Thecompanythickenedafteroneo’clockstruck，andchangedprettyquickly。Althoughexperienceoftheplacehadbeensorecentlyattainable，andalthoughtherewasstillconsiderablecuriosityoutinthestreetandabouttheentrance，thegeneraltonewasasgoodascouldbe，andthecustomersfelleasilyintothewaysoftheplace。Itwascleartome，however，thattheyweretheretohavewhattheypaidfor，andtobeonanindependentfooting。Tothebestofmyjudgment，theymightbepatronisedoutofthebuildinginamonth。Withjudiciousvisiting，andbydintofbeingquestioned，readto，andtalkedat，theymightevenbegotridofforthenextquarterofacenturyinhalfthetime。
Thisdisinterestedandwisemovementisfraughtwithsomanywholesomechangesinthelivesoftheworkingpeople，andwithsomuchgoodinthewayofovercomingthatsuspicionwhichourownunconsciousimpertinencehasengendered，thatitisscarcelygracioustocriticisedetailsasyet；therather，becauseitisindisputablethatthemanagersoftheWhitechapelestablishmentmostthoroughlyfeelthattheyareupontheirhonourwiththecustomers，astotheminutestpointsofadministration。But，althoughtheAmericanstovescannotroast，theycansurelyboilonekindofmeataswellasanother，andneednotalwayscircumscribetheirboilingtalentswithinthelimitsofhamandbeef。Themostenthusiasticadmirerofthosesubstantials，wouldprobablynotobjecttooccasionalinconstancyinrespectofporkandmutton:
or，especiallyincoldweather，toalittleinnocenttriflingwithIrishstews，meatpies，andtoadsinholes。AnotherdrawbackontheWhitechapelestablishment，istheabsenceofbeer。Regardedmerelyasaquestionofpolicy，itisveryimpolitic，ashavingatendencytosendtheworkingmentothepublic-house，whereginisreportedtobesold。But，thereisamuchhighergroundonwhichthisabsenceofbeerisobjectionable。Itexpressesdistrustoftheworkingman。ItisafragmentofthatoldmantleofpatronageinwhichsomanyestimableThugs，sodarklywanderingupanddownthemoralworld，aresworntomufflehim。Goodbeerisagoodthingforhim，hesays，andhelikesit；theDepotcouldgiveithimgood，andhenowgetsitbad。WhydoestheDepotnotgiveithimgood？Becausehewouldgetdrunk。WhydoestheDepotnotlethimhaveapintwithhisdinner，whichwouldnotmakehimdrunk？
Becausehemighthavehadanotherpint，oranothertwopints，beforehecame。Now，thisdistrustisanaffront，isexceedinglyinconsistentwiththeconfidencethemanagersexpressintheirhand-bills，andisatimidstopping-shortuponthestraighthighway。Itisunjustandunreasonable，also。Itisunjust，becauseitpunishesthesobermanfortheviceofthedrunkenman。
Itisunreasonable，becauseanyoneatallexperiencedinsuchthingsknowsthatthedrunkenworkmandoesnotgetdrunkwherehegoestoeatanddrink，butwherehegoestodrink-expresslytodrink。TosupposethattheworkingmancannotstatethisquestiontohimselfquiteasplainlyasIstateithere，istosupposethatheisababy，andisagaintotellhimintheoldwearisome，condescending，patronisingwaythathemustbegoody-poody，anddoasheistoldy-poldy，andnotbeamanny-pannyoravoter-poter，butfoldhishandy-pandys，andbeachildy-pildy。
IfoundfromtheaccountsoftheWhitechapelSelf-SupportingCookingDepot，thateveryarticlesoldinit，evenatthepricesI
havequoted，yieldsacertainsmallprofit！Individualspeculatorsareofcoursealreadyinthefield，andareofcoursealreadyappropriatingthename。Theclassesforwhosebenefittherealdepotsaredesigned，willdistinguishbetweenthetwokindsofenterprise。
Therearesomesmallout-of-the-waylandingplacesontheThamesandtheMedway，whereIdomuchofmysummeridling。Runningwaterisfavourabletoday-dreams，andastrongtidalriveristhebestofrunningwaterformine。Iliketowatchthegreatshipsstandingouttoseaorcominghomerichlyladen，theactivelittlesteam-tugsconfidentlypuffingwiththemtoandfromthesea-
