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It was a positive delight to hear his cheerful； ringing laugh。 He was
cordial in manner； and his frankness set everybody at their ease who
had occasion to meet him； even for the first time。 No one could be
more faithful and consistent in his friendships； nor more firm in the
hour of adversity。 In fine； Henry Maudslay was； as described by his
friend Mr。 Nasmyth； the very beau ideal of an honest； upright；
straight…forward； hard…working； intelligent Englishman。
A severe cold which he caught on his way home from one of his visits to
France； was the cause of his death； which occurred on the l4th of
February； 1831。 The void which his decease caused was long and deeply
felt； not only by his family and his large circle of friends； but by
his workmen； who admired him for his industrial skill； and loved him
because of his invariably manly； generous； and upright conduct towards
them。 He directed that he should be buried in Woolwich
parish…churchyard； where a cast…iron tomb； made to his own design； was
erected over his remains。 He had ever a warm heart for Woolwich； where
he had been born and brought up。 He often returned to it； sometimes to
carry his mother a share of his week's wages while she lived； and
afterwards to refresh himself with a sight of the neighbourhood with
which he had been so familiar when a boy。 He liked its green common；
with the soldiers about it； Shooter's Hill； with its out…look over Kent
and down the valley of the Thames； the river busy with shipping； and
the royal craft loading and unloading their armaments at the dockyard
wharves。 He liked the clangour of the Arsenal smithy where he had first
learned his art； and all the busy industry of the place。 It was
natural； therefore； that； being proud of his early connection with
Woolwich； he should wish to lie there； and Woolwich； on its part； let
us add； has equal reason to he proud of Henry Maudslay。
CHAPTER XIII。
JOSEPH CLEMENT。
〃It is almost impossible to over…estimate the importance of these
inventions。 The Greeks would have elevated their authors among the
gods； nor will the enlightened judgment of modern times deny them the
place among their fellow…men which is so undeniably their due。〃
Edinburgh Review。
That Skill in mechanical contrivance is a matter of education and
training as well as of inborn faculty； is clear from the fact of so
many of our distinguished mechanics undergoing the same kind of
practical discipline； and perhaps still more so from the circumstance
of so many of them passing through the same workshops。 Thus Maudslay
and Clement were trained in the workshops of Bramah； and Roberts；
Whitworth； Nasmyth； and others； were trained in those of Maudslay。
Joseph Clement was born at Great Ashby in Westmoreland； in the year
1779。 His father was a hand…loom weaver； and a man of remarkable
culture considering his humble station in life。 He was an ardent
student of natural history； and possessed a much more complete
knowledge of several sub…branches of that science than was to have
been looked for in a common working…man。 One of the departments which
he specially studied was Entomology。 In his leisure hours he was
accustomed to traverse the country searching the hedge…bottoms for
beetles and other insects； of which he formed a remarkably complete
collection； and the capture of a rare specimen was quite an event in
his life。 In order more deliberately to study the habits of the bee
tribe； he had a number of hives constructed for the purpose of
enabling him to watch their proceedings without leaving his work； and
the pursuit was a source of the greatest pleasure to him。 He was a
lover of all dumb creatures； his cottage was haunted by birds which
flew in and out at his door； and some of them became so tame as to
hop up to him and feed out of his hand。 〃Old Clement〃 was also a bit
of a mechanic； and such of his leisure moments as he did not devote
to insect…hunting； were employed in working a lathe of his own
construction； which he used to turn his bobbing on； and also in
various kinds of amateur mechanics。
His boy Joseph； like other poor men's sons； was early set to work。 He
received very little education； and learnt only the merest rudiments
of reading and writing at the village school。 The rest of his
education he gave to himself as he grew older。 His father needed his
help at the loom； where he worked with him for some years； but； as
handloom weaving was gradually being driven out by improved
mechanism； the father prudently resolved to put his son to a better
trade。 They have a saying in Cumberland that when the bairns reach a
certain age； they are thrown on to the house…rigg； and that those who
stick on are made thatchers of； while those who fall off are sent to
St。 Bees to be made parsons of。 Joseph must have been one of those
that stuck onat all events his father decided to make him a
thatcher； afterwards a slater； and he worked at that trade for five
years； between eighteen and twenty…three。
The son； like the father； had a strong liking for mechanics； and as
the slating trade did not keep him in regular employment； especially
in winter time； he had plenty of opportunity for following the bent
of his inclinations。 He made a friend of the village blacksmith；
whose smithy he was accustomed to frequent； and there he learned to
work at the forge； to handle the hammer and file； and in a short time
to shoe horses with considerable expertness。 A cousin of his named
Farer； a clock and watchmaker by trade； having returned to the
village from London； brought with him some books on mechanics； which
he lent to Joseph to read； and they kindled in him an ardent desire
to be a mechanic instead of a slater。 He nevertheless continued to
maintain himself by the latter trade for some time longer； until his
skill had grown； and； by way of cultivating it； he determined； with
the aid of his friend the village blacksmith； to make a
turning…lathe。 The two set to work； and the result was the production
of an article in every way superior to that made by Clement's father；
which was accordingly displaced to make room for the new machine。 It
was found to work very satisfactorily； and by its means Joseph
proceeded to turn fifes； flutes； clarinets； and hautboys； for to his
other accomplishments he joined that of music； and could play upon
the instruments that he made。 One of his most ambitious efforts was
the making of a pair of Northumberland bagpipes； which he finished to
his satisfaction； and performed upon to the great delight of the
villagers。 To assist his father in his entomological studies； he even
contrived； with the aid of the descriptions given in the books
borrowed from his cousin the watchmaker； to make for him a
microscope； from which he proceeded to make a reflecting telescope；
which proved a very good instrument。 At this early period （1804） he
also seems to have directed his attention to sc