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life was enthusiastically devoted to the grand object of improving
our means of producing perfect workmanship and machinery： to him we
are certainly indebted for the slide rest； and； consequently； to say
the least； we are indirectly so for the vast benefits which have
resulted from the introduction of so powerful an agent in perfecting
our machinery and mechanism generally。 The indefatigable care which
he took in inculcating and diffusing among his workmen； and
mechanical men generally； sound ideas of practical knowledge and
refined views of construction； have rendered and ever will continue
to render his name identified with all that is noble in the ambition
of a lover of mechanical perfection。〃
One of the first uses to which Mr。 Maudslay applied the improved
slide rest； which he perfected shortly after beginning business in
Margaret Street； Cavendish Square； was in executing the requisite
tools and machinery required by Mr。 （afterwards Sir Marc Isambard）
Brunel for manufacturing ships' blocks。 The career of Brunel was of a
more romantic character than falls to the ordinary lot of mechanical
engineers。 His father was a small farmer and postmaster； at the
village of Hacqueville； in Normandy； where Marc Isambard was born in
1769。 He was early intended for a priest； and educated accordingly。
But he was much fonder of the carpenter's shop than of the school；
and coaxing； entreaty； and punishment alike failed in making a
hopeful scholar of him。 He drew faces and plans until his father was
almost in despair。 Sent to school at Rouen； his chief pleasure was in
watching the ships along the quays； and one day his curiosity was
excited by the sight of some large iron castings just landed。 What
were they？ How had they been made？ Where did they come from？ His
eager inquiries were soon answered。 They were parts of an engine
intended for the great Paris water…works； the engine was to pump
water by the power of steam； and the castings had been made in
England； and had just been landed from an English ship。 〃England！〃
exclaimed the boy； 〃ah！ when I am a man I will go see the country
where such grand machines are made！〃 On one occasion； seeing a new
tool in a cutler's window； he coveted it so much that he pawned his
hat to possess it。 This was not the right road to the priesthood； and
his father soon saw that it was of no use urging him further： but the
boy's instinct proved truer than the father's judgment。
It was eventually determined that he should qualify himself to enter
the royal navy； and at seventeen he was nominated to serve in a
corvette as 〃volontaire d'honneur。〃 His ship was paid off in 1792；
and he was at Paris during the trial of the King。 With the
incautiousness of youth he openly avowed his royalist opinions in the
cafe which he frequented。 On the very day that Louis was condemned
to death； Brunel had an angry altercation with some
ultra…republicans； after which he called to his dog； 〃Viens；
citoyen！〃 Scowling looks were turned upon him； and he deemed it
expedient to take the first opportunity of escaping from the house；
which he did by a back…door； and made the best of his way to
Hacqueville。 From thence he went to Rouen； and succeeded in finding a
passage on board an American ship； in which he sailed for New York；
having first pledged his affections to an English girl； Sophia
Kingdom； whom he had accidentally met at the house of Mr。 Carpentier；
the American consul at Rouen。
Arrived in America； he succeeded in finding employment as assistant
surveyor of a tract of land along the Black River； near Lake Ontario。
In the intervals of his labours he made occasional visits to New
York； and it was there that the first idea of his block…machinery
occurred to him。 He carried his idea back with him into the woods；
where it often mingled with his thoughts of Sophia Kingdom； by this
time safe in England after passing through the horrors of a French
prison。 〃My first thought of the block…machinery；〃 he once said； 〃was
at a dinner party at Major…General Hamilton's； in New York； my second
under an American tree； when； one day that I was carving letters on
its bark； the turn of one of them reminded me of it； and I thought；
'Ah！ my block！ so it must be。' And what do you think。 were the
letters I was cutting？ Of course none other than S。 K。〃 Brunel
subsequently obtained some employment as an architect in New York；
and promulgated various plans for improving the navigation of the
principal rivers。 Among the designs of his which were carried out；
was that of the Park Theatre at New York； and a cannon foundry； in
which he introduced improvements in casting and boring big guns。 But
being badly paid for his work； and a powerful attraction drawing him
constantly towards England； he determined to take final leave of
America； which he did in 1799； and landed at Falmouth in the
following March。 There he again met Miss Kingdom； who had remained
faithful to him during his six long years of exile； and the pair were
shortly after united for life。
Brunel was a prolific inventor。 During his residence in America； he
had planned many contrivances in his mind； which he now proceeded to
work out。 The first was a duplicate writing and drawing machine；
which he patented。 The next was a machine for twisting cotton thread
and forming it into balls； but omitting to protect it by a patent； he
derived no benefit from the invention； though it shortly came into
very general use。 He then invented a machine for trimmings and
borders for muslins； lawns； and cambrics；of the nature of a sewing
machine。 His famous block…machinery formed the subject of his next
patent。
It may be explained that the making of the blocks employed in the
rigging of ships for raising and lowering the sails； masts； and
yards； was then a highly important branch of manufacture。 Some idea
may be formed of the number used in the Royal Navy alone； from the
fact that a 74…gun ship required to be provided with no fewer than
1400 blocks of various sizes。 The sheaved blocks used for the running
rigging consisted of the shell； the sheaves； which revolved within
the shell； and the pins which fastened them together。 The fabrication
of these articles； though apparently simple； was in reality attended
with much difficulty。 Every part had to be fashioned with great
accuracy and precision to ensure the easy working of the block when
put together； as any hitch in the raising or lowering of the sails
might； on certain emergencies； occasion a serious disaster。 Indeed；
it became clear that mere hand…work was not to be relied on in the
manufacture of these articles； and efforts were early made to produce
them by means of machinery of the most perfect kind that could be
devised。 In 1781； Mr。 Taylor； of Southampton； set up a large
establishment on the river Itchen for their manufacture； and on the
expiry of his contract； the Government determined to establish wo