WhenWilliamFairbairnenteredManchesterhewastwenty-fouryearsofage；andhishatstill”coveredhisfamily。”But，beingnowprettywellsatiatedwithhis”wandetschaft，”——asGermantradesmentermtheirstageoftravellinginsearchoftradeexperience，——hedesiredtosettle，and，iffortunefavouredhim，tomarrytheobjectofhisaffections，towhomhisheartstillfaithfullyturnedduringallhiswanderings。HesucceededinfindingemploymentwithMr。AdamParkinson，remainingwithhimfortwoyears，workingasamillwright，atgoodwages。Outofhisearningshesavedsufficienttofurnishatwo-roomedcottagecomfortably；andtherewefindhimfairlyinstalledwithhiswifebytheendof1816。Asinthecaseofmostmenofathoughtfulturn，marriageservednotonlytosettleourengineer，buttostimulatehimtomoreenergeticaction。Henowbegantoaimattakingahigherposition，andentertainedtheambitionofbeginningbusinessonhisownaccount。Oneofhisfirsteffortsinthisdirectionwasthepreparationofthedesignofacast-ironbridgeovertheIrwell，atBlackfriars，forwhichaprizewasoffered。Theattemptwasunsuccessful，andastonebridgewaseventuallydecidedon；buttheeffortmadewascreditable，andprovedthebeginningofmanydesigns。ThefirstjobheexecutedonhisownaccountwastheerectionofanironconservatoryandhothouseforMr。
J。Hulme，ofClayton，nearManchester；andheinducedoneofhisshopmates，JamesLillie，tojoinhimintheundertaking。Thisprovedthebeginningofabusinessconnectionwhichlastedforaperiodoffifteenyears，andlaidthefoundationofapartnership，thereputationofwhich，inconnectionwithmill-workandtheconstructionofironmachinerygenerally，eventuallybecameknownalloverthecivilizedworld。
Althoughthepatternsfortheconservatorywereallmade，andthecastingswerebegun，theworkwasnotproceededwith，inconsequenceofthenoticegivenbyaBirminghamfirmthattheplanafterwhichitwasproposedtoconstructitwasaninfringementoftheirpatent。Theyoungfirmwereconsequentlyunderthenecessityoflookingaboutthemforotheremployment。Andtobepreparedforexecutingorders，theyproceededintheyear1817tohireasmallshedatarentofl2s。aweek，inwhichtheysetupalatheoftheirownmaking，capableofturningshaftsoffrom3to6inchesdiameter；andtheyhiredastrongIrishmantodrivethewheelandassistattheheavywork。Theirfirstjobwastheerectionofacullender，andtheirnextacalico-polishingmachine；butorderscameinslowly，andJamesLilliebegantodespairofsuccess。Hismorehopefulpartnerstrenuouslyurgedhimtoperseverance，andsobuoyedhimupwithhopesoforders，thathedeterminedtogoonalittlelonger。Theythenissuedcardsamongthemanufacturers，andmadeatouroftheprincipalfirms，offeringtheirservicesandsolicitingwork。
Amongstothers，Mr。FairbairncalledupontheMessrs。AdamandGeorgeMurray，thelargecotton-spinners，takingwithhimthedesignsofhisironbridge。Mr。AdamMurrayreceivedhimkindly，heardhisexplanations，andinvitedhimtocallonthefollowingdaywithhispartner。Themanufacturermusthavebeenfavourablyimpressedbythisinterview，fornextday，whenFairbairnandLilliecalled，hetookthemoverhismill，andaskedwhethertheyfeltthemselvescompetenttorenewwithhorizontalcross-shaftsthewholeoftheworkbywhichthemule-spinningmachinerywasturned。Thiswasaformidableenterpriseforayoungfirmwithoutcapitalandalmostwithoutplanttoundertake；buttheyhadconfidenceinthemselves，andboldlyrepliedthattheywerewillingandabletoexecutethework。