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will on your part； and to be more in your company and conversation than is at present possible。
〃I could imagine great pleasure from such a condition of things； but though our desires； and even our hopes at times spread out beforehand over a large extent； it is wonderful how； as the future becomes the present； the circumstances that surround us limit the sphere to which our real life is circumscribed If ever I come your way I hope to see your face； and the hope is pleasant； though the reality may never arrive。
〃You tell me of the glorious work of your pile…driver； and it must be indeed a great pleasure to witness the result。 Is it not Shakespeare who says； 'The pleasure we delight in physics pain'？ In all your fatigue and labour you must have this pleasure in abundance； and a most delightful and healthy enjoyment it is。 I shall rejoice to see some day a blow of the driver and a tap of the hammer。
〃You speak of some experiments on hardening and tempering steel in which we can help you。 I hope when you do come to town you will let us have the pleasure of doing so。 Our apparatus； such as it is； shall be entirely at your service。 I made； a long while ago； a few such experiments on steel wire； but could eliminate no distinct or peculiar results。 You will know how to look at things； and at your hand I should expect much。
〃Here we are just lecturing away； and I am too tired to attempt anything； much less to do anything just now； but the goodwill of such men as you is a great stimulus； and will； I trust even with me； produce something else praiseworthy。
Ever； my dear Nasmyth； yours most truly； M。 FARADAY。〃
CHAPTER 16。 NurembergSt。 PetersburgDannemora。
In the autumn of 1842 I had occasion to make a journey to Nuremberg in company with my partner Mr。 Gaskell。 We had been invited to a conference with the directors of the Nuremberg and Munich Railroad as to the supply of locomotives for working their line。 As this was rather an important and extensive transaction； we thought it better not to trust to correspondence； but to see the directors on the spot。 We found that there were several riskful conditions attached to the proposed contract； which we considered it imprudent to agree to。 We had afterwards good reason to feel satisfied that we had not yielded to the very tempting commercial blandishments that were offered to us； but that we refrained from undertaking an order that required so many important modifications。
Nevertheless； I was exceedingly delighted with the appearance of the city of Nuremberg。 It carries one back to the mediaeval times！ The architecture； even of the ordinary houses； is excellent。 St。 Lawrence； St。 Sebald's； and the Frauenkirche； are splendid specimens of Gothic design。 The city is surrounded by old walls and turrets； by ramparts and bastions； enclosed by a ditch faced with masonry。 Very few cities have so well escaped the storm of war and sieges in the Middle Ages； and even in modern times。 Everything has been carefully preserved； and many of the best houses are still inhabited by the families whose forefathers originally constructed them。 But 〃progress〃 is beginning to affect Nuremberg。 It is the centre of railways； buildings are extending in all directions； tram…cars are running in the streets； and before long； I fear； the ditch will be filled up； the surrounding picturesque walls and towers demolished； and the city thrown open to the surrounding country。
I visited the house of Albert Durer； one of the greatest artists who ever lived。 He was a man of universal geniusa painter； sculptor； engraver； mathematician； and engineer。 He was to Germany what Leonardo da Vinci was to Italy。 His house is wonderfully preserved。 You see his entrance hall； his exhibition room； his bedroom； his studio； and the opening into which his wifethat veritable Xantippe thrust the food that was to sustain him during his solitary hours of labour。 I saw his grave； too； in the old churchyard beyond the Thiergarten gate。 I saw the bronze plate commemorating the day of his death。 〃Emigravit 8 idus Aprilis 1528。〃 〃Emigravit〃 only； for the true artist never dies。 Hans Sachs's grave is there toothe great Reformation poet of Luther's time。
Adam Krafft must have been a great sculptor； though his name is little known out of Nuremberg。 Perhaps his finest work is in St。 Lawrence Cathedralthe Sacramentshauslein； or the repository for the sacred wafera graceful tapering stone spire of florid Gothic open work； more than sixty feet high； which stands at the opening of the right transept。 Its construction and decoration occupied the sculptor and his two apprentices no less than five years； and all that he received for his hard labour and skilful work was 770 gulden； or about #80 sterling。 No wonder that he died in the deepest distress。 St。 Sebald's and the Frauenkirche also contain numerous specimens of his admirable work。
In the course of the following year （1843） it was necessary for me to make a journey to St。 Petersburg。 My object was to endeavour to obtain an order for a portion of the locomotives required for working the line between that city and Moscow。 The railway had been constructed under the engineership of Major Whistler； father of the well…known artist； and it was shortly about to be opened。 It appeared that the Emperor Nicholas was desirous of securing a home supply of locomotives； and that； like a wise monarch； he wished to employ his own subjects rather than foreigners in producing them。 No one could object to this。
The English locomotive manufacturers were not aware of the Emperor's intention。 When I arrived in the city I expected an order for locomotives。 The representatives of the principal English firms were there like myself； they； too； expected a share of the order。 It so happened that at the table d'hote dinner I sat near a very intelligent American； with whom I soon became intimate。 He told me that he was very well acquainted with Major Whistler； and offered to introduce me to him。 By all means！ There is no thing like friendly feelings in matters of business。
The Major gave me a frank and cordial reception； and informed me of the position of affairs。 The Emperor； he said； was desirous of training a class of Russian mechanics to supply not only the locomotives but to keep them constantly in repair。 He could not solely depend upon foreign artisans for the latter purpose。 The locomotives must be made in Russia。 The Emperor had given up the extensive premises of the Imperial China Manufactory； which were to be devoted to the manufacture of engines。
The Major appointed Messrs。 Eastwick； Harrison； and Wynants； to supply the entire mechanical plant of the railway。 I saw that it would be of no use to apply for any order for locomotives； but I offered to do all that I could to supply the necessary details。 In the course of a few days I was introduced to Joseph Harrison； the chief mechanic of the firm； and I then entered into a friendship which proved long and lasting。 He gave me a large order for boilers； and for detail parts of the Moscow enginesall of which helped him forward in the completion of the locomotives。 We also supplied many of our special ma