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written even on the mind of a man averse from such ideas； when the news
came of the wreck on Flotta and the death of George。
George's vouchers and accounts had perished with himself； and it
appeared he was in debt to the Commissioners。 But my grandfather
wrote to Orkney twice； collected evidence of his disbursements； and
proved him to be seventy pounds ahead。 With this sum； he applied to
George's brothers； and had it apportioned between their mother and
themselves。 He approached the Board and got an annuity of 5 pounds
bestowed on the widow Peebles； and we find him writing her a long letter
of explanation and advice； and pressing on her the duty of making a will。
That he should thus act executor was no singular instance。 But besides
this we are able to assist at some of the stages of a rather touching
experiment； no less than an attempt to secure Charles Peebles heir to
George's favour。 He is despatched； under the character of ‘a fine young
man'； recommended to gentlemen for ‘advice； as he's a stranger in your
place； and indeed to this kind of charge； this being his first outset as
Foreman'； and for a long while after； the letter…book； in the midst of that
thrilling first year of the Bell Rock； is encumbered with pages of
instruction and encouragement。 The nature of a bill； and the precautions
that are to be observed about discounting it； are expounded at length and
with clearness。 ‘You are not； I hope； neglecting； Charles； to work the
harbour at spring…tides； and see that you pay the greatest attention to get
the well so as to supply the keeper with water； for he is a very helpless
fellow； and so unfond of hard work that I fear he could do ill to keep
himself in water by going to the other side for it。' … ‘With regard to spirits；
Charles； I see very little occasion for it。' These abrupt apostrophes sound
to me like the voice of an awakened conscience； but they would seem to
have reverberated in vain in the ears of Charles。 There was trouble in
Pladda； his scene of operations； his men ran away from him； there was at
least a talk of calling in the Sheriff。 ‘I fear；' writes my grandfather； ‘you
have been too indulgent； and I am sorry to add that men do not answer to
be too well treated； a circumstance which I have experienced； and which
you will learn as you go on in business。' I wonder； was not Charles
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Peebles himself a case in point？ Either death； at least； or disappointment
and discharge； must have ended his service in the Northern Lights； and in
later correspondence I look in vain for any mention of his name … Charles；
I mean； not Peebles： for as late as 1839 my grandfather is patiently writing
to another of the family： ‘I am sorry you took the trouble of applying to
me about your son； as it lies quite out of my way to forward his views in
the line of his profession as a Draper。'
III
A professional life of Robert Stevenson has been already given to the
world by his son David； and to that I would refer those interested in such
matters。 But my own design； which is to represent the man； would be
very ill carried out if I suffered myself or my reader to forget that he was；
first of all and last of all； an engineer。 His chief claim to the style of a
mechanical inventor is on account of the Jib or Balance Crane of the Bell
Rock； which are beautiful contrivances。 But the great merit of this
engineer was not in the field of engines。 He was above all things a
projector of works in the face of nature； and a modifier of nature itself。 A
road to be made； a tower to be built； a harbour to be constructed； a river to
be trained and guided in its channel … these were the problems with which
his mind was continually occupied； and for these and similar ends he
travelled the world for more than half a century； like an artist； note…book in
hand。
He once stood and looked on at the emptying of a certain oil…tube； he
did so watch in hand； and accurately timed the operation； and in so doing
offered the perfect type of his profession。 The fact acquired might never
be of use： it was acquired： another link in the world's huge chain of
processes was brought down to figures and placed at the service of the
engineer。 ‘The very term mensuration sounds ENGINEER…LIKE；' I find
him writing； and in truth what the engineer most properly deals with is
that which can be measured； weighed； and numbered。 The time of any
operation in hours and minutes； its cost in pounds； shillings； and pence； the
strain upon a given point in foot…pounds … these are his conquests； with
which he must continually furnish his mind； and which； after he has
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acquired them； he must continually apply and exercise。 They must be not
only entries in note…books； to be hurriedly consulted； in the actor's phrase；
he must be STALE in them； in a word of my grandfather's； they must be
‘fixed in the mind like the ten fingers and ten toes。'
These are the certainties of the engineer； so far he finds a solid footing
and clear views。 But the province of formulas and constants is restricted。
Even the mechanical engineer comes at last to an end of his figures； and
must stand up； a practical man； face to face with the discrepancies of
nature and the hiatuses of theory。 After the machine is finished； and the
steam turned on； the next is to drive it； and experience and an exquisite
sympathy must teach him where a weight should be applied or a nut
loosened。 With the civil engineer； more properly so called （if anything
can be proper with this awkward coinage）； the obligation starts with the
beginning。 He is always the practical man。 The rains； the winds and
the waves； the complexity and the fitfulness of nature； are always before
him。 He has to deal with the unpredictable； with those force