Onthis，Mr。Murraysaidhewouldcallandseethemattheirownworkshop，tosatisfyhimselfthattheypossessedthemeansofundertakingsuchanorder。Thisproposalwasbynomeansencouragingtothepartners，whofearedthatwhenMr。Murrayspied”thenakednessoftheland”inthatquarter，hemightrepenthimofhisgenerousintentions。Hepaidhispromisedvisit，anditisprobablethathewasmorefavourablyimpressedbytheindividualmeritsofthepartnersthanbytheexcellenceoftheirmachine-tools——ofwhichtheyhadonlyone，thelathewhichtheyhadjustmadeandsetup；neverthelesshegavethemtheorder，andtheybeganwithgladheartsandwillinghandsandmindstoexecutethistheirfirstcontract。Itmaybesufficienttostatethatbyworkinglateandearly——from5inthemorninguntil9
atnightforaconsiderableperiod——theysucceededincompletingthealterationswithinthetimespecified，andtoMr。Murray’sentiresatisfaction。Thepracticalskilloftheyoungmenbeingthusproved，andtheiranxietytoexecutetheworkentrustedtothemtothebestoftheirabilityhavingexcitedtheadmirationoftheiremployer，hetooktheopportunityofrecommendingthemtohisfriendsinthetrade，andamongstotherstoMr。JohnKennedy，ofthefirmofMacConnelandKennedy，thenthelargestspinnersinthekingdom。
TheCottonTradehadbythistimesprungintogreatimportance，andwasincreasingwithextraordinaryrapidity。PopulationandwealthwerepouringintoSouthLancashire，andindustryandenterprisewereeverywhereonfoot。Thefoundationswerebeinglaidofasystemofmanufacturinginiron，machinery，andtextilefabricsofnearlyallkinds，thelikeofwhichhasperhapsneverbeensurpassedinanycountry。Itwasaraceofindustry，inwhichtheprizeswerewonbytheswift，thestrong，andtheskilled。Forthemostpart，theearlyLancashiremanufacturersstartedverynearlyequalinpointofworldlycircumstances，menoriginallyofthesmallestmeansoftencomingtothefront-workmen，weavers，mechanics，pedlers，farmers，orlabourers——incourseoftimerearingimmensemanufacturingconcernsbysheerforceofindustry，energy，andpersonalability。
ThedescriptiongivenbyoneofthelargestemployersinLancashire，ofthecapitalwithwhichhestarted，mightapplytomanyofthem：”WhenImarried，”saidhe，”mywifehadaspinning-wheel，andIhadaloom——thatwasthebeginningofourfortune。”AsanillustrationoftherapidriseofManchestermenfromsmallbeginnings，thefollowingoutlineofJohnKennedy’scareer，intimatelyconnectedashewaswiththesubjectofourmemoir——maynotbewithoutinterestinthisplace。
JohnKennedywasoneoffiveyoungmenofnearlythesameage，whocamefromthesameneighbourhoodinScotland，andeventuallysettledinManchesterascottons-pinnersabouttheendoflastcentury。TheotherswerehisbrotherJames，hispartnerJamesMacConnel，andthebrothersMurray，abovereferredto——Mr。Fairbairn’sfirstextensiveemployers。JohnKennedy’sparentswererespectablepeasants，possessedofalittlebitofgroundatKnocknalling，inthestewartryofKirkcudbright，onwhichtheycontrivedtolive，andthatwasall。
