TradebeingveryslackinGlasgowatthetime，Clement，afteraboutayear’sstayintheplace，acceptedasituationwithMessrs。Leys，Masson，andCo。，ofAberdeen，withwhomhebeganataguineaandahalfaweek，fromwhichhegraduallyrosetotwoguineas，andultimatelytothreeguineas。Hisprincipalworkconsistedindesigningandmakingpower-loomsforhisemployers，andfittingthemupindifferentpartsofthecountry。Hecontinuedtodevotehimselftothestudyofpracticalmechanics，andmademanyimprovementsinthetoolswithwhichheworked。WhileatGlasgowhehadmadeanimprovedpairofdie-stocksforscrews；and，atAberdeen，hemadeaturning-lathewithaslidingmandrillandguide-screws，forcuttingscrews，furnishedalsowiththemeansforcorrectingguide-screws。Inthesamemachineheintroducedasmallsliderest，intowhichhefixedthetoolforcuttingthescrews，——havingneverbeforeseenasliderest，thoughitisveryprobablehemayhaveheardofwhatMaudslayhadalreadydoneinthesamedirection。Clementcontinuedduringthisperiodofhislifeanindustriousself-cultivator，occupyingmostofhissparehoursinmechanicalandlandscapedrawing，andinvariousstudies。AmongthepapersleftbehindhimwefindatickettoacourseofinstructiononNaturalPhilosophygivenbyProfessorCoplandintheMarischalCollegeatAberdeen，whichClementattendedinthesessionof1812-13；andwedonotdoubtthatourmechanicwasamongthemostdiligentofhispupils。Towardstheendof1813，aftersavingabout100L。outofhiswages，ClementresolvedtoproceedtoLondonforthepurposeofimprovinghimselfinhistradeandpushinghiswayintheworld。ThecoachbywhichhetravelledsethimdowninSnowHill，Holborn；andhisfirstthoughtwasoffindingwork。Hehadnofriendintowntoconsultonthematter，sohemadeinquiryofthecoach-guardwhetherheknewofanypersoninthemechanicallineinthatneighbourhood。Theguardsaid，”Yes；therewasAlexanderGalloway’sshowshop，justroundthecorner，andheemployedalargenumberofhands。”Runningroundthecorner，ClementlookedinatGalloway’swindow，throughwhichhesawsomelathesandotherarticlesusedinmachineshops。Nextmorninghecalledupontheowneroftheshoptoaskemployment。”Whatcanyoudo?”askedGalloway。”Icanworkattheforge，”saidClement。”Anythingelse?””Icanturn。””Whatelse?””Icandraw。””What！”
saidGalloway，”canyoudraw?ThenIwillengageyou。”Amanwhocoulddraworworktoadrawinginthosedayswasregardedasasuperiorsortofmechanic。ThoughGallowaywasoneoftheleadingtradesmenofhistime，andhadexcellentopportunitiesforadvancement，hemissedthemall。AsClementafterwardssaidofhim，”Hewasonlyamouthingcommon-councilman，theheightofwhoseambitionwastobeanalderman；”and，likemostcorporationcelebrities，heheldalowrankinhisownbusiness。Heveryrarelywentintohisworkshopstosuperintendordirecthisworkmen，leavingthistohisforemen——asufficientindicationofthecausesofhisfailureasamechanic。*
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OnoneoccasionGallowayhadacast-ironroofmadeforhisworkshop，soflatandsoindependentoftiesthatthewonderwasthatitshouldhavestoodanhour。OnedayPeterKeir，anengineermuchemployedbythegovernment——acleverman，thoughsomewhateccentric——wastakenintotheshopbyGallowaytoadmirethenewroof。Keir，onglancingupatit，immediatelyexclaimed，”Comeoutside，andletusspeakaboutitthere！”AllthathecouldsaytoGallowayrespectingtheunsoundnessofitsconstructionwasofnoavail。Thefactwasthat，howeverKeirmightargueaboutitsnotbeingabletostand，thereitwasactuallystanding，andthatwasenoughforGalloway。Keirwenthome，hismindfilledwithGalloway’smostunprincipledroof。”Ifthatstands，”saidhetohimself，”allthatIhavebeenlearninganddoingforthirtyyearshasbeenwrong。”Thatnighthecouldnotsleepforthinkingaboutit。InthemorninghestrolledupPrimroseHill，andreturnedhomestillmutteringtohimselfabout”thatroof。””What，saidhiswifetohim，”areyouthinkingofGalloway’sroof?””Yes，saidhe。”Thenyouhaveseenthepapers?””No——whataboutthem?””Galloway’sroofhasfalleninthismorning，andkilledeightortenofthemen！”Keirimmediatelywenttobed，andsleptsoundlytillnextmorning。
