on quite a trade in forging beautiful little steels。 I forged them out of old files； which proved excellent material for the purpose。 I filed them up into neat and correct forms； and then hardened and tempered them； secundum artem； at the little furnace stove in my father's workroom； where of course there were also a suitable anvil； hammer； and tongs。 I often made potent use of these steels in escaping from the ordeal of some severe task imposed upon me at school。 The schoolmaster often deputed his authority to the monitors to hear us say our lessons。 But when I slyly exhibited a beautiful steel the monitor could not maintain his grim sense of duty； and he often let me escape the ordeal of repeating some passage from a Latin school…book by obtaining possession of the article。 I thus bought myself off。 This system of bribery and corruption was no doubt shockingly improper； but as I was not naturally endowed with the taste for learning Latin and Greek； I continued my little diplomatic tricks until I left school。
As I have said； I did not learn much at the High School。 My mind was never opened up by what was taught me there。 It was a mere matter of rote and cram。 I learnt by heart a number of Latin rules and phrases； but what I learnt soon slipped from my memory。 My young mind was tormented by the tasks set before me。 At the same time my hungry mind thirsted for knowledge of another kind。
There was one thing； however； that I did learn at the High School。 That was the blessings and advantages of friendship。 There were several of my schoolfellows of a like disposition with myself； with whom I formed attachments which ended only with life。 I may mention two of them in particularJemmy Patterson and Tom Smith。 The former was the son of one of the largest iron founders in Edinburgh。 He was kind； good； and intelligent。 He and I were great cronies。 He took me to his father's workshops。 Nothing could have been more agreeable to my tastes。 For there I saw how iron castings were made。 Mill…work and steam…engines were repaired there； and I could see the way in which power was produced and communicated。 To me it was a most instructive school of practical mechanics。 Although I was only about thirteen at the time； I used to 〃lend a hand；〃 in which hearty zeal made up for want of strength。 I look back to these days； especially to the Saturday afternoons spent in the workshops of this admirably conducted iron foundry； as a most important part of my education as a mechanical engineer。 I did not read about such things； for words were of little use。 But I saw and handled； and thus all the ideas in connection with them became permanently rooted in my mind。
Each department of the iron foundry was superintended by an able and intelligent man； who was distinguished not only by his ability but for his steadiness and sobriety。 The men were for the most part promoted to their fore…manship from the ranks； and had been brought up in the workshop from their boyhood。 They possessed a strong individuality of character； and served their employer faithfully and loyally。 One of these excellent men； with whom I was frequently brought into contact； was William Watson。 He took special charge of all that related to the construction and repairs of steam…engines； water…wheels； and mill…work generally。 He was a skilful designer and draughtsman； and an excellent pattern maker。 His designs were drawn in a bold and distinct style； on large deal boards； and were passed into the hands of the mechanics to be translated by them into actual work。 It was no small privilege to me to stand by； and now and then hold the end of the long straight edge； or by some humble but zealous genuine help of mine contribute to the progress of these substantial and most effective mechanical drawings。 Watson explained to me； in the most common…sense manner； his reasons for the various forms； arrangements； and proportions of the details of his designs。 He was an enthusiast on the subject of Euclid； and to see the beautiful problems applied by him in working out his excellent drawings was to me a lesson beyond all price。
Watson was effectively assisted by his two sons； who carried out their father's designs in constructing the wood patterns after which the foundry…men or moulders reproduced their forms in cast iron； while the smiths by their craft realised the wrought…iron portions。 Those sons of Mr。 Watson were of that special class of workmen called millwrights a class now almost extinct； though many