horizon，thefleetofbargesthatseemtohavepluckedtheirbrownandrussetsailsfromtheripetreesinthelandscape，theheavyoldcolliers，lightinballast，flounderingdownbeforethetide，thelightscrewbarksandschoonersimperiouslyholdingastraightcoursewhiletheotherspatientlytackandgoabout，theyachtswiththeirtinyhullsandgreatwhitesheetsofcanvas，thelittlesailing-boatsbobbingtoandfroontheirerrandsofpleasureorbusiness，and-asitisthenatureoflittlepeopletodo-makingaprodigiousfussabouttheirsmallaffairs。Watchingtheseobjects，Istillamundernoobligationtothinkaboutthem，orevensomuchastoseethem，unlessitperfectlysuitsmyhumour。
AslittleamIobligedtoheartheplashandflopofthetide，therippleatmyfeet，theclinkingwindlassafaroff，orthehummingsteam-shippaddlesfurtherawayyet。These，withthecreakinglittlejettyonwhichIsit，andthegaunthigh-watermarksandlow-watermarksinthemud，andthebrokencauseway，andthebrokenbank，andthebrokenstakesandpilesleaningforwardasiftheywerevainoftheirpersonalappearanceandlookingfortheirreflectioninthewater，willmeltintoanytrainoffancy。
Equallyadaptabletoanypurposeortonone，aretheposturingsheepandkineuponthemarshes，thegullsthatwheelanddiparoundme，thecrowswelloutofgunshotgoinghomefromtherichharvest-fields，theheronthathasbeenouta-fishingandlooksasmelancholy，upthereinthesky，asifithadn’tagreedwithhim。
Everythingwithintherangeofthesenseswill，bytheaidoftherunningwater，lenditselftoeverythingbeyondthatrange，andworkintoadrowsywhole，notunlikeakindoftune，butforwhichthereisnoexactdefinition。
Oneoftheselanding-placesisnearanoldfortIcanseetheNoreLightfromitwithmypocket-glass，fromwhichfortmysteriouslyemergesaboy，towhomIammuchindebtedforadditionstomyscantystockofknowledge。Heisayoungboy，withanintelligentfaceburnttoadustcolourbythesummersun，andwithcrisphairofthesamehue。HeisaboyinwhomIhaveperceivednothingincompatiblewithhabitsofstudiousinquiryandmeditation，unlessanevanescentblackeyeIwasdelicateofinquiringhowoccasionedshouldbesoconsidered。TohimamIindebtedforabilitytoidentifyaCustom-houseboatatanydistance，andforacquaintancewithalltheformsandceremoniesobservedbyahomeward-boundIndiamancominguptheriver，whentheCustom-houseofficersgoaboardher。Butforhim，Imightneverhaveheardof’thedumb-ague，’respectingwhichmaladyIamnowlearned。HadI
neversatathisfeet，ImighthavefinishedmymortalcareerandneverknownthatwhenIseeawhitehorseonabarge’ssail，thatbargeisalimebarge。Forprecioussecretsinreferencetobeer，amIlikewisebeholdentohim，involvingwarningagainstthebeerofacertainestablishment，byreasonofitshavingturnedsourthroughfailureinpointofdemand:thoughmyyoungsageisnotofopinionthatsimilardeteriorationhasbefallentheale。Hehasalsoenlightenedmetouchingthemushroomsofthemarshes，andhasgentlyreprovedmyignoranceinhavingsupposedthemtobeimpregnatedwithsalt。Hismannerofimpartinginformation，isthoughtful，andappropriatetothescene。Ashereclinesbesideme，hepitchesintotheriver，alittlestoneorpieceofgrit，andthendelivershimselforacularly，asthoughhespokeoutofthecentreofthespreadingcirclethatitmakesinthewater。Heneverimprovesmymindwithoutobservingthisformula。