OnenteringGalloway’sshop，Clementwasfirstemployedinworkingatthelathe；butfindingthetoolssobadthatitwasimpossibletoexecutesatisfactoryworkwiththem，heatoncewenttotheforge，andbeganmakinganewsetoftoolsforhimself。Theothermen，towhomsuchaproceedingwasentirelynew，cameroundhimtoobservehisoperations，andtheyweremuchstruckwithhismanualdexterity。
Thetoolsmade，heproceededtousethem，displayingwhatseemedtotheotherworkmenanunusualdegreeofenergyandintelligence；andsomeoftheoldhandsdidnothesitatealreadytopronounceClementtobethebestmechanicintheshop。WhenSaturdaynightcameround，theothermenwerecurioustoknowwhatwagesGallowaywouldallowthenewhand；andwhenhehadbeenpaid，theyaskedhim。”Aguinea，”
wasthereply。”Aguinea！Why，youareworthtwoifyouareworthashilling，”saidanoldmanwhocameoutoftherank——anexcellentmechanic，who，thoughcomparativelyworthlessthroughhisdevotiontodrink，knewClement’smoneyvaluetohisemployerbetterthananymanthere；andheadded，”Waitforaweekortwo，andifyouarenotbetterpaidthanthis，Icantellyouofamasterwhowillgiveyouafairerwage。”SeveralSaturdayscameround，butnoadvancewasmadeontheguineaaweek；andthentheoldworkmanrecommendedClementtoofferhimselftoBramahatPimlico，whowasalwaysonthelookoutforfirst-ratemechanics。
Clementactedontheadvice，andtookwithhimsomeofhisdrawings，atsightofwhichBramahimmediatelyengagedhimforamonth；andattheendofthattimehehadgivensomuchsatisfaction，thatitwasagreedheshouldcontinueforthreemonthslongerattwoguineasaweek。Clementwasplacedinchargeofthetoolsoftheshop，andheshowedhimselfsoaptatintroducingimprovementsinthem，aswellasinorganizingtheworkwithaviewtodespatchandeconomy，thatattheendofthetermBramahmadehimahandsomepresent，adding，”ifI
hadsecuredyourservicesfiveyearssince，Iwouldnowhavebeenarichermanbymanythousandsofpounds。”AformalagreementforatermoffiveyearswasthenenteredintobetweenBramahandClement，datedthe1stofApril，1814，bywhichthelatterundertooktofilltheofficeofchief-draughtsmanandsuperintendentofthePimlicoWorks，inconsiderationofasalaryofthreeguineasaweek，withanadvanceoffourshillingsaweekineachsucceedingyearoftheengagement。Thisarrangementprovedofmutualadvantagetoboth。
Clementdevotedhimselfwithincreasedzealtotheimprovementofthemechanicalarrangementsoftheconcern，exhibitinghisingenuityinmanyways，andtaking；agenuineprideinupholdingthecharacterofhismasterforturningoutfirst-classwork。
OnthedeathofBramah，hissonsreturnedfromcollegeandenteredintopossessionofthebusiness。TheyfoundClementtherulingmindthereandgrewjealousofhimtosuchanextentthathissituationbecameuncomfortable；andbymutualconsenthewasallowedtoleavebeforetheexpiryofhistermofagreement。Hehadnodifficultyinfindingemployment；andwasatoncetakenonaschiefdraughtsmanatMaudslayandField’swherehewasofmuchassistanceinproportioningtheearlymarineengines，forthemanufactureofwhichthatfirmwerebecomingcelebrated。Afterashorttime，hebecamedesirousofbeginningbusinessonhisownaccountasamechanicalengineer。HewasencouragedtodothisbytheDukeofNorthumberland，who，beingagreatloverofmechanicsandhimselfacapitalturner，usedoftentovisitMaudslay’s，andthusbecameacquaintedwithClement，whoseexpertnessasadraughtsmanandmechanichegreatlyadmired。Beingamanoffrugalandsoberhabits，alwayskeepinghisexpenditureveryconsiderablywithinhisincome，Clementhadbeenenabledtoaccumulateabout500L。，whichhethoughtwouldbeenoughforhispurpose；andheaccordinglyproceeded，in1817，totakeasmallworkshopinProspectPlace，NewingtonButts，wherehebeganbusinessasamechanicaldraughtsmanandmanufacturerofsmallmachineryrequiringfirst-classworkmanship。
