Part 25 (1/2)

This plan was at once adopted Messrs Fox and Henderson, the well-known railway roofing contractors, were entrusted with the order; and in a very short tiht and airy workshops, giving ample accommodation for present requirements, as well as surplus space for many years to come

In order to supply stea the various machines placed within them, I reverted to ines This was adopted, and the costly ranges of shafting that would otherwise have been necessary were entirely dispensed with

A series of machine tools of the most improved modern construction, specially adapted for the various classes of work carried on in the arsenal, together with ie hearths, blown by an air blast supplied by fans of the best construction, and a suitable supply of see work of the arsenal was begun

I showed the ers and the work in a few ht-iron that had heretofore occupied hours of the most skilful smiths, and that, too, in much more perfect truth and exactitude

Both hted with the result: and as such precise and often coht-iron ere frequently required by hundreds at a ties and other purposes, it was seen that the steam hammer must henceforward operate as a powerful auxiliary in the productions of the arsenal

In the introduction of all these iement of the chief officers of the Board of Ordnance and Adestions were zealously carried out by Colonel J N Colquhoun, then head of the chief mechanical department of the Ordnance works at Woolwich He was one of the ent ree that happy power of inspiring his zeal and energy into all orked under his superintendence, whether foremen or workmen A wonderfully sy head of the establishment is possessed of the valuable faculty of cheerful and well-directed energy It works like an electric thrill, and soon pervades the whole department I may also mention General Dundas, director of the Royal Gun-Factory, and General Hardinge, head of the Royal Laboratories

[footnote

The term ”Laboratory” may appear an odd word to use in connection with nification was quite appropriate, inasmuch as it related to the preparation of explosive substances, such as shells, rockets, fusees, cartridges, and percussion caps, where che the required results

This latter department included all processes connected with explosives

It was superintended by Captain Boxer, an officer of the highest talent and energy, who brought everything under his control to the highest pitch of excellence I must also add a most important person, eneral director of the Machinery of the arsenal He was an adhest position in the public service

The satisfactory performance of the machinery which had been supplied to the workshops of the royal dock yards and arsenals, led to further den visitor were allowed freely to inspect all that had been done whateverit is certainly true that nobe kept secret nowadays Everything is published and illustrated in our engineering journals And if the foreigners had not been allowed to obtain their new land, they were provided with facilities enough for constructing them for the of the new machines at the Royal arsenal at Woolwich, was the receipt of large orders for our firn Governments

For instance, that of Spain employed us liberally, principally tor the equipena

These orders cah Messrs Zuluatta Brothers, who conducted their proceedings with us in a proh the same firm we obtained orders to furnish machinery for the Spanish royal dockyard at Havana

In 1849 we received an extensive order from the Russian Governh the Imperial Consulate in London

The machinery was required for the equipment of a very extensive rope factory at the naval arsenal of Nicolaiev, on the Black Sea This order included all theof the heest ropes and cables required in the Russian naval service The design and organisation of this machinery in its minutest detail causedIt was a comparatively new subject to me; but I found it full of interest It was difficulty, and therefore to be overcoreat deal of the pleasure of contriving and inventing

During the progress of the work I had the advantage of the frequent presence of an able Russian officer, Captain Putchkraskey, whose intelligent supervision was a source of much satisfaction

We had also occasional visits froence He was not only able to appreciate our exertions to execute the order in first-rate style, but to enter into all the special details and contrivances of the hile in progress

I had often occasion to ewater Foundry They were usually men of much ability, selected by the Russian Governents abroad, in order to keep the upon their own interests

They certainly reflected the highest credit on their Govern their careful selection of the bestthe visit of the Grand Duke Constantine to England about that time, he resided for some days with the Earl of Ellesewater Foundry

We were favoured with several visits from the Grand Duke, accompanied by Baron Brunnow, Admiral Hoyden, and several other Russian officials

They caside our wharf, where the party landed and entered the works The Grand Duke carefully inspected the whole place, and expressed hireatly pleased with the complete h the unfailing agency of mechanical substitutes for manual dexterity and uished party at Worsley Hall on more than one occasion, and was ent conversation of the Grand Duke, in his reference to what he had seen in his visits to our works It was always a source of high pleasure to enerally accompanied by men of distinction ell able to appreciate the importance of what had been displayed before thein, the Duke of Argyll, Chevalier Bunsen, and Count Flahault, stand out bright inmachinery It was finished to the satisfaction of the Russian officers It was sent off by shi+p to the Black Sea in July 1851, and fitted up at Nicolaiev shortly after

I received a kind and pressing invitation from Adnificent stealand under his supervision His object was, not only that I ht see ht make a personal survey of the arsenal workshops at Sebastopol

It would, no doubt, have been a delightful trip, but it was not to be

The unfortunate disruption occurred between our Government and that of Russia, which culminated in the disastrous Crimean War

One of the first victims was Admiral Kornileff He was killed by one of our first shots while engaged in placing souns for the defence of the entrance to the harbour of Sebastopol

CHAPTER 18 Astronomical pursuits

Let me turn for a ti tools, and the sound of the steam hammers, to my quieter pursuits at home

There I had much tranquil enjoyment in the co was as fae