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Shortly after； I had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Robert Bald； the well…known mining engineer。 He was one of the most kind…hearted men I have ever known。 He was always ready to communicate his knowledge to young and old。 His sound judgment and long practical experience in regard to coal…mining and the various machinery connected with it； rendered him a man of great importance in the northern counties； where his advice was eagerly sought for。 Besides his special knowledge； he had a large acquaintance with literature and science。 He was bright； lively； and energetic。 He was a living record of good stories； and in every circle in which he moved he was the focus of cheerfulness。 In fact； there was no greater social favourite in Edinburgh than Robert Bald。
Bald was very fond of young people； and he became much attached to me。 He used to come to my father's house； and often came in to see what I was about in the work…room。 He was rejoiced to see the earnest and industrious manner in which I was employed； in preparing myself for my proposed business as an engineer。 He looked over my tools； mostly of my own making； and gave me every encouragement。 When he had any visitors he usually brought them and introduced them to me。 In this way I had the happiness to make the acquaintance of Robert Napier； Nelson； and Cook； of Glasgow； and in after life I continued to enjoy their friendship。 It would be difficult for me to detail the acts of true disinterested kindness which I continued to receive from this admirable man。
On several occasions he wished me to accompany him on his business journeys； in order that I might see some works that would supply me with valuable information。 He had designed a powerful pumping engine to drain more effectually a large colliery district situated near Bannockburnclose to the site of the great battle in the time of Robert the Bruce。 He invited me to join him。 It was with the greatest pleasure that I accepted his invitation； for there would be not only the pleasure of seeing a noble piece of steam machinery brought into action for the first time； but also the enjoyment of visiting the celebrated Carron Ironworks。
The Carron Ironworks are classic ground to engineers。 They are associated with the memory of Roebuck； Watt； and Miller of Dalswinton。 For there Roebuck and Watt began the first working steam…engine； Miller applied the steam…engine to the purposes of navigation； and invented the Carronade gun。 The works existed at an early period in the history of British iron manufacture。 Much of the machinery continued to be of wood。 Although effective in a general way it was monstrously cumbrous。 It gave the idea of vast power and capability of resistance； while it was far from being so in reality。 It was； however； truly imposing and impressive in its effect upon strangers。 When seen partially lit up by the glowing masses of white…hot iron； with only the rays of bright sunshine gleaming through a few holes in the roof； and the dark； black； smoky vaults in which the cumbrous machinery was heard rumbling away in the distancewhile the moving parts were dimly seen through the murky atmosphere； mixed with the sounds of escaping steam and rushes of water； with the half…naked men darting about with masses of red…hot iron and ladles full of molten cast…ironit made a powerful impression upon the mind。
I was afterwards greatly interested by a collection of old armour； dug up from the field of the Battle of Bannockburn close at hand。 They were arranged on the walls of the house of the manager of the Carron Ironworks。 There were swords； daggers； lances； battle…axes； shields； and coats of chain…armour。 Some of the latter were whole； others in fragmentary portions。 I was particularly interested with the admirable workmanship of the coats of mail。 The iron links extended from the covering of the head to the end of the arms； and from the shoulders down to the hips； in one linked iron fabric。 The beauty and exactness with which this chain…armour had been forged and built up were truly wonderful。 There must have been 〃giants in those days。〃 This grand style of armour was in use from the time of the Conquest； and was most effective in the way of protection； as it was fitted by its flexibility to give full play to the energetic action of the wearer。 It was infinitely superior to the senseless plate…armour that was used； at a subsequent period； to encase soldiers like lobsters。 The chain…armour I saw at Carron left a deep impression on my mind。 I never see a bit of it； or of its representation in the figures on our grand tombs of the thirteenth century； but I think of my first sight of it at Carron and of the tremendous conflict at Bannockburn。
Remembering； also； the impressive sight of the picturesque fire…lit halls； and the terrible…looking； cumbrous machinery which I first beheld on a grand scale at Carron； I have often regretted that some of our artists do not follow up the example set them by that admirable painter； Wright of Derby； and treat us to the pictures of some of our great ironworks。 They not only abound with the elements of the picturesque in its highest sense； but also set forth the glory of the useful arts in such a way as would worthily call forth the highest power of our artists。
To return to my life at Edinburgh。 I was now seventeen years old。 I had acquired a considerable amount of practical knowledge as to the use and handling of mechanical tools； and I desired to turn it to some account。 I was able to construct working models of steam…engines and other apparatus required for the illustration of mechanical subjects。 I began with making a small working steam engine for the purpose of grinding the oil…colours used by my father in his artistic work。 The result was quite satisfactory。 Many persons came to see my active little steam…engine at work； and they were so pleased with it that I received several orders for small workshop engines； and also for some models of steam…engines to illustrate the subjects taught at Mechanics' Institutions。
＇Image＇ Sectional model of condensing steam…engine。 By James Nasmyth
I contrived a sectional model of a complete condensing steam…engine of the beam and parallel motion construction。 The model； as seen from one side； exhibited every external detail in full and due action when the flywheel was moved round by hand； while； on the other or sectional side； every detail of the interior was seen； with the steam…valves and air…pump； as well as the motion of the piston in the cylinder； with the construction of the piston and the stuffing box； together with the slide…valve and steam passages； all in due position and relative movement。
The first of these sectional models of the steam…engine was made for the Edinburgh School of Arts； where its uses in instructing mechanics and others in the application of steam were highly appreciated。 The second was made for Professor Leslie； of the Edinburgh University； for use in his lectures on Natural Philosophy。 The professor had； at his own private cost； provided a complete and excellent set of apparatus； which； for excellent workmanship and admirable utility； had never； I believe；