Inthis，asinmanyothermatters，Bramahshotaheadofthemechanicalnecessitiesofhistime；andhencemanyofhispatentsofwhichheheldatonetimemorethantwentyprovedaltogetherprofitless。Hislastpatent，takenoutin1814，wasfortheapplicationofRomancementtotimberforthepurposeofpreventingdryrot。
Besideshisvariousmechanicalpursuits，Bramahalsofollowedtoacertainextenttheprofessionofacivilengineer，thoughhismoreurgentengagementsrendereditnecessaryforhimtorefusemanyadvantageousoffersofemploymentinthisline。Hewas，however，ledtocarryoutthenewwater-worksatNorwich，betweentheyearsl790
andl793，inconsequenceofhishavingbeencalledupontogiveevidenceinadisputebetweenthecorporationofthatcityandthelessees，inthecourseofwhichhepropoundedplanswhich，itwasalleged，couldnotbecarriedout。Toprovethattheycouldbecarriedout，andthathisevidencewascorrect，heundertookthenewworks，andexecutedthemwithcompletesuccess；besidesdemonstratinginaspiritedpublicationelicitedbythecontroversy，theinsufficiencyandincongruityoftheplanswhichhadbeensubmittedbytherivalengineer。
ForsometimepriortohisdeathBramahhadbeenemployedintheerectionofseverallargemachinesinhisworksatPimlicoforsawingstoneandtimber，towhichheappliedhishydraulicpowerwithgreatsuccess。Newmethodsofbuildingbridgesandcanal-locks，withavarietyofothermatters，wereinanembryostateinhismind，buthedidnotlivetocompletethem。HewasoccupiedinsuperintendingtheactionofhishydrostaticpressatHoltForest，inHants——whereupwardsof300treesofthelargestdimensionswereinaveryshorttimetornupbytheroots，——whenhecaughtaseverecold，whichsettleduponhislungs，andhislifewassuddenlybroughttoacloseonthe9thofDecember，1814，inhis66thyear。
Hisfriend，Dr。CullenBrown，*
[footnote……
Dr。BrownpublishedabriefmemoirofhisfriendintheNewMonthlyMagazineforApril，1815，whichhasbeenthefoundationofallthenoticesofBramah’slifethathaveheretoforeappeared。
hassaidofhim，thatBramahwasamanofexcellentmoralcharacter，temperateinhishabits，ofapiousturnofmind，*
[footnote……
Notwithstandinghiswell-knownreligiouscharacter，BramahseemstohavefallenunderthegrievousdispleasureofWilliamHuntington，S。S。SinnerSaved，describedbyMacaulayinhisyouthas”aworthlessuglyladofthenameofHunter，”andinhismanhoodas”thatremarkableimpostor”Essays，1vol。ed。529。ItseemsthatHuntingtonsoughttheprofessionalservicesofBramahwhenre-edifyinghischapelin1793；andattheconclusionofthework，theengineergenerouslysentthepreacherachequefor8l。towardsdefrayingthenecessaryexpenses。WhetherthesumwaslessthanHuntingtonexpected，orfromwhatevercause，theS。S。contemptuouslyflungbackthegift，asproceedingfromanArianwhosereligionwas”unsavoury，”atthesametimehurlingatthegiveranumberoftextsconveyingepithetsofanoffensivecharacter。Bramahrepliedtothefarragoofnonsense，whichhecharacterisedas”unmannerly，absurd，andilliteratethatitmusthavebeencomposedwhenthewriterwas”intoxicated，mad，orundertheinfluenceofLucifer，”andhethreatenedthatunlessHuntingtonapologisedforhisgratuitousinsults，heBramahwouldassuredlyexposehim。Themechanicianneverthelessproceededgravelytoexplainanddefendhis”professionoffaith，”whichwasaltogetherunnecessary。OnthisHuntingtonreturnedtothecharge，anddirectedagainstthemechanicafreshvolleyofScripturetextsandphraseology，notwithouthumour，ifprofanitybeallowableincontroversy，aswherehesays，”Poorman！
