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For some time before the termination of my
engagement at the Patent Ropery, I had frequent conversations with Mr. Hall
on agriculture and spade husbandry. He had written an essay on this latter
subject, describing its superior advantages; and it had occurred to him that
a machine might be made which, if worked by steam, would answer all the
purposes of digging by hand. To this scheme I saw many objections; but, like
all men of a sanguine disposition and a speculative turn of mind, he
overruled them; and after many persuasions I was at last induced to make a
model of the machine; it being left to me to devise the means and arrange
the parts according to my own judgment. It was finally agreed that we should
bear equal shares in the expense of the model. He was to write a paper in
our joint names for the Society of Arts, and in case it should prove
successful we were to take out a patent, and make our fortunes. Such were
the inducements held out to me by my speculative friend. The model was
accordingly made, and along with it a miniature field of sand, wherein it
was to dig. This model showed some ingenuity in its structure, and rolled
along upon a movable tramway, with three spades worked by cranks on one
side, which enabled the machine to move on the unbroken portion of the
field, while it left the portion dug up perfectly open to the action of the
atmosphere as it left the spades. The machine was exhibited before the Duke
of Norfolk, then President of the Society of Arts, but it met with
considerable opposition from some of the council; both Mr. Hall and I
defended it, but unsuccessfully, as the argument was against us, and
objections were raised which on mature consideration I found it difficult to
combat.
The objections raised against the principle, as
well as the practical application of tie machine, confirmed my previous
doubts; but not so with Mr. Hall, who maintained a contrary opinion, and
insisted on exhibiting the model to the Board of Agriculture, whose
practical experience would enable them to discover its merits, and recommend
its application. I was, however, sufficiently convinced of its inutility,
and declined any further interference. It was subsequently sent to the Board
of Agriculture, and for anything I know to the contrary, may be still found
amongst the relics of that institution.
The construction of this machine, and the want
of employment, made a serious inroad upon my funds. I had saved upwards of
20/., but it all went in the purchase of materials and labour; and on
application to Mr. Hall for his share of the expenses, I found he was in no
better condition than myself; and therefore I made an agreement with a
pork-butcher in Tottenham Court Road to make him for 33s. a machine for
chopping meat for sausages.
This machine was constructed with a fly-wheel
and a double crank and connecting rods on each side, which worked a cross
head, containing a dozen knives crossing each other at right angles,
enabling them thus to mince or divide the meat on a revolving block. The
machine did its work admirably, and I had reason to be proud of it, as it
was the first order I hail on my own account.
The pork butcher paid me handsomely for the
machine, and finding no chance of obtaining any more work in London for some
time, I resolved to make a tour in the south of England, and with 11s in my
pocket I took an outside place, on the evening of April 13, 1813, for Bath.
It was a keen frost when the coach started from the Golden Cross, and we had
scarcely crossed Hounslow Heath when a fall of snow came on, and being
thinly clad, without a great-coat, I suffered dreadfully from cold during
the night. We, however, reached Bath at seven the next morning, when a good
washing and a warm breakfast completely restored me.
At Bath I found myself quite at home, as I had
read 1he whole of Smollett's works and Fielding's 'Tom Jones.' I remembered
the Pump Boom, and the famous Master of the Ceremonies of a former period,
Beau Nash, and entered into all the reminiscences of those days, and made
myself familiar with all the haunts of the town. I went to the theatre to
hear Incledon sing in the opera of the ' Lord of the Manor,' and on the
following morning, Sunday, I entered a sedan-chair, and directed two
Welshmen to carry me to the Pump Room. I would not have incurred this
unnecessary expense, but I had two reasons for doing so; namely, to
ascertain the motion of a sedan, and to make myself sure of admission to the
rooms. As regards the latter, it was superfluous, and so far as respects the
former I should have been much better on my feet.
In the afternoon I went to Frome on a pilgrimage
to the shrine of Molly, immortalised in ' Tom Jonea' who with a thigh-bone
from a new-made grave exerted her powers with such effect amongst the
rustics of Somersetshire. These visits occupied a period of three days; and
on the Monday following I commenced work at Bathgate, where I remained six
weeks, and then moved on— always on foot—to Bradford and Trowbridge. Then
making a rapid detour to the south I returned by the nearest route to
Bristol. Here I remained a few days to look at the town, and then moving
onwards I visited South Wales, spent a few days at Newport and Cardiff, and
having inspected the cathedral at Llandaff, I sailed on the following day in
a small sloop bound for Dublin, where I arrived after a voyage of four days.
