Mr。Stephensonaddsthatfromadefectintheconstructiontheabutmentswerethrustinwardsattheapproachesandtheribspartiallyfractured。Weare,however,informedthatthisisamistake,thoughitdoesappearthattheapprehensionatonetimeexistedthatsuchanaccidentmightpossiblyoccur。
Toremedythesupposeddefect,twosmalllandarcheswere,intheyear1800,substitutedforthestoneapproachontheBroseleysideofthebridge。Whiletheworkwasinprogress,Mr。Telford,thewell-knownengineer,carefullyexaminedthebridge,andthusspokeofitsconditionatthetime:——”Thegreatimprovementoferectinguponanavigableriverabridgeofcast-ironofonearchonlywasfirstputinpracticenearCoalbrookdale。Thebridgewasexecutedin1777
byMr。AbrahamDarby,andtheironworkisnowquiteasperfectaswhenitwasfirstputup。Drawingsofthisbridgehavelongbeenbeforethepublic,andhavebeenmuchandjustlyadmired。”*
[footnote……
PLYMLEY,GeneralViewoftheAgricultureofShropshire。
ACoalbrookdalecorrespondent,writinginMay,1862,informsusthat”atthepresenttimethebridgeisundergoingrepair;and,specialexaminationhavingbeenmade,thereisnoappearanceeitherthattheabutmentshavemoved,orthattheribshavebeenbrokeninthecentreorareoutoftheirproperrightline。Therehas,itistrue,beenastrainonthelandarches,andontheroadwayplates,which,however,themainarchhasbeenableeffectuallytoresist。”
Thebridgehasnowbeeninprofitabledailyuseforupwardsofeightyyears,andhasduringthattimeprovedofthegreatestconveniencetothepopulationofthedistrict。Sojudiciouswastheselectionofitssite,andsogreatitsutility,thatathrivingtownofthenameofIronbridgehasgrownuparoundituponwhat,atthetimeofitserection,wasanamelesspartof”thewasteofthemanorofMadeley。”
Anditisprobablethatthebridgewilllastforcenturiestocome。
Thus,also,wastheuseofironasanimportantmaterialinbridge-buildingfairlyinitiatedatCoalbrookdalebyAbrahamDarby,astheuseofironrailswasbyRichardReynolds。Weneedscarcelyaddthatsincetheinventionandextensiveadoptionofrailwaylocomotion,theemploymentofironinvariousformsinrailwayandbridgestructureshasrapidlyincreased,untilironhascometoberegardedastheverysheet-anchoroftherailwayengineer。
InthemeantimetheworksatCoalbrookdalehadbecomelargelyextended。In1784,whenthegovernmentofthedayproposedtolevyataxonpit-coal,RichardReynoldsstronglyurgeduponMr。Pitt,thenChancelloroftheExchequer,aswellasonLordGower,afterwardsMarquisofStafford,theimpolicyofsuchatax。Tothelatterherepresentedthatlargecapitalshadbeeninvestedintheirontrade,whichwaswithdifficultycarriedoninthefaceofthecompetitionwithSwedishandRussianiron。AtCoalbrookdale,sixteen”fireengines,”assteamengineswerefirstcalled,werethenatwork,eightblast-furnacesandnineforges,besidestheairfurnacesandmillsatthefoundry,which,withthelevels,roads,andmorethantwentymilesofironrailways,gaveemploymenttoaverylargenumberofpeople。”Theadvancementoftheirontradewithinthesefewyears,”saidhe,”hasbeenprodigious。Itwasthought,andjustly,thatthemakingofpig-ironwithpitcoalwasagreatacquisitiontothecountrybysavingthewoodandsupplyingamaterialtomanufactures,theproductionofwhich,bytheconsumptionofallthewoodthecountryproduced,wasformerlyunequaltothedemand,andthenailtrade,perhapsthemostconsiderableofanyonearticleofmanufacturediron,wouldhavebeenlosttothiscountryhaditnotbeenfoundpracticabletomakenailsofironmadewithpitcoal。Wehavenowanotherprocesstoattempt,andthatistomakeBARIRON
withpitcoal;anditisforthatpurposewehavemade,orratheraremaking,alterationsatDonningtonWood,Ketley,andelsewhere,whichweexpecttocompleteinthepresentyear,butnotatalessexpensethantwentythousandpounds,whichwillbelosttous,andgainedbynobody,ifthistaxislaiduponourcoals。”Hewouldnot,however,haveitunderstoodthathesoughtforanyPROTECTIONforthehomemadeiron,notwithstandingthelowerpricesoftheforeignarticle。”Fromitsmostimperfectstateaspig-iron,”heobservedtoLordSheffield,”toitshighestfinishintheregulatingspringsofawatch,wehavenothingtofeariftheimportationintoeachcountryshouldbepermittedwithoutduty。”WeneedscarcelyaddthatthesubsequenthistoryoftheirontradeabundantlyjustifiedthesesagaciousanticipationsofRichardReynolds。