hemakesagoodpatentlock，butcutsasadfigurewiththekeysoftheKingdomofHeaven！””WhatMr。Bramahis，”saysS。S。，”Inrespecttohischaracterorconductinlife，asaman，atradesman，aneighbour，agentleman，ahusband，friend，master，orsubject，Iknownot。InallthesecharactershemayshineasacometforaughtI
know；butheappearstometobeasfarfromanyresemblancetoapoorpenitentorbroken-heartedsinnerasJannes，Jambres，orAlexanderthecoppersmith！”Bramahrejoinedbythreateningtopublishhisassailant’sletters，butHuntingtonanticipatedhiminAFeebleDisputewithaWiseandLearnedMan，8vo。London，1793，inwhich，whetherjustlyornot，HuntingtonmakesBramahappeartomurdertheking’sEnglishinthemostbarbarousmanner。
andsocheerfulintemperament，thathewasthelifeofeverycompanyintowhichheentered。Tomuchfacilityofexpressionheaddedthemostperfectindependenceofopinion；hewasabenevolentandaffectionateman；neatandmethodicalinhishabits，andknewwellhowtotemperliberalitywitheconomy。Greatlytohishonour，heoftenkepthisworkmenemployed，solelyfortheirsake，whenstagnationoftradepreventedhimdisposingoftheproductsoftheirlabour。Asamanufacturerhewasdistinguishedforhispromptitudeandprobity，andhewascelebratedfortheexquisitefinishwhichhegavetoallhisproductions。Inthisexcellenceofworkmanship，whichhewasthefirsttointroduce，hecontinuedwhilehelivedtobeunrivalled。
Bramahwasdeservedlyhonouredandadmiredasthefirstmechanicalgeniusofhistime，andasthefounderoftheartoftool-makinginitshighestbranches。FromhisshopsatPimlicocameHenryMaudslay，JosephClement，andmanymorefirst-classmechanics，whocarriedthemechanicalartstostillhigherperfection，andgaveanimpulsetomechanicalengineering，theeffectsofwhicharestillfeltineverybranchofindustry。
TheparishtowhichBramahbelongedwasnaturallyproudofthedistinctionhehadachievedintheworld，andcommemoratedhislifeandcareerbyamarbletableterectedbysubscriptiontohismemory，intheparishchurchofSilkstone。InthechurchyardarefoundthetombstonesofJoseph’sfather，brother，andothermembersofthefamily；andweareinformedthattheirdescendantsstilloccupythefarmatStainboroughonwhichthegreatmechanicianwasborn。
CHAPTERXII。
HENRYMAUDSLAY。”Thesuccessfulconstructionofallmachinerydependsontheperfectionofthetoolsemployed；andwhoeverisamasterintheartsoftool-makingpossessesthekeytotheconstructionofallmachines……Thecontrivanceandconstructionoftoolsmustthereforeeverstandattheheadoftheindustrialarts。”——
C。BABBAGE，Expositionof1851。
HenryMaudslaywasbornatWoolwichtowardstheendoflastcentury，inahousestandinginthecourtatthebackoftheSalutationInn，theentrancetowhichisnearlyoppositetheArsenalgates。HisfatherwasanativeofLancashire，descendedfromanoldfamilyofthesamename，theheadofwhichresidedatMawdsleyHallnearOrmskirkatthebeginningoftheseventeenthcentury。Thefamilywereafterwardsscattered，andseveralofitsmembersbecameworkmen。
WilliamMaudslay，thefatherofHenry，belongedtotheneighbourhoodofBolton，wherehewasbroughtuptothetradeofajoiner。Hisprincipalemployment，whileworkingathistradeinLancashire，consistedinmakingthewoodframingofcottonmachinery，intheconstructionofwhichcast-ironhadnotyetbeenintroduced。Havinggotintosometroubleinhisneighbourhood，throughsomeallegedLIAISON，WilliamenlistedintheRoyalArtillery，andthecorpstowhichhebelongedwasshortlyaftersentouttotheWestIndies。Hewasseveraltimesengagedinbattle，andinhislastactionhewashitbyamusket-bulletinthethroat。Thesoldier’sstockwhichheworehadapiececutoutofitbytheball，thedirectionofwhichwasdiverted，andthoughseverelywounded，hislifewassaved。