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aste steam Improvements in calico…printing Improvements at Woolwich Arsenal Enlargement of workshops Improved machine tools The gun foundry and laboratories Orders for Spain and Russia Rope factory machinery Russian Officers Grand Duke Constantine Lord Ellesmere's visitors Admiral Kornileff
CHAPTER 18 Astronomical pursuits Hobbies at home Drawing Washington Irving Pursuit of astronomy Wonders of the heavens Construction of a new speculum William Lassell Warren de la Rue Home…made reflecting telescope A ghost at Patricroft Twenty…inch diameter speculum Drawings of the moon's surface Structure of the moon Lunar craters Pico Wrinkles of age Extinct craters Landscape scenery of the moon Meeting of British Association at Edinburgh The Bass Rock Professor Owen Robert Chambers The grooved rocks Hugh Miller and boulder clay Lecture on the moon Visit the Duke of Argyll Basaltic formation at Mull The Giant's Causeway The great exhibition Steam hammer engine Prize medals Interview with the Queen and Prince Consort Lord Cockburn Visit to Bonally D。 O。 Hill
CHAPTER 19 More about Astronomy Sir David Brewster Edward Cowper's lecture Cause of the sun's light Lord Murray Sir T。 Mitchell The Milky Way Countless suns Infusoria in Bridgewater Canal Rotary movements of heavenly bodies Geological Society meeting Dr Vaugham Improvement of Small Arms Factory； Enfield Generosity of United States Government The Enfield Rifle
CHAPTER 20 Retirement from Business Letter from David Roberts； R。 A。 Puddling iron by steam The process tried Sir Henry Bessemer's invention Discussion at Cheltenham Bessemer's account Prepare to retire from business The Countess of Ellesmere The 〃Cottage in Kent〃 The 〃antibilious stock〃 Hammerfield； Penshurst Planting and gardening The Crystal Palace Music Tools and telescopes The greenhouse
CHAPTER 21 Active leisure Astronomy Lecture on the Moon Edinburgh Old friends Visit to the ContinentParis； Chartres； Nismes； Chamounix Art of photography Sir John Herschel Spots on the sun's surface E。J。 Stone De la Rue Visit from Sir John Herschel Cracking glass globe A million spots and letters Geological diagram Father Secchi at Rome Lord Lyndhurst Visit to Herschel His last letter Publication of The Moon Philip H。 Calderon Cardinal Manning Miss Herschel William Lassell Windmill grinding of speculum The dial of life End of recollections
List of Inventions and Contrivances
Articles on the Sun…Ray origin of the Pyramids and Cuneiform Character
AUTOBIOGRAPHY。
CHAPTER 1。 My Ancestry
Our history begins before we are born。 We represent the hereditary influences of our race； and our ancestors virtually live in us。 The sentiment of ancestry seems to be inherent in human nature； especially in the more civilised races。 At all events； we cannot help having a due regard for the history of our forefathers。 Our curiosity is stimulated by their immediate or indirect influence upon ourselves。 It may be a generous enthusiasm； or； as some might say； a harmless vanity； to take pride in the honour of their name。 The gifts of nature； however； are more valuable than those of fortune； and no line of ancestry； however honourable； can absolve us from the duty of diligent application and perseverance； or from the practice of the virtues of self…control and self…help。
Sir Bernard Burke； in his Peerage and Baronetage Ed 1879 Pp 885…6； gives a faithful account of the ancestors from whom I am lineally descended。 〃The family of Naesymth； he says； 〃is one of remote antiquity in Tweeddale； and has possessed lands there since the 13th century。〃 They fought in the wars of Bruce and Baliol； which ended in the independence of Scotland。
The following is the family legend of the origin of the name of Naesymth：
In the troublous times which prevailed in Scotland before the union of the Crowns； the feuds between the King and the Barons were almost constant。 In the reign of James III。 the House of Douglas was the most prominent and ambitious。 The Earl not only resisted his liege lord； but entered into a combination with the King of England； from whom he received a pension。 He was declared a rebel； and his estates were confiscated。 He determined to resist the royal power； and crossed the Border with his followers。 He was met by the Earl of Angus； the Maxwells； the Johnstons； and the Scotts。 In one of the engagements which ensued the Douglases appeared to have gained the day； when an ancestor of the Naesmyths； who fought under the royal standard； took refuge in the smithy of a neighbouring village。 The smith offered him protection； disguised him as a hammerman； with a leather apron in front； and asked him to lend a hand at his work。
While thus engaged a party of the Douglas partisans entered the smithy。 They looked with suspicion on the disguised hammerman； who； in his agitation； struck a false blow with the sledge hammer； which broke the shaft in two。 Upon this； one of the pursuers rushed at him； calling out； 〃Ye're nae smyth！〃 The stalwart hammerman turned upon his assailant； and； wrenching a dagger from him； speedily overpowered him。 The smith himself； armed with a big hammer； effectually aided in overpowering and driving out the Douglas men。 A party of the royal forces made their appearance； when Naesmyth rallied them； led them against the rebels； and converted what had been a temporary defeat into a victory。 A grant of lands was bestowed upon him for his service。 His armorial bearings consisted of a hand dexter with a dagger； between two broken hammer…shafts； and there they remain to this day。 The motto was； Non arte sect marte； 〃Not by art but by war〃 In my time I have reversed the motto （Non marte sed arte）； and instead of the broken hammer…shafts； I have adopted； not as my 〃arms〃 but as a device； the most potent form of mechanical artthe Steam Hammer。
＇Image＇ Origin of the Name。 By James Nasmyth。
Sir Michael Naesmyth； Chamberlain of the Archbishop of St。 Andrews； obtained the lands of Posso and Glenarth in 1544； by right of his wife； Elizabeth； daughter and heiress of John Baird of Posso。 The Bairds have ever been a loyal and gallant family。 Sir Gilbert； father of John Baird； fell at Flodden in 1513； in defence of his king。
The royal eyrie of Posso Crag is on the family estate； and the Lure worn by Queen Mary； and presented by her son James VI。 to James Naesmyth； the Royal Falconer； is still preserved as a family heirloom。
During the intestine troubles in Scotland； in the reign of Mary； Sir Michael Naesmyth espoused the cause of the unfortunate Queen。 He fought under her banner at Langside in 1568。 He was banished； and his estates were seized by the Regent Moray。 But after the restoration of peace； the Naesmyths regained their property。 Sir Michael died at an advanced age。
He had many sons。 The eldest； James； married Joana； daughter of William Veitch or Le Veitch of Dawick。 By this marriage the lands of Dawick came into the family。 He predeceased his father； and was succeeded by his son James； the Royal Falconer above referred to。 Sir Michael's second son； John； was chief chirurgeon to James VI。 of Scotland； afterwards James I。 of England； and to Henry； Prince of Wales。 He died