FromthetimewhenhetookhisfirstgratuitouslessonsindrawingfromPeterNicholson，atGlasgow，in1807，hehadbeensteadilyimprovinginthisart，theknowledgeofwhichisindispensabletowhoeveraspirestoeminenceasamechanicalengineer，——untilbygeneralconsentClementwasconfessedtostandunrivalledasadraughtsman。SomeoftheverybestdrawingscontainedintheTransactionsoftheSocietyofArts，fromtheyear1817
downwards，——especiallythoserequiringthedelineationofanyunusuallyelaboratepieceofmachinery，——proceededfromthehandofClement。Insomeofthese，hereachedadegreeoftruthinmechanicalperspectivewhichhasneverbeensurpassed。*
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SeemoreparticularlyTheTransactionsoftheSocietyfortheEncouragementofArts，vol。xxxiii。l8l7，atpp。74，l57，l60，175，208
anadmirabledrawing；ofMr。JamesAllen’sTheodolite；vol。xxxvi。
1818，pp。28，176aseriesofremarkableillustrationsofMr。
Clement’sowninventionofanInstrumentforDrawingEllipses；vol。
xliii。1825，containinganillustrationoftheDrawingTableinventedbyhimforlargedrawings；vol。xlvi。1828，containingaseriesofelaborateillustrationsofhisPrizeTurningLathe；andxlviii。1829，containingillustrationsofhisSelf-adjustingDoubleDriverCentreChuck。
Tofacilitatehislabours，heinventedanextremelyingeniousinstrument，bymeansofwhichellipsesofallproportions，aswellascirclesandrightlines，mightbegeometricallydrawnonpaperoroncopper。Hetookhisideaofthisinstrumentfromthetrammelusedbycarpentersfordrawingimperfectellipses；andwhenhehadsucceededinavoidingthecrossingofthepoints，heproceededtoinventthestraight-linemotion。ForthisinventiontheSocietyofArtsawardedhimtheirgoldmedalin1818。Someyearslater，hesubmittedtothesameSocietyhisinventionofastandfordrawingsoflargesize。Hehadexperiencedconsiderabledifficultyinmakingsuchdrawings，andwithhisaccustomedreadinesstoovercomeobstacles，heforthwithsettoworkandbroughtouthisnewdrawing-table。
Aswithmanyotheroriginal-mindedmechanics，inventionbecameahabitwithhim，andbystudyandlabourherarelyfailedinattainingtheobjectwhichhehadbenthisminduponaccomplishing。Indeed，nothingpleasedhimbetterthantohavewhathecalled”atoughjob；”
asitstimulatedhisinventivefaculty，intheexerciseofwhichhetookthehighestpleasure。HencemechanicalschemersofallkindswereaccustomedtoresorttoClementforhelpwhentheyhadfoundanideawhichtheydesiredtoembodyinamachine。Iftherewasanyvalueintheiridea，nonecouldbemorereadythanhetorecogniseitsmerit，andtoworkitintoshape；butifworthless，hespokeouthismindatonce，dissuadingtheprojectorfromwastinguponitfurtherlabourorexpense。
OneoftheimportantbranchesofpracticalmechanicstowhichClementcontinuedthroughlifetodevotehimself，wastheimprovementofself-actingtools，moreespeciallyoftheslide-lathe。Heintroducedvariousimprovementsinitsconstructionandarrangement，untilinhishandsitbecameasnearlyperfectasitwaspossibletobe。In1818，hefurnishedthelathewithaslideresttwenty-twoincheslong，forthepurposeofcuttingscrews，providedwiththemeansofself-correction；andsomeyearslater，in1827，theSocietyofArtsawardedhimtheirgoldIsismedalforhisimprovedturning-lathe，whichembodiedmanyingeniouscontrivancescalculatedtoincreaseitsprecisionandaccuracyinlargesurface-turning。
