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rable mechanic； a man of clear practical good sense and judgment； and he eventually raised himself to the highest position in the public service。
The satisfactory performance of the machinery which had been supplied to the workshops of the royal dock yards and arsenals； led to further demands for similar machinery for foreign Governments。 Foreign visitor were allowed freely to inspect all that had been done whatever may be said of the wisdom of this proceeding it is certainly true that no mechanical improvement can long be kept secret nowadays。 Everything is published and illustrated in our engineering journals。 And if the foreigners had not been allowed to obtain their new machines from England； they were provided with facilities enough for constructing them for themselves。 At all events； one result of the improved working of the new machines at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich； was the receipt of large orders for our firm for the supply of foreign Governments。 For instance； that of Spain employed us liberally； principally tor the equipment of the royal dockyards of Ferrol and Cartagena。 These orders came to us through Messrs。 Zuluatta Brothers； who conducted their proceedings with us in a prompt and business…like way for many years。 Through the same firm we obtained orders to furnish machinery for the Spanish royal dockyard at Havana。
In 1849 we received an extensive order from the Russian Government。 This was transmitted to us through the Imperial Consulate in London。 The machinery was required for the equipment of a very extensive rope factory at the naval arsenal of Nicolaiev； on the Black Sea This order included all the machinery requisite for the factory； from the heckling of the hemp to the twisting of the largest ropes and cables required in the Russian naval service。 The design and organisation of this machinery in its minutest detail caused me to made a special study of the art of rope…making。 It was a comparatively new subject to me； but I found it full of interest。 It was difficulty； and therefore to be overcome。 And in this lies a great deal of the pleasure of contriving and inventing。
During the progress of the work I had the advantage of the frequent presence of an able Russian officer； Captain Putchkraskey； whose intelligent supervision was a source of much satisfaction。 We had also occasional visits from Admiral Kornileff； a man of the highest order of intelligence。 He was not only able to appreciate our exertions to execute the order in first…rate style； but to enter into all the special details and contrivances of the work while in progress。 I had often occasion to meet Russian officers while at the Bridgewater Foundry。 They were usually men of much ability； selected by the Russian Government to act as their agents abroad； in order to keep them well posted up in all that had a bearing upon their own interests。 They certainly reflected the highest credit on their Government； as proving their careful selection of the best men to advance the interests of Russia。
During the visit of the Grand Duke Constantine to England about that time； he resided for some days with the Earl of Ellesmere at Worsley Hall； about a mile and a half from Bridgewater Foundry。 We were favoured with several visits from the Grand Duke； accompanied by Baron Brunnow； Admiral Hoyden； and several other Russian officials。 They came by Lord Ellesmere's beautiful barge； which drew up alongside our wharf； where the party landed and entered the works。 The Grand Duke carefully inspected the whole place； and expressed himself as greatly pleased with the complete mastery which man had obtained over obdurate materials； through the unfailing agency of mechanical substitutes for manual dexterity and muscular force。
I was invited to meet this distinguished party at Worsley Hall on more than one occasion； and was much pleased with the frank and intelligent conversation of the Grand Duke； in his reference to what he had seen in his visits to our works。 It was always a source of high pleasure to me to receive visits from Lord Ellesmere； as he was generally accompanied by men of distinction who were well able to appreciate the importance of what had been displayed before them。 The visits； for instance； of Rajah Brooke； the Earl of Elgin； the Duke of Argyll； Chevalier Bunsen； and Count Flahault； stand out bright in my memory。
But to return to my rope…making machinery。 It was finished to the satisfaction of the Russian officers。 It was sent off by ship to the Black Sea in July 1851； and fitted up at Nicolaiev shortly after。 I received a kind and pressing invitation from Admiral Kornileff to accompany him on the first trip of a magnificent steamer which had been constructed in England under his supervision。 His object was； not only that I might have a pleasant voyage in his company； but that I might see my machinery in full action at Nicolaiev； and also that I might make a personal survey of the arsenal workshops at Sebastopol。 It would； no doubt； have been a delightful trip； but it was not to be。 The unfortunate disruption occurred between our Government and that of Russia； which culminated in the disastrous Crimean War。 One of the first victims was Admiral Kornileff。 He was killed by one of our first shots while engaged in placing some guns for the defence of the entrance to the harbour of Sebastopol。
CHAPTER 18。 Astronomical pursuits。
Let me turn for a time from the Foundry； the whirr of the self…acting tools； and the sound of the steam hammers； to my quieter pursuits at home。 There I had much tranquil enjoyment in the company of my dear wife。 I had many hobbies。 Drawing was as familiar to me as language。 Indeed； it was often my method of speaking。 It has always been the way in which I have illustrated my thoughts。 In the course of my journeys at home and abroad I made many drawings of places and objects； which were always full of interest； to me at least； and they never ceased to bring up a store of happy remembrances。
Now and then I drew upon my fancy； and with pen and ink I conjured up 〃The Castle of Udolpho；〃 〃 A Bit of Old England；〃 〃The Fairies are Out；〃 and 〃Everybody for Ever。〃 The last is crowded with thousands of figures and heads； so that it is almost impossible to condense the drawing into a small compass。 To these I added 〃The Alchemist；〃 〃Old Mortality；〃 〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 and a bit of English scenery； which I called 〃Gathering Sticks。〃 I need not say with how much pleasure I executed these drawings in my evening hours。 They were not 〃published；〃 but I drew them with lithographic ink； and had them printed by Mr。 Maclure。 I afterwards made presents of the series to some of my most intimate friends。
＇Image＇ The Antiquarian。 By James Nasmyth （Facsimile）
In remembrance of the great pleasure which I had derived from the perusal of Washington Irving's fascinating works； I sent him a copy of my sketches。 His answer was charming and characteristic。 His letter was dated 〃 Sunnyside；〃 Massachusetts； where he lived。 He said （17th January 1859）：
DEAR SIRAccept my most sincere and hearty thanks for the exquisite fancy sketches which you have had the kindness to send me； and for the expressions of est