My entrance into Dublin was anything but
propitious, as after paying the passage motley I found my funds reduced to
the small sum of three-halfpence. It was early in the morning when we
arrived, and having wandered about the city for a whole day, I was at last
compelled through hunger to exhaustion the remains of my purse in the
purchase of a roll and a few raisins, on which I breakfasted and dined
during a promenade along Ormond's Quay. As the evening closed in I went on
search, of lodgings, and after some trouble I took up my quarters in a small
house in a back street near St. Patrick's Cathedral. The following day was a
holyday, and finding the people all in motion in the direction of the
Phoenix Park, I joined the crowd, and after an hour's walk found myself in
the presence of the Duke of Richmond, then Lord Lieutenant, at a grand
review of all the troops in Dublin and the surrounding country. After the
evolutions, great numbers adjourned to the tents, where I witnessed all the
full and amusements of an Irish fair, and what with whisky, rags, and
rigmarole, the remainder of the day, and if I mistake not the greater part
of the night, were spent in a medley of singing, dancing, fighting, and
drinking. I could not, however, afford to be present daring the whole of the
revelry, and having no inclination to join in the melee which was fast
approaching, I returned to my quarters at Pat Kearney's, where I supped on
potatoes and cold beef, and went to bed.
Next morning I went in search of employment, and
after several applications I at last succeeded in making an engagement with
Mr. Hobinson, of the Phoenix Foundry, to make a new set of patterns for some
nail machinery, which he was then introducing into Dublin. These machines
hail been tried in Birmingham, and were found to answer for some purposes,
but the nails proved defective in ductility, and were liable to break when
the points were 'clinked,' or bent round upon the board. In other respects
they were found, after being carefully annealed, to succeed much better,
particularly for sprigs and flooring nails. The construction of these
machines occupied the whole of the summer, and gave me an opportunity of
becoming acquainted with Irish character.
At the lodgings which I occupied at a cottage
behind the barracks, I became acquainted with a young man of the name of
Meagher. He was a native of Kilkenny, had received a liberal education, and
with his assistance I endeavoured to improve myself by reading some of the
best authors and discussing the style as well as the subject-matter of the
Writers. Meagher was an excellent grammarian and on able declaimer; he had
words at command, and I was often lost in admiration at the facility with
which he could embody his ideas in the choicest language, and convey them to
the minds of his hearers in the most pleasing and agreeable form. He was
never at a loss, and from what I could learn of his history he had been
educated for the bar, but the poverty of his family had deprived him of the
means of completing his studies, and he was ultimately compelled to leave
college and take the humble situation of an usher.
In the month of October I finished the nail
machines, and after taking an affectionate leave of my friend and
fellow-lodger, whom I never afterwards heard of, I embarked on board one of
the packets for Liverpool. The passage from Dublin to Liverpool occupied two
days, which we considered a good passage, as there had been instances when
the packets were a week on the voyage. The same distance is now accomplished
in ten or eleven hours.
In Liverpool I remained only two days to look at
the town, and then proceeded by coach to Manchester, where I conceived a
much wider field was open for the exercise of my profession. In this
conception I was not mistaken, for I soon got employment with Mr. Adam
Parkinson, with whom I remained for above two years. I was in my
twenty-fourth year when I entered Manchester, and being employed at a short
distance in the country, I resumed my studies, chiefly in History, Natural
Philosophy, the first books of Euclid, and Algebra. In the three first I
made some progress, but the last I found difficult, and ultimately I had to
give it up.
Shortly after my arrival in Manchester I caught
the scarlet fever, which laid me up for the whole of the winter. It was
during the great frost and it was the end of February before I was able to
leave the house and take short walks, which at first did not exceed fifty
yards: they gradually extended as I gathered strength, until I was able to
walk out every day, when I rapidly recovered.
During my illness I was frequently visited by
Mr. James Houtson, the foreman of the works, whose kindness of heart and
hospitality made him everywhere loved and respected. To Mr. Houtson and his
family I was indebted for many acts of kindness; I spent many happy hours in
his house, and retained till the day of his death a liberal share in his
friendship.
Part of Mr. Houtson's house was occupied by his
brother, Mr. John Houtson, whose unfortunate history was full of events of
considerable interest. He was a native of Lawder, in Roxburghshire. He left
his native place when young, and settled in Manchester, first as an
assistant in a mercantile house, and subsequently as a master for himself.
In Scotland he had exercised the profession of a schoolmaster, whereby he
had acquired a taste for reading; and having a good address, his society was
agreeable, and much sought after by his friends and acquaintance. He had a
taste for poetry and for literary pursuits, and was in acquirements above
his position in life.