Withthewiseboy-whomIknowbynoothernamethantheSpiritoftheFort-Irecentlyconsortedonabreezydaywhentheriverleapedaboutusandwasfulloflife。IhadseenthesheavedcorncarryinginthegoldenfieldsasIcamedowntotheriver；andtherosyfarmer，watchinghislabouring-meninthesaddleonhiscob，hadtoldmehowhehadreapedhistwohundredandsixtyacresoflong-strawedcornlastweek，andhowabetterweek’sworkhehadneverdoneinallhisdays。Peaceandabundancewereonthecountry-sideinbeautifulformsandbeautifulcolours，andtheharvestseemedeventobesailingouttogracethenever-reapedseaintheyellow-ladenbargesthatmellowedthedistance。
ItwasonthisoccasionthattheSpiritoftheFort，directinghisremarkstoacertainfloatingironbatterylatelylyinginthatreachoftheriver，enrichedmymindwithhisopinionsonnavalarchitecture，andinformedmethathewouldliketobeanengineer。
IfoundhimuptoeverythingthatisdoneinthecontractinglinebyMessrs。PetoandBrassey-cunninginthearticleofconcrete-
mellowinthematterofiron-greatonthesubjectofgunnery。
Whenhespokeofpile-drivingandsluice-making，heleftmenotalegtostandon，andIcanneversufficientlyacknowledgehisforbearancewithmeinmydisabledstate。Whilehethusdiscoursed，heseveraltimesdirectedhiseyestoonedistantquarterofthelandscape，andspokewithvaguemysteriousaweof’theYard。’Ponderinghislessonsafterwehadparted，IbethoughtmethattheYardwasoneofourlargepublicDockyards，andthatitlayhiddenamongthecropsdowninthedipbehindthewindmills，asifitmodestlykeptitselfoutofviewinpeacefultimes，andsoughttotroublenoman。TakenwiththismodestyonthepartoftheYard，IresolvedtoimprovetheYard’sacquaintance。
MygoodopinionoftheYard’sretiringcharacterwasnotdashedbynearerapproach。Itresoundedwiththenoiseofhammersbeatinguponiron；andthegreatshedsorslipsunderwhichthemightymen-
of-wararebuilt，loomedbusiness-likewhencontemplatedfromtheoppositesideoftheriver。Forallthat，however，theYardmadenodisplay，butkeptitselfsnugunderhill-sidesofcorn-fields，hop-gardens，andorchards；itsgreatchimneyssmokingwithaquiet-almostalazy-air，likegiantssmokingtobacco；andthegreatShearsmooredoffit，lookingmeeklyandinoffensivelyoutofproportion，liketheGiraffeofthemachinerycreation。Thestoreofcannonontheneighbouringgun-wharf，hadaninnocenttoy-likeappearance，andtheonered-coatedsentryondutyoverthemwasameretoyfigure，withaclock-workmovement。Asthehotsunlightsparkledonhimhemighthavepassedfortheidenticallittlemanwhohadthelittlegun，andwhosebulletstheyweremadeoflead，lead，lead。
CrossingtheriverandlandingattheStairs，whereadriftofchipsandweedhadbeentryingtolandbeforemeandhadnotsucceeded，buthadgotintoacornerinstead，Ifoundtheverystreetpoststobecannon，andthearchitecturalornamentstobeshells。AndsoIcametotheYard，whichwasshutuptightandstrongwithgreatfoldedgates，likeanenormouspatentsafe。
Thesegatesdevouringme，IbecamedigestedintotheYard；andithad，atfirst，aclean-sweptholidayair，asifithadgivenoverworkuntilnextwar-time。Thoughindeedaquantityofhempforropewastumblingoutofstore-houses，eventhere，whichwouldhardlybelyinglikesomuchhayonthewhitestonesiftheYardwereasplacidasitpretended。
Ding，Clash，Dong，BANG，Boom，Rattle，Clash，BANG，Clink，BANG，Dong，BANG，Clatter，BANGBANGBANG！Whatonearthisthis！Thisis，orsoonwillbe，theAchilles，ironarmour-platedship。Twelvehundredmenareworkingathernow；twelvehundredmenworkingonstagesoverhersides，overherbows，overherstern，underherkeel，betweenherdecks，downinherhold，withinherandwithout，crawlingandcreepingintothefinestcurvesofherlineswhereveritispossibleformentotwist。Twelvehundredhammerers，measurers，caulkers，armourers，forgers，smiths，shipwrights；