Hebroughthomethestockandpreserveditasarelic，afterwardsleavingittohisson。Longafter，thesonwouldpointtothestock，hungupagainsthiswall，andsay”ButforthatbitofleathertherewouldhavebeennoHenryMaudslay。”ThewoundedartillerymanwasinvalidedandsenthometoWoolwich，theheadquartersofhiscorps，wherehewasshortlyafterdischarged。Beingahandyworkman，hesoughtandobtainedemploymentattheArsenal。HewasafterwardsappointedastorekeeperintheDockyard。ItwasduringtheformerstageofWilliamMaudslay’semploymentatWoolwich，thatthesubjectofthismemoirwasborninthehouseinthecourtabovementioned，onthe22ndofAugust，1771。
Theboywasearlysettowork。Whentwelveyearsoldhewasemployedasa”powder-monkey，”inmakingandfillingcartridges。Aftertwoyears，hewaspassedontothecarpenter’sshopwherehisfatherworked，andtherehebecameacquaintedwithtoolsandtheartofworkinginwoodandiron。Fromthefirst，thelatterseemstohavehadbyfarthegreatestcharmsforhim。Theblacksmiths’shopwasclosetothecarpenters’，andHarryseizedeveryopportunitythatofferedofplyingthehammer，thefile，andthechisel，inpreferencetothesawandtheplane。Manyacuffdidtheforemanofcarpentersgivehimforabsentinghimselffromhispropershopandstealingofftothesmithy。Hispropensitywasindeedsostrongthat，attheendofayear，itwasthoughtbetter，ashewasahandy，cleverboy，toyieldtohisearnestdesiretobeplacedinthesmithy，andhewasremovedthitheraccordinglyinhisfifteenthyear。
Hisheartbeingnowinhiswork，hemaderapidprogress，andsoonbecameanexpertsmithandmetalworker。Hedisplayedhisskillespeciallyinforginglightironwork；andafavouritejobofhiswasthemakingof”Trivets”outofthesolid，whichonlythe”dabhands”
oftheshopcoulddo，butwhichhethrewoffwithgreatrapidityinfirstratestyle。These”Trivets”weremadeoutofSpanishironbolts——rarestuff，which，thoughexceedinglytough，forgedlikewaxunderthehammer。Evenatthecloseofhislife，whenhehadacquiredeminentdistinctionasaninventor，andwasalargeemployerofskilledlabour，helookedbackwithpridetotheforgingofhisearlydaysinWoolwichArsenal。Heusedtodescribewithmuchgusto，howtheoldexperiencedhands，withwhomhewasagreatfavourite，wouldcrowdabouthimwhenforginghis”Trivets，”someofwhichmaytothisdaybeinuseamongWoolwichhousewivesforsupportingthetoast-platebeforethebrightfireagainstteatime。Thiswas，however，entirelycontrabandwork，done”onthesly，”andstrictlyprohibitedbythesuperintendingofficer，whousedkindlytosignalhisapproachbyblowinghisnoseinapeculiarmanner，sothatallforbiddenjobsmightbeputoutofthewaybythetimeheenteredtheshop。
WehavereferredtoMaudslay’searlydexterityintrivet-making——acircumstancetriflingenoughinitself——forthepurposeofillustratingtheprogresswhichhehadmadeinabranchofhisartofthegreatestimportanceintoolandmachinemaking。Nothingpleasedhimmoreinhisafterlifethantobesettoworkuponanunusualpieceofforging，andtoovercome，asnonecoulddosocleverlyashe，thedifficultieswhichitpresented。Theprideofartwasasstronginhimasitmusthavebeeninthemediaevalsmiths，whoturnedoutthosebeautifulpiecesofworkmanshipstillregardedastheprideofourcathedralsandoldmansions。InMaudslay’scase，hisdexterityasasmithwaseventuallydirectedtomachinery，ratherthanornamentalwork；though，hadthelatterbeenhislineoflabour，wedonotdoubtthathewouldhavereachedthehighestdistinction。
Themanualskillwhichouryoungblacksmithhadacquiredwassuchastogivehimconsiderablereputationinhiscraft，andhewasspokenofevenintheLondonshopsasoneofthemostdexteroushandsinthetrade。ItwasthiscircumstancethatshortlyafterledtohisremovalfromthesmithyinWoolwichArsenaltoaspheremoresuitableforthedevelopmentofhismechanicalability。