His career as a merchant was abruptly
terminated. As already mentioned, he commenced business as a spinner and
manufacturer, but with borrowed money, which not being equal to his demands,
he took to the bill system, on which he subsisted for a few years, but at
last became bankrupt. After winding up his affairs and paying ten or twelve
shillings in the pound, he engaged to go out with some gentlemen to the
island of Fernando Po, to found a colony there, and to restore his fortune
by trading in ivory and gold-dust along the African coast. For a few years
he was employed in this trade, but the colony turned out a failure ; and
having made the acquaintance of Belzoni, the celebrated traveller, he joined
the expedition into the interior, where one after another the party fell
victims to disease. He was the last man to close the eyes of Bolzoni, and
after great suffering reached the coast with life, but with a broken
constitution. He brought a ring and the dying wishes of the great traveller
to his wife, and took his passage to Ava, where he died a few days after his
arrival.
His letters, some of which I read, describing
the expedition, were valuable as illustrative of some of the most trying
scenes and stirring incidents of the expedition; and one or two of them,
giving an account of Belzoni's death, were published in the papers of the
day. But they have never been collected in a separate form.
At Mr. Houtson's house used to assemble a party
of kindred spirits, and on Sunday, and sometimes on Saturday evening, I used
to make one of the party. These meetings were partly of an instructive and
partly of a convivial character. The first part of the evening was generally
appropriated to literary discussions, but after supper they often ended in
singing, or some other genial amusement. Amongst the number who met on these
occasions was the late Dr. Hardie, an eminent physician, and another of the
party was Mr. Leo Schuster, who afterwards became a well-known successful
merchant.
I remained two years with Mr. Parkinson, and
during that time I not only kept up my correspondence with Miss Mar, but I
began to entertain thoughts of a settlement, and of making her my wife.
Arrangements were made for the union as soon as a little money could be
raised for the purpose of furnishing a small house.
With this view, I made a determination to work
hard and spend little. This I steadfastly adhered to, and in less than
twelve months I had deposited in the hands of my intended wife and banker
upwards of £20. On her side the same economy and industry were observed; and
by the time I had finished some work in the country, of which I had the
charge, I was master of nearly £30, the largest sum I had ever possessed.
My bachelor days in Manchester were fruitful of
many benefits. I had some leisure for study, and made some progress in the
first three books of Euclid. I also renewed my attempts on the violin, but
in stringing it after an interval of more than twelve months, I found it had
been seriously injured on the voyage from Dublin, and I had no alternative
but to restore its broken tones by a new belly of the same material and
construction as before. Having repaired the instrument, I still found it in
good voice, but the power to give it expression was as bad as ever, and
after some months' rubbing and scraping I was forced to content myself with
the old tunes.
Another amusement in which I took great interest
when residing in the country was watching the sports and peculiar habits of
the labouring classes of the districts round Manchester. At that period they
were fond of field-sports, such as trail hunts, following the hounds on
foot, and other athletic exercises. Drinking and dancing in holyday times
frequently led to quarrels and dangerous fights; but these evils have more
lately been suppressed, and now the population of Lancashire may be said to
be the best disposed, the most active and laborious people in the United
Kingdom.
I was now able to direct my attention to the
fulfilment of my engagement with Miss Mar. We were married at Bedlington on
June 16, 1816, and after a few days' residence at Morpeth and Newcastle, we
took our places on the coach for Manchester, where we arrived in a few days.
The important event of a marriage, and the altered conditions and
circumstances which it involves, are such as to open a new epoch in every
man's history. It did so in mine; and the responsibilities which it involved
operated as a powerful stimulus to carry into effect what I had long before
contemplated, namely, an anient desire to emancipate myself from daily
labour, and to acquire that independence of position which I was most
anxious to attain. My young wife was less ambitious, and she appeared
content to labour with me in a an unostentatious manner; and I am persuaded
her affection would have been more than equal to carry her through the
numerous difficulties by which we were surrounded. With an income of only
thirty shillings a week, I felt great reluctance to submit her to constant
drudgery, and we began by taking lodgings at Macclesfield, where I was
employed by the late Mr. T. C. Hewes. We spent several months in that town,
and then removed to Manchester, where I took a small cottage of two rooms,
and fitted it up in a style of neatness of which we were both of us justly
proud. The first articles of furniture which came into the house were three
oil paintings and three mahogany knife-cases, which I bought at a sale.
