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Thomsons had now a very fine shipbuilding…yard； in full working
order； with several large steamers on the stocks。 I was placed
in the drawing…office as head draughtsman。 At the same time I
had no rise of wages； but still went on enjoying my twenty
shillings a week。 I was； however； gaining information and
experience； and knew that better pay would follow in due course
of time。 And without solicitation I was eventually offered an
engagement for a term of years； at an increased and increasing
salary； with three months' notice on either side。
I had only enjoyed the advance for a short time； when Mr。 Thomas
Toward； a shipbuilder on the Tyne； being in want of a manager；
made application to the Messrs。 Stephenson for such a person。
They mentioned my name； and Mr。 Toward came over to the Clyde to
see me。 The result was； that I became engaged； and it was
arranged that I should enter on my enlarged duties on the Tyne in
the autumn of 1853。 It was with no small reluctance that I left
the Messrs。 Thomson。 They were first…class practical men； and
had throughout shown me every kindness and consideration。 But a
managership was not to be had every day； and being the next step
to the position of a master； I could not neglect the opportunity
for advancement which now offered itself。
Before leaving Glasgow； however； I found that it would be
necessary to have a new angle and plate furnace provided for the
works on the Tyne。 Now； the best man in Glasgow for building
these important requisites for shipbuilding work was scarcely
ever sober； but by watching and coaxing him； and by a liberal
supply of Glenlivat afterwards； I contrived to lay down on paper；
from his directions； what he considered to be the best class of
furnace； and by the aid of this I was afterwards enabled to
construct what proved to be the best furnace on the Tyne。
To return to my education in shipbuilding。 My early efforts in
ship…draughting at Stephensons' were further developed and
matured at Thomsons' on the Clyde。 Models and drawings were more
carefully worked out on the 1/4…in。 scale than heretofore。 The
stern frames were laid off and put up at once correctly； which
before had been first shaped by full…sized wooden moulds。 I also
contrived a mode of quickly and correctly laying off the
frame…lines on a model； by laying it on a plane surface； and
then； with a rectangular block traversing ita pencil in a
suitable holder being readily applied over the curved surface。
This method is now in general use。
Even at that time； competition as regards speed in the Clyde
steamers was very keen。 Foremost among the competitors was the
late Mr。 David Hutchinson； who； though delighted with the
Mountaineer； built by the Thomsons in 1853； did not hesitate to
have her lengthened forward to make her sharper； so as to secure
her ascendency in speed during the ensuing season。 The results
were satisfactory； and his steamers grew and grew； until they
developed into the celebrated Iona and Cambria； which were in
later years built for him by the same firm。 I may mention that
the Cunard screw steamer Jura was the last heavy job with which I
was connected while at Thomsons'。
I then proceeded to the Tyne； to superintend the building of
ships and marine boilers。 The shipbuilding yard was at St。
Peter's； about two and a…half miles below Newcastle。 I found the
work； as practised there； rough and ready； but by steady
attention to all the details； and by careful inspection when
passing the 〃piece…work〃 （a practice much in vogue there； but
which I discouraged）； I contrived to raise the standard of
excellence； without a corresponding increase of price。 My object
was to raise the quality of the work turned out； and； as we had
orders from the Russian Government； from China； and the
Continent； as well as from shipowners at home； I observed that
quality was a very important element in all commercial success。
My master； Mr。 Thomas Toward； was in declining health； and； being
desirous of spending his winters abroad； I was consequently left
in full charge of the works。 But as there did not appear to be a
satisfactory prospect； under the circumstances； for any material
development of the business； a trifling circumstance arose； which
again changed the course of my career。
An advertisement appeared in the papers for a manager to conduct
a shipbuilding yard in Belfast。 I made inquiries as to the
situation； and eventually applied for it。 I was appointed； and
entered upon my duties there at Christmas； 1854。 The yard was a
much larger one than that on the Tyne； and was capable of great
expansion。 It was situated on what was then well known as the
Queen's Island； but now； like the Isle of Dogs； it has been
attached by reclamation。 The yard； about four acres in extent；
was held by lease from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners。 It was
well placed； alongside a fine patent slip； with clear frontage；
allowing of the largest ships being freely launched。 Indeed； the
first ship built there； the Mary Stenhouse； had only just been
completed and launched by Messrs。 Robert Hickson and Co。； then
the proprietors of the undertaking。 They were also the owners of
the Eliza Street Iron Works； Belfast； which were started to work
up old iron materials。 But as the works were found to be
unremunerative； they were shortly afterwards closed。
On my entering the shipbuilding yard I found that the firm had an
order for two large sailing ships。 One of these was partly in
frame； and I at once tackled with it and the men。 Mr。 Hickson；
the acting partner； not being practically acquainted with the
business； the whole proceeding connected with the building of the
ships devolved upon me。 I had been engaged to supersede a
manager summarily dismissed。 Although he had not given
satisfaction to his employers； he was a great favourite with the
men。 Accordingly； my appearance as manager in his stead was not
very agreeable to the employed。 On inquiry I found that the rate
of wages paid was above the usual value； whilst the quantity as
well as quality of the work done were below the standard。 I
proceeded to rectify these defects； by paying the ordinary rate
of wages； and then by raising the quality of the work done。 I
was met by the usual methoda strike。 The men turned out。 They
were abetted by the former manager； and the leading hands hung
about the town unemployed； in the hope of my throwing up the post
in disgust。
But； nothing daunted； I went repeatedly over to the Clyde for the
purpose of enlisting fresh hands。 When I brought them over；
however； in batches； there was the greatest difficulty in
inducing them to work。 They were intimidated； or enticed； or
feasted； and sent home again。 The late manager had also taken a
yard on the other side of the river； and actually commenced to
build a ship； employing some of his old comrades； but beyond
laying the keel； little