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And there is no doubt that the man and the boy met with common
ambitions； and a common bent； to the practice of that which had not so
long before acquired the name of civil engineering。
For the profession which is now so thronged； famous； and influential；
was then a thing of yesterday。 My grandfather had an anecdote of
Smeaton； probably learned from John Clerk of Eldin； their common friend。
Smeaton was asked by the Duke of Argyll to visit the West Highland coast
for a professional purpose。 He refused； appalled； it seems； by the rough
travelling。 ‘You can recommend some other fit person？' asked the Duke。
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‘No；' said Smeaton； ‘I'm sorry I can't。' ‘What！' cried the Duke； ‘a
profession with only one man in it！ Pray； who taught you？' ‘Why；' said
Smeaton； ‘I believe I may say I was self…taught； an't please your grace。'
Smeaton； at the date of Thomas Smith's third marriage； was yet living； and
as the one had grown to the new profession from his place at the
instrument…maker's； the other was beginning to enter it by the way of his
trade。 The engineer of to…day is confronted with a library of acquired
results； tables and formulae to the value of folios full have been calculated
and recorded； and the student finds everywhere in front of him the
footprints of the pioneers。 In the eighteenth century the field was largely
unexplored； the engineer must read with his own eyes the face of nature；
he arose a volunteer； from the workshop or the mill； to undertake works
which were at once inventions and adventures。 It was not a science then
… it was a living art； and it visibly grew under the eyes and between the
hands of its practitioners。
The charm of such an occupation was strongly felt by stepfather and
stepson。 It chanced that Thomas Smith was a reformer； the superiority of
his proposed lamp and reflectors over open fires of coal secured his
appointment； and no sooner had he set his hand to the task than the interest
of that employment mastered him。 The vacant stage on which he was to
act； and where all had yet to be created … the greatness of the difficulties；
the smallness of the means intrusted him … would rouse a man of his
disposition like a call to battle。 The lad introduced by marriage under his
roof was of a character to sympathise； the public usefulness of the service
would appeal to his judgment； the perpetual need for fresh expedients
stimulate his ingenuity。 And there was another attraction which； in the
younger man at least； appealed to； and perhaps first aroused； a profound
and enduring sentiment of romance： I mean the attraction of the life。 The
seas into which his labours carried the new engineer were still scarce
charted； the coasts still dark； his way on shore was often far beyond the
convenience of any road； the isles in which he must sojourn were still
partly savage。 He must toss much in boats； he must often adventure on
horseback by the dubious bridle… track through unfrequented wildernesses；
he must sometimes plant his lighthouse in the very camp of wreckers； and
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he was continually enforced to the vicissitudes of outdoor life。 The joy
of my grandfather in this career was strong as the love of woman。 It
lasted him through youth and manhood； it burned strong in age； and at the
approach of death his last yearning was to renew these loved experiences。
What he felt himself he continued to attribute to all around him。 And to
this supposed sentiment in others I find him continually； almost
pathetically； appealing； often in vain。
Snared by these interests； the boy seems to have become almost at
once the eager confidant and adviser of his new connection； the Church； if
he had ever entertained the prospect very warmly； faded from his view；
and at the age of nineteen I find him already in a post of some authority；
superintending the construction of the lighthouse on the isle of Little
Cumbrae； in the Firth of Clyde。 The change of aim seems to have caused
or been accompanied by a change of character。 It sounds absurd to
couple the name of my grandfather with the word indolence； but the lad
who had been destined from the cradle to the Church； and who had
attained the age of fifteen without acquiring more than a moderate
knowledge of Latin； was at least no unusual student。 And from the day
of his charge at Little Cumbrae he steps before us what he remained until
the end； a man of the most zealous industry； greedy of occupation； greedy
of knowledge； a stern husband of time； a reader； a writer； unflagging in his
task of self…improvement。 Thenceforward his summers were spent
directing works and ruling workmen； now in uninhabited； now in half…
savage islands； his winters were set apart； first at the Andersonian
Institution； then at the University of Edinburgh to improve himself in
mathematics； chemistry； natural history； agriculture； moral philosophy； and
logic； a bearded student … although no doubt scrupulously shaved。 I find
one reference to his years in class which will have a meaning for all who
have studied in Scottish Universities。 He mentions a recommendation
made by the professor of logic。 ‘The high… school men；' he writes； ‘and
BEARDED MEN LIKE MYSELF； were all attention。' If my grandfather
were throughout life a thought too studious of the art of getting on； much
must be forgiven to the bearded and belated student who looked across；
with a sense of difference； at ‘the high…school men。' Here was a gulf to
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be crossed； but already he could feel that he had made a beginning； and
that must have been a proud hour when he devoted his earliest earnings to
the repayment of the charitable foundation in which he had received the