Johnwasoneofafamilyoffivesonsandtwodaughters，andthefatherdyingearly，theresponsibilityandthetoilofbringingupthesechildrendevolveduponthemother。Shewasastrictdisciplinarian，andearlyimpresseduponthemindsofherboysthattheyhadtheirownwaytomakeintheworld。Oneofthefirstthingsshemadethemthinkaboutwas，thelearningofsomeusefultradeforthepurposeofsecuringanindependentliving；”for，”saidshe，”ifyouhavegottenmechanicalskillandintelligence，andarehonestandtrustworthy，youwillalwaysfindemploymentandbereadytoavailyourselvesofopportunitiesforadvancingyourselvesinlife。”Thoughthemotherdesiredtogivehersonsthebenefitsofschooleducation，therewasbutlittleofthatcommoditytobehadintheremotedistrictofKnocknalling。Theparish-schoolwassixmilesdistant，andtheteachinggiveninitwasofaveryinferiorsort——usuallyadministeredbystudents，probationersfortheministry，orbyhalf-fledgeddominies，themselvesmoreneedinginstructionthanabletoimpartit。TheKennedyscouldonlyattendtheschoolduringafewmonthsinsummer-time，sothatwhattheyhadacquiredbytheendofoneseasonwasoftenforgottenbythebeginningofthenext。Theylearnt，however，toreadtheTestament，saytheircatechism，andwritetheirownnames。
Asthechildrengrewup，theyeachlongedforthetimetocomewhentheycouldbeputtoatrade。Thefamilywerepoorlyclad；stockingsandshoeswereluxuriesrarelyindulgedin；andMr。Kennedyusedinafter-lifetotellhisgrandchildrenofacertainSundaywhichherememberedshortlyafterhisfatherdied，whenhewassettingoutforDalrychurch，andhadborrowedhisbrotherAlexander’sstockings，hisbrotherranafterhimandcried，”Seethatyoukeepoutofthedirt，formindyouhavegotmystockingson！”Johnindulgedinmanyday-dreamsabouttheworldthatlaybeyondthevalleyandthemountainswhichsurroundedtheplaceofhisbirth。Thoughamereboy，thenaturalobjects，eternallyunchangeable，whichdailymethiseyes——theprofoundsilenceofthescene，brokenonlybythebleatingofasolitarysheep，orthecrowingofadistantcock，orthethrasherbeatingoutwithhisflailthescantygrainoftheblackoatsspreaduponaskinintheopenair，orthestreamletsleapingfromtherockyclefts，orthedistantchurch-bellsoundingupthevalleyonSundays——allbredinhismindaprofoundmelancholyandfeelingofloneliness，andheusedtothinktohimself，”WhatcanI
dotoseeandknowsomethingoftheworldbeyondthis?”Thegreatestpleasureheexperiencedduringthatperiodwaswhenpackmencameroundwiththeirstoresofclothingandhardware，anddisplayedthemforsale；heeagerlylistenedtoallthatsuchvisitorshadtotelloftheongoingsoftheworldbeyondthevalley。
ThepeopleoftheKnocknallingdistrictwereverypoor。Thegreaterpartofthemwereunabletosupporttheyoungermembers，whosecustomitwastomoveoffelsewhereinsearchofalivingwhentheyarrivedatworkingyears，——sometoAmerica，sometotheWestIndies，andsometothemanufacturingdistrictsofthesouth。Wholefamiliestooktheirdepartureinthisway，andthefewfriendshipswhichKennedyformedamongstthoseofhisownagewerethussuddenlysnapped，andonlyagreatblankremained。Buthetoocouldfollowtheirexample，andenteruponthatwiderworldinwhichsomanyothershadventuredandsucceeded。Asearlyaseightyearsofage，hismotherstillimpressinguponherboysthenecessityoflearningtowork，Johngatheredcouragetosaytoherthathewishedtoleavehomeandapprenticehimselftosomehandicraftbusiness。Havingseensomecarpentersworkingintheneighbourhood，withgoodclothesontheirbacks，andhearingthemen’scharacterswellspokenof，hethoughtitwouldbeafinethingtobeacarpentertoo，particularlyastheoccupationwouldenablehimtomovefromplacetoplaceandseetheworld。