Hewasnowfaradvancedinyears。Hisbusinesshadprospered,hismeanswereample,andhesoughtretirement。Hedidnotdesiretopossessgreatwealth,whichinhisopinionentailedsuchseriousresponsibilitiesuponitspossessor;andheheldthattheaccumulationoflargepropertywasmoretobedeprecatedthandesired。HethereforedeterminedtogiveuphissharesintheironworksatKetleytohissonsWilliamandJoseph,whocontinuedtocarrythemon。Williamwasamanofeminentability,wellversedinscience,andanexcellentmechanic。Heintroducedgreatimprovementsintheworkingofthecoalandironmines,employingnewmachineryforthepurpose,andavailinghimselfwithmuchingenuityofthediscoveriesthenbeingmadeinthescienceofchemistry。Hewasalsoaninventor,havingbeenthefirsttoemployin1788inclinedplanes,consistingofparallelrailways,toconnectandworkcanalsofdifferentlevels,——aninventionerroneouslyattributedtoFulton,butwhichthelatterhimselfacknowledgedtobelongtoWilliamReynolds。Inthefirstchapterofhis’TreatiseonCanalNavigation,’
publishedin1796,Fultonsays:——”AslocalprejudicesopposedtheDukeofBridgewater’scanalinthefirstinstance,prejudicesequallystrongasfirmlyadheredtotheprincipleonwhichitwasconstructed;anditwasthoughtimpossibletoleadonethroughacountry,ortoworkittoanyadvantage,unlessbylocksandboatsofatleasttwenty-fivetons,tillthegeniusofMr。WilliamReynolds,ofKetley,inShropshire,steppedfromtheaccustomedpath,constructedthefirstinclinedplane,andintroducedboatsoffivetons。This,liketheDuke’scanal,wasdeemedavisionaryproject,andparticularlybyhisGrace,whowaspartialtolocks;yetthisisalsointroducedintopractice,andwillinmanyinstancessupersedelockcanals。”Telford,theengineer,alsogracefullyacknowledgedthevaluableassistancehereceivedfromWilliamReynoldsinplanningtheironaqueductbymeansofwhichtheEllesmereCanalwascarriedoverthePontCysylltau,andinexecutingthenecessarycastingsforthepurposeattheKetleyfoundry。
Thefuturemanagementofhisextensiveironworksbeingthusplacedinablehands,RichardReynoldsfinallyleftCoalbrookdalein1804,forBristol,hisnativetown,wherehespenttheremainderofhislifeinworksofcharityandmercy。Herewemightleavethesubject,butcannotrefrainfromaddingafewconcludingwordsastothemoralcharacteristicsofthistrulygoodman。Thoughhabituallyreligious,hewasneitherdemurenormorose,butcheerful,gay,andhumorous。Hetookgreatinterestinthepleasuresoftheyoungpeopleabouthim,andexertedhimselfinallwaystopromotetheirhappiness。Hewasfondofbooks,pictures,poetry,andmusic,thoughtheindulgenceofartistictastesisnotthoughtbecomingintheSocietytowhichhebelonged。Hisloveforthebeautiesofnatureamountedalmosttoapassion,andwhenlivingatTheBank,nearKetley,itwashisgreatdelightinthesummereveningstoretirewithhispipetoaruralseatcommandingafullviewoftheWrekin,theErcallWoods,withCaderIdrisandtheMontgomeryshirehillsinthedistance,andwatchthesungodowninthewestinhisglory。OnceineveryyearheassembledalargepartytospendadaywithhimontheWrekin,andamongstthoseinvitedweretheprincipalclerksinthecompany’semployment,togetherwiththeirfamilies。AtMadeley,nearCoalbrookdale,whereheboughtaproperty,helaidout,fortheexpressuseoftheworkmen,extensivewalksthroughthewoodsonLincolnHill,commandingbeautifulviews。Theywerecalled”TheWorkmen’sWalks,”andwereasourceofgreatenjoymenttothemandtheirfamilies,especiallyonSundayafternoons。
WhenMr。ReynoldswenttoLondononbusiness,hewasaccustomedtomakearoundofvisits,onhiswayhome,toplacesremarkablefortheirpicturesquebeauty,suchasStowe,HagleyPark,andtheLeasowes。Afteravisittothelatterplacein1767,hethus,inalettertohisfriendJohnMaccappen,vindicatedhisloveforthebeautifulinnature:——”Ithinkitnotonlylawfulbutexpedienttocultivateadispositiontobepleasedwiththebeautiesofnature,byfrequentindulgencesforthatpurpose。Themind,bybeingcontinuallyappliedtotheconsiderationofwaysandmeanstogainmoney,contractsanindifferencyifnotaninsensibilitytotheprofusionofbeautieswhichthebenevolentCreatorhasimpresseduponeverypartofthematerialcreation。Asordidloveofgold,thepossessionofwhatgoldcanpurchase,andthereputationofbeingrich,havesodepravedthefinerfeelingsofsomemen,thattheypassthroughthemostdelightfulgrove,filledwiththemelodyofnature,orlistentothemurmuringsofthebrookinthevalley,withaslittlepleasureandwithnomoreofthevernaldelightwhichMiltondescribes,thantheyfeelinpassingthroughsomeobscurealleyinatown。”
Whenintheprimeoflife,Mr。Reynoldswasanexcellentrider,performingallhisjourneysonhorseback。Heusedtogivealudicrousaccountofaraceheonceranwithanotheryouth,eachhavingaladyseatedonapillionbehindhim;Mr。Reynoldsreachedthegoalfirst,butwhenhelookedroundhefoundthathehadlosthisfaircompanion,whohadfallenoffintherace!OnanotheroccasionhehadahardrunwithLordThurlowduringavisitpaidbythelattertotheKetleyIron-Works。LordThurlowpulleduphishorsefirst,andobserved,laughing,”Ithink,Mr。Reynolds,thisisprobablythefirsttimethateveraLordChancellorrodearacewithaQuaker!”
