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Where they showed the possession； in any special degree； of a true mechanical faculty； I was enabled to select from the working labourers the most effective men to take charge of the largest and most powerful machine toolssuch as planing machines； lathes； and boring machines。 The ease and rapidity with which they caught up all the technical arts and manipulations connected with the effective working of these machines was extraordinary。 The results were entirely satisfactory to myself； as well as to the men themselves； by the substantial rise in their wages which followed their advancement to higher grades of labour。 Thus I had no difficulty in manning my machine tools by drawing my recruits from this zealous and energetic class of Worsley labourers。 It is by this 〃selection of the fittest〃 that the true source of the prosperity of every large manufacturing establishment depends。 I believe that Free Trade in Ability has a much closer relation to national prosperity than even Free Trade in Commodities。
But here I came into collision with another class of workmenthose who are of opinion that employers should select for promotion； not those who are the fittest and most skilful； but those who have served a seven years' apprenticeship and are members of a Trades' Union。 It seemed to me that this interference with the free selection and promotion of the fittest was at variance with free choice of the best men； and that it was calculated； if carried out； to strike at the root of the chief source of our prosperity。 If every workman of the same class went in the same rut； and were paid the same uniform rate of wages； irrespective of his natural or acquired ability； such a system would destroy the emulative spirit which forms the chief basis of manipulative efficiency and practical skill； and on which； in my opinion； the prosperity of our manufacturing establishments mainly depends。 But before I proceed to refer to the strike of Unionists； which for a time threatened to destroy； or at all events to impede the spirit of enterprise and the free choice of skilful workmen； in which I desired to conduct the Bridgewater Foundry； I desire to say a few words about those excellent helpers； the foremen engineers； who zealously helped me in my undertaking from beginning to end。
I must place my most worthy； zealous； and faithful Archy Torry at the top of the list。 He rose from being my only workman when I first started in Manchester； to be my chief general foreman。 The energy and devotion which he brought to bear upon my interests set a high example to all in my employment。 Although he was in some respects deficient in his knowledge of the higher principles of engineering and mechanical construction； I was always ready to supply that defect。 His hearty zeal and cheerful temper； and his energetic movement when among the men； had a sympathetic influence upon all about him。 His voice had the same sort of influence upon them as the drum and fife on a soldier's march： it quickened their movements。 We were often called in by our neighbour manufacturers to repair a breakdown of their engines。 That was always a sad disaster； as all hands were idle until the repair was effected。 Archy was in his glory on such occasions。 By his ready zeal and energy he soon got over the difficulty； repaired the engines； and set the people to work again。 He became quite famous in these cases of extreme urgency。 He never spared himself； and his example had an excellent effect upon every workman under him。
Another of my favourite workshop lieutenants was James Hutton。 He had been leading foreman to my worthy friend George Douglass； of Old Broughton； Edinburgh。 He was fully ten years my senior； and when working at Douglass's I looked up to him as a man of authority。 I had obtained from him many a valuable wrinkle in mechanical and technical construction。 After I left Edinburgh he had emigrated to the United States for the purpose of bettering his condition。 But he promised me that if disappointed in his hopes of settling there； he should be glad to come into my service if I was ever in a position to give him employment。 Shortly after my removal to Patricroft； and when everything had been got into full working order； I received a letter from him in which he said that he was anxious to return to England； and asking if there was any vacancy in our establishment that he might be employed to fill up。 It so happened that the foremanship of turners was then vacant。 I informed Hutton of the post； and on his return to England he was duly enrolled in our staff。
The situation was a very important one； and Hutton filled it admirably。 He was a sound practical man； and thoroughly knew every department of engineering mechanism。 As I had provided small separate rooms or offices for every department of the establishment for the use of the foremen； where they kept their memoranda and special tools； I had often the pleasure of conferring with Hutton as to some point of interest； or when I wished to pass my ideas and designs through the ordeal of his judgment； in order that I might find out any lurking defect in some proposed mechanical arrangement。 Before he gave an opinion； Hutton always took a pinch of snuff to stimulate his intellect； or rather to give him a little time for consideration。 He would turn the subject over in his mind。 But I knew that I could trust his keenness of insight。 He would give his verdict carefully； shrewdly； and truthfully。 Hutton remained a faithful and valued servant in the concern for nearly thirty years； and died at a ripe old age。 Notwithstanding his mechanical intelligence； Hutton was of too cautious a temperament to have acted as a general foreman or manager； otherwise he would have been elevated to that position。 A man may be admirable in details； but be wanting in width； breadth； and largeness of temperament and intellect。 The man who possesses the latter gifts becomes great in organisation； he soon ceases to be a 〃hand；〃 and becomes a 〃head；〃 and such men generally rise from the employed to be the employer。
Another of my excellent assistants was John Clerk。 He had been for a long time in the service of Fairbairn and Lillie； but having had a serious difference with one of the foremen； he left their service with excellent recommendations。 I soon after engaged him as foreman of the pattern…making department。 He was a most able man in some of the more important branches of mechanical engineering。 He had； besides； an excellent knowledge of building operations。 I found him of great use in superintending the erection of the additional workshops which were required in proportion as our business extended。 He made out full…sized chalk…line drawings from my original pencil sketches； on the large floor of the pattern store； and from these were formed the working drawings for the new buildings。 He had a wonderful power of rapidity and clearness in apprehending new subjects； and the way in which he depicted them in large drawings was quite masterly。 John Clerk and I spent many an hour on our knees together on the pattern store floor； and the result of our deliberations usually was some substantial addition to the workshops of