Part 22 (1/2)

An exact account was taken of the nature of the fracture of each

The result was that in eight cases out of ten, the fracture was found to result from a defectively welded part of the chain-link

The practically trained eye could see the scoria which indicates the defective welding Though long unseen, it was betrayed at once when the link was torn open by the proof strain

My services on this coreat enjoyment to me

I had frequent occasion to visit the dockyards and workshops, accoeneral of the Adineer-in-chief of the Admiralty, and Mr Jeremiah Owen, chief of the metal material required in the equipest any iht would add to the efficiency of the department; and I trust that ood to the service At the same time, I have reason to know that h cordially acknowledged by the higher powers, were by a sort of passive resistance practically shelved

I was much amused, when I first went to Devonport dockyard, to notice the punctilious observance of forms and ceremonies with respect to the various positions of officials--fronity, to the foremen of departments, and so on I did not care for all this panjandrum of punctiliousness, but was, I hope, civil and chatty with everybody I had a good word for the ood-natured hints as to the relative official superiority that prevailed in the departments, and ly This gas with dockyard officials I was enabled towith them

The first Sunday that I spent at Devonport I went to the dockyard church--the church appointed for officials and men employed by the Government The seats were appointed in the order of rank, employments, and rate of pay The rows of seats were all marked with the class of employers that were expected to sit in them Labourers were near the door The others were in successive rows forward, until the pew of the ”Admiral Superintendent,” next the Altar rails, was reached I tookout of church the nity to the admiral-superintendent, ca the artificers,” and begged me in future to use his seat No doubt this was kindly intended, and I thanked him for his courtesy Nevertheless I kept to my class of artificers

I did not like the ”breest o' the laft'”

[footnote

The breest o' the laft is the seat of dignity The best places in churches are occupied by ”superior” people In Scotland the chief men --the Provosts, Bailies, and Councillors--have a seat appropriated to theenerally opposite the minister

That is ”the breest o' the laft”

The saenerally

principle No doubt the love of distinction, within reasonable lireat social pri up into ranks, even a, especially when introduced into a church

I afterwards met with several veterans in the service of the Admiralty, who are well served by such experienced and well-selected men

It is the schemers and the satellites who haunt the contractors that are the verave them all a very wide berth

But worst of all are the h parliamentary influence They are a detestable set They always have sos are better now

Imachines, that I received an order for two of theypt These were required for driving the piles in that great work --the barrage of the Nile near Cairo The good services of these machines so pleased the Pasha that he requested us to receive three selected Arab men into our works He asked that they should have the opportunity of observing the lish engineering factory The object of the Pasha was that the ine manufactory, so as to render hin help For British workenerate when removed from the wholesome stimulus to exertion in competition with their fellows

My firm had no objection to the introduction of the Arab workly, one day we received a visit froyptian officer, Edim Bey, accolish fluently He thus reeable He conveyed to us, in the most courteous manner, the wishes of the Pasha; and the three workiven the forward They were intelligent-looking young e One of the, quick in the expression of his eyes, and active in his manner, His naet

These young e of the foremen of the departments that each fancied to bedepartment, in which skilful manipulation was required He exhibited reside of our best work department, and did fairly well The third was placed in the foundry, where he soon beca brass and iron work He lent a hand all round, and picked up a real practical knowledge of the various work in his depart their sojourn in our works they becaues; and in fact beca to help theenius of the trio

He showed atechnical skill in all the branches of our business

After re with us for about four years they were ready to return to Cairo, and shohat they had learned in practical and technical land The three Arab workmen were placed in their suitable departments in the Pasha's work shops But such was the natural energy of Affiffi, that when he was set to work beside the slow, dilatory, and stupid native workreatly irritated The contrast between the active energetic ewater Foundry and the ineffective, blundering, and untechnical work of his felloas such that he could not stand it any longer So one fine day he disappeared froe on board a British steamer, and at the risk of his neck ewater Foundry!

As ere reluctant to take back a man who had escaped froh he e declined to eave Affiffi a note of introduction to Boulton and Watt of Soho, Birham, and there he was e e some needle machinery at Redditch, he settled down there He married a Warwickshi+re lass, and had a fa foundry and engineer workshop of his own

This little narrative shows that the Arab has still y and skill that once e part of South-Western Europe

We had many visitors at the foundry--fron countries