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into the shop by Galloway to admire the new roof。 Keir； on glancing
up at it； immediately exclaimed； 〃Come outside； and let us speak
about it there！〃 All that he could say to Galloway respecting the
unsoundness of its construction was of no avail。 The fact was that；
however Keir might argue about its not being able to stand； there it
was actually standing； and that was enough for Galloway。 Keir went
home； his mind filled with Galloway's most unprincipled roof。 〃If
that stands；〃 said he to himself； 〃all that I have been learning and
doing for thirty years has been wrong。〃 That night he could not sleep
for thinking about it。 In the morning he strolled up Primrose Hill；
and returned home still muttering to himself about 〃that roof。〃
〃What； said his wife to him； 〃are you thinking of Galloway's roof？〃
〃Yes； said he。 〃Then you have seen the papers？〃 〃No what about
them？〃 〃Galloway's roof has fallen in this morning； and killed eight
or ten of the men！〃 Keir immediately went to bed； and slept soundly
till next morning。
。。。＇
On entering Galloway's shop； Clement was first employed in working at
the lathe； but finding the tools so bad that it was impossible to
execute satisfactory work with them； he at once went to the forge；
and began making a new set of tools for himself。 The other men； to
whom such a proceeding was entirely new； came round him to observe
his operations； and they were much struck with his manual dexterity。
The tools made； he proceeded to use them； displaying what seemed to
the other workmen an unusual degree of energy and intelligence； and
some of the old hands did not hesitate already to pronounce Clement
to be the best mechanic in the shop。 When Saturday night came round；
the other men were curious to know what wages Galloway would allow
the new hand； and when he had been paid； they asked him。 〃A guinea；〃
was the reply。 〃A guinea！ Why； you are worth two if you are worth a
shilling；〃 said an old man who came out of the rankan excellent
mechanic； who； though comparatively worthless through his devotion to
drink； knew Clement's money value to his employer better than any man
there； and he added； 〃Wait for a week or two； and if you are not
better paid than this； I can tell you of a master who will give you a
fairer wage。〃 Several Saturdays came round； but no advance was made
on the guinea a week； and then the old workman recommended Clement to
offer himself to Bramah at Pimlico； who was always on the look out
for first…rate mechanics。
Clement acted on the advice； and took with him some of his drawings；
at sight of which Bramah immediately engaged him for a month； and at
the end of that time he had given so much satisfaction； that it was
agreed he should continue for three months longer at two guineas a
week。 Clement was placed in charge of the tools of the shop； and he
showed himself so apt at introducing improvements in them； as well as
in organizing the work with a view to despatch and economy； that at
the end of the term Bramah made him a handsome present； adding； 〃if I
had secured your services five years since； I would now have been a
richer man by many thousands of pounds。〃 A formal agreement for a
term of five years was then entered into between Bramah and Clement；
dated the 1st of April； 1814； by which the latter undertook to fill
the office of chief…draughtsman and superintendent of the Pimlico
Works； in consideration of a salary of three guineas a week； with an
advance of four shillings a week in each succeeding year of the
engagement。 This arrangement proved of mutual advantage to both。
Clement devoted himself with increased zeal to the improvement of the
mechanical arrangements of the concern； exhibiting his ingenuity in
many ways； and taking； a genuine pride in upholding the character of
his master for turning out first…class work。
On the death of Bramah； his sons returned from college and entered
into possession of the business。 They found Clement the ruling mind
there and grew jealous of him to such an extent that his situation
became uncomfortable； and by mutual consent he was allowed to leave
before the expiry of his term of agreement。 He had no difficulty in
finding employment； and was at once taken on as chief draughtsman at
Maudslay and Field's where he was of much assistance in proportioning
the early marine engines； for the manufacture of which that firm were
becoming celebrated。 After a short time； he became desirous of
beginning business on his own account as a mechanical engineer。 He
was encouraged to do this by the Duke of Northumberland； who； being a
great lover of mechanics and himself a capital turner； used often to
visit Maudslay's； and thus became acquainted with Clement； whose
expertness as a draughtsman and mechanic he greatly admired。 Being a
man of frugal and sober habits； always keeping his expenditure very
considerably within his income； Clement had been enabled to
accumulate about 500L。； which he thought would be enough for his
purpose； and he accordingly proceeded； in 1817； to take a small
workshop in Prospect Place； Newington Butts； where he began business
as a mechanical draughtsman and manufacturer of small machinery
requiring first…class workmanship。
From the time when he took his first gratuitous lessons in drawing
from Peter Nicholson； at Glasgow； in 1807； he had been steadily
improving in this art； the knowledge of which is indispensable to
whoever aspires to eminence as a mechanical engineer；until by
general consent Clement was confessed to stand unrivalled as a
draughtsman。 Some of the very best drawings contained in the
Transactions of the Society of Arts； from the year 1817
downwards；especially those requiring the delineation of any
unusually elaborate piece of machinery；proceeded from the hand of
Clement。 In some of these； he reached a degree of truth in mechanical
perspective which has never been surpassed。*
＇footnote。。。
See more particularly The Transactions of the Society for the
Encouragement of Arts； vol。 xxxiii。 （l8l7）； at pp。 74；l57；l60；175；208
（an admirable drawing； of Mr。 James Allen's Theodolite）； vol。 xxxvi。
（1818）； pp。 28；176 （a series of remarkable illustrations of Mr。
Clement's own invention of an Instrument for Drawing Ellipses）； vol。
xliii。 （1825）； containing an illustration of the Drawing Table
invented by him for large drawings； vol。 xlvi。 （1828）； containing a
series of elaborate illustrations of his Prize Turning Lathe； and
xlviii。 1829； containing illustrations of his Self…adjusting Double
Driver Centre Chuck。
。。。＇
To facilitate his labours； he invented an extremely ingenious
instrument； by means of which ellipses of all proportions； as well as
circles and right lines； might be geometrically drawn on paper or on
copper。 He took his idea of this instrument from the trammel used by
carpenters for drawing imperfect ellipses； and when he had succeeded
in avoiding the crossing of the points； h