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I spent another day in crossing the Mersey to Birkenheadthen a very small collection of buildingswandered about the neighbourhood。 I had my sketch…book with me； and made a drawing of Liverpool from the other side of the river。 Close to Birkenhead were some excellent bits of scenery； old and picturesque farmhouses； overshadowed with venerable oaks； with juttings…out of the New Red Sandstone rocks； covered with heather； furze； and broom； with pools of water edged with all manner of effective water plants。 They formed capital subjects for the artistic pencil； especially when distant peeps of the Welsh hills came into the prospect。 I made several sketches； and they kept company with my graphic memoranda of architectural and mechanical objects。 I may here mention that on my return to London I showed them to my brother Patrick； and some of them so much met his fancy that he borrowed my sketch…book and painted some pictures from them； which at this day are hanging on the walls of some of his admirers。
With the desire of seeing as much as possible of all that was interesting in the mechanical； architectural and picturesque line； on my return journey to London； I determined to walk； halting here and there by the way。 The season of the year and the state of the weather were favourable for my purpose。 I accordingly commenced my pedestrian tour on Saturday morning； the 17th September。 I set out for Manchester。 It was a long but pleasant walk。 I well remember； when nearing Manchester； that I sat down to rest for a time on Patricroft Bridge。 I was attracted by the rural aspect of the country； and the antique cottages of the neighbourhood。 The Bridgewater Canal lay before me； and as I was told that it was the first mile of the waterway that the great Duke had made； it became quite classic ground in my eyes。 I little thought at the time that I was so close to a piece of ground that should afterwards become my own； and where I should for twenty years carry on the most active and interesting business of my life。
I reached Manchester at seven in the evening； and took up my quarters at the King's Arms Inn； Deansgate。 Next day was Sunday。 I attended service in the Cathedral； then called the Old Church。 I was much interested by the service； as well as by the architecture of the building。 Some of the details were well worthy of attention； being very original； and yet the whole was not of the best period of Gothic architecture。 Some of the old buildings about the Cathedral were very interesting。 They were of a most quaint character； yet bold and effective。 Much finely carved oak timber work was introduced into them； and on the whole they gave a very striking illustration of the style of domestic architecture which prevailed in England some three or four centuries ago。
On the following day I called upon Mr。 Edward Tootal； of York Street。 He was a well…known man in Manchester。
I had the happiness of meeting him in London a few months before。 He then kindly invited me to call upon him should I ever visit Manchester； when he would endeavour to obtain for me sight of some of the most remarkable manufacturing establishments。 Mr。 Tootal was as good as his word。 He received me most cordially； and at once proceeded to take me to the extensive machine factory of Messrs。 Sharp； Roberts； and Co。 I found to my delight that a considerable portion of the establishment was devoted to the production of machine tools； a department of mechanical business then rising into the highest importance。 Mr。 Roberts； an admirable mechanic as well as inventor； had derived many of his ideas on the subject while working with Mr。 Maudslay in London； and he had carried them out with many additions and improvements of his own contrivance。 Indeed； Roberts was one of the most capable men of his time； and is entitled to be regarded as one of the true pioneers of modern mechanical mechanism。
Through the kindness of Mr。 Tootal I had also the opportunity of visiting and inspecting some of the most extensive cotton mills in Manchester。 I was greatly pleased with the beautiful contrivances displayed in the machinery。 They were perfect examples of the highest order of ingenuity； combined with that kind of common…sense which casts aside all mere traditional forms and arrangements of parts； such as do not essentially contribute to the efficiency of the machine in the performance of its special and required purpose。 I found much to admire in the design as well as in the execution of the details of the machines。
The arrangement and management of the manufactories were admirable。 The whole of the buildings； howsoever extensive and apparently complicated； worked like one grand and perfectly constructed machine。
I was also much impressed by the keen interest which the proprietors of these vast establishments took in the minute details of their machinery； as well as by their intelligent and practical acquaintance with the technical minutiae of their business。 Although many of them were men of fortune； they continued to take as deep an interest in such matters as if they were beginning life and had their fortunes still to make。 Their chief ambition was to be at the head of a thoroughly well…managed and prosperous establishment。 No detail； be it ever so small； was beneath their care and attention。 To a young man like myself； then about to enter upon a similar career of industry； these lessons were very important。 They were encouraging examples of carefully thought out designs； carried into admirable results by close attention to details； ever watchful carefulness； and indomitable perseverance。 I brooded over these circumstances； They filled my mind with hope。 They encouraged me to go on in the path which I had selected； and I believed that at some time or other I might be enabled to imitate the examples of zeal and industry which I had witnessed during my stay in Manchester。 It was then that I bethought me of settling down in this busy neighbourhood； and as I plodded my way back to London this thought continually occupied me。 It took root in my mind and grew； and at length the idea became a reality。
I did not take the shortest route on my return journey to London。 I desired to pass through the most interesting and picturesque places without unduly diverging from the right direction。 I wished to see the venerable buildings and cathedrals of the olden time； as well as the engineering establishments of the new。 Notwithstanding my love for mechanics I still retained a spice of the antiquarian feeling。 It enabled me to look back to the remote past； into the material records of man's efforts hundreds of years ago； and contrast them with the modern progress of arts and sciences。 I was especially interested in the architecture of bygone ages； but here； alas！ arts and sciences have done nothing。 Modern Gothic architecture is merely an imitation of the old； and often a very bad imitation。 Even ancient domestic architecture is much superior to the modern。 We can now only imitate it； and often spoil when imitating。
I left Manchester and turned my steps in the direction of Coalbrookdale。 I passed through a highly picturesque country； in which I enjoyed t