These purchases appeared no better in the eyes of Mrs. Fairbairn than the
bargain of the green spectacles made, by Moses in the ' Vicar of Wakefield.'
They were articles not for immediate use, but they looked handsome, the
first on the walls, and the latter on a neat mahogany table. Shortly
afterwards the pictures became, and have continued to be, the most favoured
articles in the house, and they decorate the walls of my dining-room at the
present moment.
By the early spring I had finished the works at
Macclesfield, and returned in time to be at hand during Mrs. Fairbairn's
confinement, which took place on March 30, 1817, when my daughter,
afterwards Mrs. Bateman, was born. This event was one which nearly deprived
Mrs. Fairbairn of life, and after remaining in the most critical state for
ten or twelve days, she began to give indications of recovery from a state
of the greatest exhaustion. In this state of affairs, the nurse, who had
never left us from the commencement, accidentally set fire to the
bed-curtains, which were instantly in a blaze, and both mother and child
must have perished if I had not fortunately been in the house ready to
render assistance. The screams of the nurse brought me in a moment to the
rescue, when I found the bed in flames. It was the work of a moment to
snatch both of them from the bed, and having laid them on the floor, I at
last succeeded in extinguishing the flames by tearing off the burning
curtains, after being severely scorched.
This unfortunate accident was a severe blow to
us, and my wife's long and protracted illness, in addition to the expense
incurred in furnishing the house, exhausted the whole of our funds. Many
months passed before we surmounted the difficulties of this visitation. But
my little daughter grew apace. Her mother, through the unwearied skill and
attention of Mr. Ainsworth, an eminent surgeon, renewed her strength, and
our little cottage was again in order. This was a year of trial, and it
required more than ordinary care and economy to make both ends meet. We,
however, kept out of debt, with the exception of 5s, which I borrowed from
Mr. Chantry, of Macclesfield, during this long season of illness, and which
was afterwards duly paid.
Manchester is divided from Salford by the river
Irwell, over which there were at this time two good bridges, the one called
the Old Bridge, and the other the New Bayley Bridge. Another wooden bridge,
called Blackfriars, between these two, was so exceedingly inconvenient as to
render a new one indispensable, and the authorities offered two premiums of
150l. and 100/. for the first and second best designs for a bridge
calculated to meet a more extended traffic. I was then employed as a
draughtsman by Mr. Hewes, and conceiving there could be no objection to my
employing my leisure hours m preparing a design for this intended bridge, I
set. vigorously to work, and completed one of a single cast-iron arch before
the time appointed for delivering the plans. Fearing, however, that Mr.
Hewes might be similarly employed, I considered it my duty to show him the
drawings, and to solicit his advice as to the expediency of giving them in.
I repaired to his lodgings, and having communicated my intentions, he
hastily replied that he could not advise me on such a subject without acting
in a double capacity, as he was himself a candidate.
The affair of the bridge (which was ultimately
built of stone) rendered my future residence with Mr. Hewes uncomfortable;
and I consequently gave notice that I should resign my situation at the end
of the following week. Disappointed in my hopes of rising in the profession
so long as I continued as a workman, and having before me the prospect of an
increasing family, I determined no longer to remain the servant of another,
but by one bold effort to take an independent position in those departments
of practical construction in which I conceived I had some chance of success.
I had laboured for five years as a journeyman, and during that time I had
acquired a considerable amount of practical knowledge, calculated to develop
other resources than those to which my attention had hitherto been applied.
I was never one of those who take notes, and keep a diary in which to record
the construction of every machine, or to notice every event which occurred.
I could never act the part of a copyist, and during the whole course of my
professional career I never accomplished any improvement or any discovery of
the least value if I attempted it by a slavish imitation of my predecessors.
It would be presumptuous if by this declaration I attempted to assume a
character for originality in my conceptions to which I may not be entitled;
on the contrary, I must candidly admit that whatever improvements I have
effected in practical science have originated in some useful hint which I
have applied, when ruminating on the subject, for the purpose I wished to
attain. Having once seized an idea, I never lost sight of it till the object
in view was accomplished, or abandoned if proved on reflection to be unsound
in principle. I believe this to be the ease in almost every instance where
great discoveries are made, and on a careful review of the workings of the
mind it will be found that we are all indebted to impressions received from
others for many of our most useful inventions. The examples of Franklin,
Ferguson, and Watt were always before me, and though I laboured under great
difficulties as regards education, and had little time at my disposal for
study, nevertheless I so far imitated their example as to be able to go on
cheerfully and enthusiastically in my endeavours to be useful and my
determination to excel. |
