Part 4 (1/2)

Then, with respect to my father's powers as a mechanic This was an inherited faculty, and I leave es whether I have not hadroom, my father had a workroom fitted up with all sorts of reatest pleasures to occupy hi at the easel, or while within doors from the inclemency of the weather The walls and shelves of his workrooenious mechanical objects, nearly all of which were the production of his own hands Many of them were associated with the most eventful incidents in his life He only admitted his most intimate friends, or such as could understand and appreciate the variety of objects connected with art and mechaniseave it a very orderly aspect, however crowded its walls and shelveswas in its place, and there was a place for everything It was in this workrooan to handle mechanical tools It was round of es

I may mention one or two of my father's mechanical efforts, or rather his inventions in applied science One of the e,” as he first called it, to which he early directed his attention He invented this important method of construction about the year 1794 The first bow-and-string bridge was erected in the island of St Helena over a deep ravine

Many considered, frohtness, that it was not fitted to sustain any considerable load A reiven of its stability by the passage over it of a herd of wild oxen, that rushed across without the slightest dae to its structure After so severe a test it was foryears employed as a most valuable addition to the accessibility of an ie has since been largely e wide spaces over which suburban and other railways pass, and in roofing over such stations as those at Bir Cross, and other Great Metropolitan centres, as well as in bow-and-string bridges over rivers I give the fac-sis

[footnote

The original drawings of these bow-and-string bridges, of various spans, are now deposited at the Gallery of the Museuned ”Alexander Nasreat railway engineers the originator of the graceful and econo wide spaces, now practised in every part of the civilised world

Another of his inventions was theby coinated in a slight circu he went into his workrooht mechanical repairs to be performed upon a beautiful little stove of his own construction To repair it, iron rivets were necessary toof the hot rivets would annoy his neighbours by the unwelco the jaws of his bench vice to squeeze in the hot rivets when put into their places

The stove was thus quickly repaired in the most perfect silence

This was, perhaps, the first occasion on which a squeeze or compressive action was substituted for the percussive action of the haether pieces of stout sheet or plate iron This syste afterwards patented by Smith of Deanston in combination with Willia the plates used in the construction of the bridges over the River Conway and the Menai Straits

It is also universally used in boiler and girder ht-iron structures in which thorough sound riveting is absolutely essential; and by the employment of hydraulic power in a portable for is effected by the silent squeeze systee of the soundness of the work My father frequently, in afterti by co the blow of a hammer; and in remembrance of the special circumstances under which he contrived this silent and , he named it ”The Sunday Rivet”

CHAPTER 3 An Artist's Fah Alexander Nasmyth had to a considerable extent lost his aristocratic connection as a portrait painter, yethis sojourn in Italy, in 1783, he had the good fortune to tonshi+re The acquaintance afterwards ripened into a deeply-rooted friendshi+p

During the winter season Sir Jae Street He was passionately attached to the pursuit of art and science He practised the art of painting in reatly helped by him in the requisite ed in writing his well-known essay ”On the Origin of Gothic Architecture,” and in this reater number of the illustrations for this beautiful work The book when published had a considerable influence in restoring the taste of architects to a style which they had heretofore either neglected or degraded

Besides his enthusiasreat deal of tiy The science was then in its infancy Being an acute observer, Hall's attention was first attracted to the subject by the singular geological features of the sea-coast near his h also excited his interest The upheaval of the rocks by volcanic heat --as seen in the Castle Hill, the Calton Hill, and Arthur's Seat-- forreat measure the foundation of the picturesque beauty of the city Those were the days of the Wernerian and Huttonian controversy as to the origin of the changes on the surface of the earth Sir Jah Royal Society, and necessarily took an anxious interest in the discussions

He observed and experimented, and established the true volcanic nature of the composition and forh

I have been led to speak of this subject, because when a boy I was often present at the discussions of these great principles

My father, Sir James Hall, Professors Playfair and Leslie, took their accustoerly to their words

Though unable to understand everything that was said, these walks had a great influence upon my education Indeed, what education can co attentively to the conversation and interchange of thought of ence? It is on such occasions that ideas, not mere words, take hold of the memory, and abide there until the close of life

Besidesin the society of scientific men, my father enjoyed a friendly intercourse with the artists of his day He was often able to give substantial help and assistance to young students; and he wasthe them over the manipulative difficulties which lay in their way He was especially assiduous when he saw them inspired by the true spirit of art, and full of application and industry,--without which nothing can be acco men were David Wilkie, Francis Grant, David Roberts, Clarkson Stanfield, Williaraver, and the Rev John Thoston

Henry Raeburn was one of his most intimate friends and companions

He considered Raeburn's broad andas an era in Scottish art Raeburn, with innate tact, discerned the character of his sitters, and he imparted so much of their individuality into his portraits as to hest sense In connection with Raeburn, I e IV in 1822, my father, as then at the head of his profession in Scotland, was appointed chairreat Scottish portrait painter

Raeburn often joined h --a relaxation so very desirable after hours of close attention to artistic work They took delight in the wonderful variety of picturesque scenery by which the city is surrounded The walks about Arthur's Seat were the most enjoyable of all When a boy I had often the pleasure of acco to their conversation I thus picked up many an idea that servedexperience, that there is no class of ht in than that of artists

Their innate and highly-cultivated power of observation, not only as regards the ever-varying aspects of nature, but also as regards the quaint, droll, and hu their conversation htest points in ress on this subject Althoughto amated with my own that it almost forms part of it, and it is difficult for me to separate the one fros at home When the day's as over, friends looked in to have a fireside crack--sometimes scientific men, sometimes artists, often both They were all made welcome There was no formality about their visits Had they been formal, there would have been comparatively little pleasure

The visitor came in with his ”Good e'en”, and seated himself

The fairls were usually busy with their needles, and others with pen and pencil My father would go on with the artistic work he had in hand, for his industry was incessant He would model a castle or a tree, or proceed with some proposed improve city Areeable visitors were Professor Leslie, James Jardine, CE, and Dr Brewster Their conversation was specially interesting They brought up the last new thing in science, in discovery, in history, or in cahout Europe

The artists were a roup

Many a time did they set the table in a roar with their quaint and droll delineations of character These unostentatious gatherings of friends about our fireside were a delightful social institution