ThebeautifularrangementsembodiedinMr。Clement’simprovedlathecanwithdifficultybedescribedinwords；butitsingenuitymaybeinferredfromabriefstatementofthedefectswhichitwasinventedtoremedy，andwhichitsuccessfullyovercame。Whenthemandrillofalathe，havingametalplatefixedtoit，turnsroundwithauniformmotion，andthesliderestwhichcarriesthecutterismovingfromthecircumferenceoftheworktothecentre，itwillbeobviousthatthequantityofmetalpassingovertheedgeofthecutterateachrevolution，andthereforeatequalintervalsoftime，iscontinuallydiminishing，inexactproportiontothespirallinedescribedbythecutteronthefaceofthework。Butinturningmetalplatesitisfoundveryinexpedienttoincreasethespeedoftheworkbeyondacertainquantity；forwhenthishappens，andthetoolpassestheworkattoogreatavelocity，itheats，softens，andisgroundaway，theedgeofthecutterbecomesdull，andthesurfaceoftheplateisindentedandburnished，insteadofbeingturned。Hencelossoftimeonthepartoftheworkman，anddiminishedworkonthepartofthetool，resultswhich，consideringthewagesoftheoneandthecapitalexpendedontheconstructionoftheother，areofnosmallimportance；fortheprimeobjectsofallimprovementoftoolsare，economyoftimeandeconomyofcapital——tominimizelabourandcost，andmaximizeresult。
Thedefecttowhichwehavereferredwasalmosttheonlyremainingimperfectioninthelathe，andMr。Clementovercameitbymakingthemachineself-regulating；sothat，whatevermightbethesituationofthecutter，equalquantitiesofmetalshouldpassoveritinequaltimes，——thespeedatthecentrenotexceedingthatsuitedtotheworkatthecircumference，——whiletheworkmanwasenabledtoconvertthevaryingrateofthemandrillintoauniformonewheneverhechose。
Thustheexpedientsofwheels，riggers，anddrums，ofdifferentdiameters，bywhichithadbeenendeavouredtoalterthespeedofthelathe-mandrill，accordingtothehardnessofthemetalandthediameterofthethingtobeturned，wereeffectuallydisposedof。
These，thoughansweringverywellwherecylindersofequaldiameterhadtobebored，andauniformmotionwasallthatwasrequired，werefoundveryinefficientwhereaPlanesurfacehadtobeturned；anditwasinsuchcasesthatMr。Clement’slathewasfoundsovaluable。Byitsmeanssurfacesofunrivalledcorrectnesswereproduced，andtheslide-lathe，soimproved，becamerecognisedandadoptedasthemostaccurateandextensivelyapplicableofallmachine-tools。
TheyearafterMr。Clementbroughtouthisimprovedturning-lathe，headdedtoithisself-adjustingdoubledrivingcentre-chuck，forwhichtheSocietyofArtsawardedhimtheirsilvermedalin1828。InintroducingthisinventiontothenoticeoftheSociety，Mr。Clementsaid，”AlthoughIhavebeeninthehabitofturningandmakingturning-lathesandothermachineryforupwardsofthirty-fiveyears，andhaveexaminedthebestturning-lathesintheprincipalmanufactoriesthroughoutGreatBritain，Ifindituniversallyregrettedbyallpracticalmenthattheycannotturnanythingperfectlytruebetweenthecentresofthelathe。”Itwasfoundbyexperience，thattherewasadegreeofeccentricity，andconsequentlyofimperfection，inthefigureofanylongcylinderturnedwhilesuspendedbetweenthecentresofthelathe，andmadetorevolvebytheactionofasingledriver。Undersuchcircumstancesthepressureofthetooltendedtoforcetheworkoutoftherightlineandtodistributethestrainbetweenthedriverandtheadjacentcentre，sothatoneendofthecylinderbecameeccentricwithrespecttotheother。ByMr。Clement’sinventionofthetwo-armeddriver，whichwasself-adjusting，thestrainwastakenfromthecentreanddividedbetweenthetwoarms，whichbeingequidistantfromthecentre，effectuallycorrectedalleccentricityinthework。Thisinventionwasfoundofgreatimportanceinensuringthetrueturningoflargemachinery，whichbeforehadbeenfoundamatterofconsiderabledifficulty。