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carrying forward the excavation of the Thames Tunnel。 He also
supplied the pumping…engines for the same great work； the completion
of which he did not live to see。
。。。＇
and Mr。 Chantrey； who was accustomed to consult him about the
casting of his bronze statuary。 Mr。 Barton of the Royal Mint； and Mr。
Donkin the engineer； with whom Mr。 Barton was associated in
ascertaining and devising a correct system of dividing the Standard
Yard； and many others； had like audience of Mr。 Maudslay in his
little workshop； for friendly converse； for advice； or on affairs of
business。
〃It was a special and constant practice with him on a workman's
holiday； or on a Sunday morning； to take a walk through his workshops
when all was quiet； and then and there examine the various jobs in
hand。 On such occasions he carried with him a piece of chalk； with
which； in a neat and very legible hand； he would record his remarks
in the most pithy and sometimes caustic terms。 Any evidence of want
of correctness in setting things square； or in 'flat filing；' which
he held in high esteem； or untidiness in not sweeping down the bench
and laying the tools in order； was sure to have a record in chalk
made on the spot。 If it was a mild case； the reproof was recorded in
gentle terms； simply to show that the master's eye was on the
workman； but where the case deserved hearty approbation or required
equally hearty reproof； the words employed were few； but went
straight to the mark。 These chalk jottings on the bench were held in
the highest respect by the workmen themselves； whether they conveyed
praise or blame； as they were sure to be deserved； and when the men
next assembled； it soon became known all over the shop who had
received the honour or otherwise of one of the master's bench
memoranda in chalk。〃
The vigilant； the critical； and yet withal the generous eye of the
master being over all his workmen； it will readily be understood how
Maudslay's works came to be regarded as a first…class school for
mechanical engineers。 Every one felt that the quality of his
workmanship was fully understood； and； if he had the right stuff in
him； and was determined to advance； that his progress in skill would
be thoroughly appreciated。 It is scarcely necessary to point out how
this feeling； pervading the establishment； must have operated； not
only in maintaining the quality of the work； but in improving the
character of the workmen。 The results were felt in the increased
practical ability of a large number of artisans； some of whom
subsequently rose to the highest distinction。 Indeed it may be said
that what Oxford and Cambridge are in letters； workshops such as
Maudslay's and Penn's are in mechanics。 Nor can Oxford and Cambridge
men be prouder of the connection with their respective colleges than
mechanics such as Whitworth； Nasmyth； Roberts； Muir； and Lewis； are
of their connection with the school of Maudslay。 For all these
distinguished engineers at one time or another formed part of his
working staff； and were trained to the exercise of their special
abilities under his own eye。 The result has been a development of
mechanical ability the like of which perhaps is not to be found in
any age or country。
Although Mr。 Maudslay was an unceasing inventor； he troubled himself
very little about patenting his inventions。 He considered that the
superiority of his tools and the excellence of his work were his
surest protection。 Yet he had sometimes the annoyance of being
threatened with actions by persons who had patented the inventions
which he himself had made。*
＇footnote。。。
His principal patent's weretwo； taken out in 1805 and 1808； while
in Margaret Street； for printing calicoes （Nos。 2872 and 3117）； one
taken out in 1806； in conjunction with Mr。 Donkin； for lifting heavy
weights （2948）； one taken out in 1807； while still in Margaret
Street； for improvements in the steam…engine； reducing its parts and
rendering it more compact and portable （3050）； another； taken out in
conjunction with Robert Dickinson in 1812； for sweetening water and
other liquids （3538）； and； lastly； a patent taken out in conjunction
〃with Joshua Field in 1824 for preventing concentration of brine in
boilers （5021）。
。。。＇
He was much beset by inventors； sometimes sadly out at elbows； but
always with a boundless fortune looming before them。 To such as
applied to him for advice in a frank and candid spirit； he did not
hesitate to speak freely； and communicate the results of his great
experience in the most liberal manner； and to poor and deserving men
of this class he was often found as ready to help them with his purse
as with his still more valuable advice。 He had a singular way of
estimating the abilities of those who thus called upon him about
their projects。 The highest order of man was marked in his own mind
at l00 degrees； and by this ideal standard he measured others；
setting them down at 90 degrees； 80 degrees； and so on。 A very
first…rate man he would set down at 95 degrees； but men of this rank
were exceedingly rare。 After an interview with one of the applicants
to him for advice； he would say to his pupil Nasmyth； 〃Jem； I think
that man may be set down at 45 degrees； but he might be WORKED UP TO
60 degreesa common enough way of speaking of the working of a
steam…engine； but a somewhat novel though by no means an inexpressive
method of estimating the powers of an individual。
But while he had much toleration for modest and meritorious
inventors； he had a great dislike for secret…mongers；schemers of
the close； cunning sort；and usually made short work of them。 He had
an almost equal aversion for what he called the 〃fiddle…faddle
inventors；〃 with their omnibus patents； into which they packed every
possible thing that their noddles could imagine。 〃Only once or twice
in a century；〃 said he； 〃does a great inventor appear； and yet here
we have a set of fellows each taking out as many patents as would
fill a cart；some of them embodying not a single original idea； but
including in their specifications all manner of modifications of
well…known processes； as well as anticipating the arrangements which
may become practicable in the progress of mechanical improvement。〃
Many of these 〃patents〃 he regarded as mere pit…falls to catch the
unwary； and he spoke of such 〃inventors〃 as the pests of the
profession。
The personal appearance of Henry Maudslay was in correspondence with
his character。 He was of a commanding presence； for he stood full six
feet two inches in height； a massive and portly man。 His face was
round； full； and lit up with good humour。 A fine； large； and square
forehead； of the grand constructive order； dominated over all； and
his bright keen eye gave energy and life to his countenance。 He was
thoroughly 〃jolly〃 and good…natured； yet full of force and character。
It was a positive delight to hear his cheerful； ringing laugh。 He was
cord