ButastrangerrencontrewasonewhichbefelMr。ReynoldsonBlackheath。ThoughhedeclinedGovernmentordersforcannon,heseemstohavehadasecrethankeringafterthe”pompandcircumstance”ofmilitarylife。Atallevent’shewaspresentonBlackheathonedaywhenGeorgeIII。wasreviewingsometroops。Mr。Reynold’shorse,anoldtrooper,nosoonerheardthesoundofthetrumpetthanhestartedoffatfullspeed,andmadedirectlyforthegroupofofficersbeforewhomthetroopsweredefiling。GreatwasthesurpriseoftheKingwhenhesawtheQuakerdrawupalongsideofhim,butstillgreater,perhaps,wastheconfusionoftheQuakeratfindinghimselfinsuchcompany。
Duringthelateryearsofhislife,whilelivingatBristol,hishandwasineverygoodwork;anditwasoftenfeltwhereitwasnotseen。
Forhecarefullyavoidedostentation,andpreferreddoinghisgoodinsecret。Hestronglydisapprovedofmakingcharitablebequestsbywill,whichheobservedinmanycasestohavebeenthefoundationofenormousabuses,butheldittobethedutyofeachmantodoallthepossiblegoodthathecouldduringhislifetime。Manyweretheinstancesofhisprincely,thoughatthetimeunknown,munificence。
Unwillingtoberecognisedasthegiveroflargesums,heemployedagentstodispensehisanonymousbenefactions。Hethussent20,000L。
toLondontobedistributedduringthedistressof1795。HehadfouralmonersconstantlyemployedinBristol,findingoutcasesofdistress,relievingthem,andpresentingtheiraccountstohimweekly,withdetailsofthecasesrelieved。Hesearchedthedebtors’
prisons,andwhere,asoftenhappened,deservingbutunfortunatemenwerefoundconfinedfordebt,hepaidtheclaimsagainstthemandprocuredtheirrelease。Suchamancouldnotfailtobefollowedwithblessingsandgratitude;butthesehesoughttodirecttotheGiverofallGood。”Mytalent,”saidhetoafriend,”isthemeanestofalltalents——alittlesordiddust;butasthemanintheparablewhohadbutonetalentwasheldaccountable,IalsoamaccountableforthetalentthatIpossess,humbleasitis,tothegreatLordofall。”Ononeoccasionthecaseofapoororphanboywassubmittedtohim,whoseparents,bothdyingyoung,hadlefthimdestitute,onwhichMr。
Reynoldsgenerouslyofferedtoplaceasuminthenamesoftrusteesforhiseducationandmaintenanceuntilhecouldbeapprenticedtoabusiness。Theladywhorepresentedthecasewassooverpoweredbythemunificenceoftheactthatsheburstintotears,and,strugglingtoexpresshergratitude,concludedwith——”andwhenthedearchildisoldenough,Iwillteachhimtothankhisbenefactor。””Thoumustteachhimtolookhigher,”interruptedReynolds:”Dowethankthecloudsforrain?Whenthechildgrowsup,teachhimtothankHimwhosendethboththecloudsandtherain。”Reynoldshimselfdeploredhisinfirmityoftemper,whichwasbynaturehasty;and,ashisbenevolencewasknown,andappealsweremadetohimatalltimes,seasonableandunseasonable,hesometimesmetthemwithasharpword,which,however,hehadscarcelyutteredbeforeherepentedofit:andheisknowntohavefollowedapoorwomantoherhomeandaskforgivenessforhavingspokenhastilyinanswertoherapplicationforhelp。
This”greatgoodman”diedonthel0thofSeptember,1816,inthe81styearofhisage。AthisfuneralthepoorofBristolwerethechiefmourners。Thechildrenofthebenevolentsocietieswhichhehadmunificentlysupportedduringhislifetime,andsomeofwhichhehadfounded,followedhisbodytothegrave。Theprocessionwasjoinedbytheclergyandministersofalldenominations,andbymenofallclassesandpersuasions。AndthuswasRichardReynoldslaidtohisrest,leavingbehindhimanamefullofgoododour,whichwilllongbeheldingratefulremembrancebytheinhabitantsofBristol。
CHAPTERVI。
INVENTIONOFCASTSTEEL——BENJAMINHUNTSMAN。