Wehavealreadystatedintheprecedingmemoir，thatJosephBramahtookoutthefirstpatentforhislockin1784，andasecondforitsimprovementseveralyearslater；butnotwithstandingtheacknowledgedsuperiorityofthenewlockoverallothers，Bramahexperiencedthegreatestdifficultyingettingitmanufacturedwithsufficientprecision，andatsuchapriceastorenderitanarticleofextensivecommerce。Thisarosefromthegenerallyinferiorcharacteroftheworkmanshipofthatday，aswellastheclumsinessanduncertaintyofthetoolstheninuse。Bramahfoundthateventhebestmanualdexteritywasnottobetrusted，andyetitseemedtobehisonlyresource；formachine-toolsofasuperiorkindhadnotyetbeeninvented。InthisdilemmahedeterminedtoconsultaningeniousoldGermanartisan，thenworkingwithWilliamMoodie，ageneralblacksmithinWhitechapel。ThisGermanwasreckonedoneofthemostingeniousworkmeninLondonatthetime。Bramahhadseverallonginterviewswithhim，withtheobjectofendeavouringtosolvethedifficultproblemofhowtosecurepreciseworkmanshipinlock-making。Buttheycouldnotsolveit；theysawthatwithoutbettertoolsthedifficultywasinsuperable；andthenBramahbegantofearthathislockwouldremainameremechanicalcuriosity，andbepreventedfromcomingintogeneraluse。
Hewasindeedsorelypuzzledwhatnexttodo，whenoneofthehammermeninMoodie’sshopventuredtosuggestthattherewasayoungmanintheWoolwichArsenalsmithy，namedMaudslay，whowassoingeniousinsuchmattersthat”nothingbethim，”andherecommendedthatMr。Bramahshouldhaveatalkwithhimuponthesubjectofhisdifficulty。MaudslaywasatoncesentfortoBramah’sworkshop，andappearedbeforethelock-maker，atall，strong，comelyyoungfellow，thenonlyeighteenyearsold。Bramahwasalmostashamedtolayhiscasebeforesuchamereyouth；butnecessityconstrainedhimtotryallmethodsofaccomplishinghisobject，andMaudslay’ssuggestionsinreplytohisstatementofthecaseweresomodest，sosensible，andastheresultproved，sopractical，thatthemasterwasconstrainedtoadmitthattheladbeforehimhadanoldheadthoughsetonyoungshoulders。Bramahdecidedtoadopttheyouth’ssuggestions，madehimapresentonthespot，andofferedtogivehimajobifhewaswillingtocomeandworkinatownshop。Maudslaygladlyacceptedtheoffer，andinduetimeappearedbeforeBramahtoenteruponhisduties。
AsMaudslayhadservednoregularapprenticeship，andwasofaveryyouthfulappearance，theforemanoftheshophadconsiderabledoubtsastohisabilitytotakerankalongsidehisexperiencedhands。ButMaudslaysoonsethismaster’sandtheforeman’smindatrest。
Pointingtoaworn-outvice-bench，hesaidtoBramah，”PerhapsifI
canmakethatasgoodasnewbysixo’clockto-night，itwillsatisfyyourforemanthatIamentitledtorankasatradesmanandtakemyplaceamongyourmen，eventhoughIhavenotservedasevenyears’
apprenticeship。”Therewassomuchself-reliantabilityintheproposal，whichwasmoreoversoreasonable，thatitwasatonceaccededto。OffwentMaudslay’scoat，upwenthisshirtsleeves，andtoworkhesetwithawillupontheoldbench。Thevice-jawswerere-steeled”innotime，”filedup，re-cut，allthepartscleanedandmadetrim，andsetintoformagain。Bysixo’clock，theoldvicewasscreweduptoitsplace，itsjawswerehardenedand”letdown”topropertemper，andtheoldbenchwasmadetolooksosmartandneatthatitthrewalltheneighbouringbenchesintotheshade！Bramahandhisforemancameroundtoseeit，whilethemenoftheshoplookedadmiringlyon。Itwasexaminedandpronounced”afirst-ratejob。”