Hewasasyet，however，oftootenderanagetosetoutonthejourneyoflife；butwhenhewasaboutelevenyearsold，AdamMurray，oneofhismostintimateacquaintances，havinggoneofftoserveanapprenticeshipinLancashirewithMr。CannanofChowbent，himselfanativeofthedistrict，theeventagainawakenedinhimastrongdesiretomigratefromKnocknalling。OthershadgoneafterMurray，JamesMacConnelandtwoorthreemore；andatlength，ataboutfourteenyearsofage，KennedyhimselflefthisnativehomeforLancashire。Aboutthetimethathesetout，PaulJoneswasravagingthecoastsofGalloway，andproducinggeneralconsternationthroughoutthedistrict。GreatexcitementalsoprevailedthroughtheoccurrenceoftheGordonriotsinLondon，whichextendedintoremotecountryplaces；andKennedyrememberedbeingnearlyfrightenedoutofhiswitsononeoccasionbyapoordominiewhoseschoolheattended，whopreachedtohisboysaboutthehorrorsthatwerecominguponthelandthroughtheintroductionofPopery。TheboysetoutforEnglandonthe2ndofFebruary，1784，mounteduponaGalloway，hislittlepackageofclothesandnecessariesstrappedbehindhim。Ashepassedalongtheglen，recognisingeachfamiliarspot，hisheartwasinhismouth，andhedaredscarcelytrusthimselftolookback。Thegroundwascoveredwithsnow，andnaturequitefrozenup。HehadthecompanyofhisbrotherAlexanderasfarasthetownofNewGalloway，wherehesleptthefirstnight。Thenextday，accompaniedbyoneofhisfuturemasters，Mr。JamesSmith，apartnerofMr。Cannan’s，whohadoriginallyenteredhisserviceasaworkman，theystartedonponybackforDumfries。Afteralongday’sride，theyenteredthetownintheevening，andamongstthethingswhichexcitedtheboy’ssurprisewerethefewstreet-lampsofthetown，andawaggonwithfourhorsesandfourwheels。Inhisremotevalleycartswereasyetunknown，andeveninDumfriesitselftheywerecomparativerarities；thecommonmeansoftransportinthedistrictbeingwhatwerecalled”tumblingcars。”
Thedayafter，theyreachedLongtown，andsleptthere；theboynotingANOTHERlamp。ThenextstagewastoCarlisle，whereMr。Smith，whosefirmhadsuppliedacardingengineandspinning-jennytoasmallmanufacturerinthetown，wentto”gate”andtrimthem。Onewasputupinasmallhouse，theotherinasmallroom；andthesightofthesemachineswasJohnKennedy’sfirstintroductiontocotton-spinning。Whilegoinguptheinn-stairshewasamazedandnotalittlealarmedatseeingtwomeninarmour——hehadheardofthebattlesbetweentheScotsandEnglish——andbelievedthesetobesomeofthefightingmen；thoughtheyprovedtobebuteffigies。Fivemoredayswereoccupiedintravellingsouthward，therestingplacesbeingatPenrith，Kendal，Preston，andChorley，thetwotravellersarrivingatChowbentonSundaythe8thofFebruary，1784。Mr。CannanseemstohavecollectedabouthimalittlecolonyofScotsmen，mostlyfromthesameneighbourhood，andintheeveningtherewasquiteanassemblyofthematthe”Bear’sPaw，”whereKennedyputup，tohearthetidingsfromtheirnativecountybroughtbythelastnewcomer。OnthefollowingmorningtheboybeganhisapprenticeshipasacarpenterwiththefirmofCannanandSmith，servingsevenyearsforhismeatandclothing。Heappliedhimselftohistrade，andbecameagood，steadyworkman。Hewasthoughtfulandself-improving，alwaysendeavouringtoacquireknowledgeofnewartsandtoobtaininsightintonewmachines。”Eveninearlylife，”saidhe，intheaccountofhiscareeraddressedtohischildren，”Ifeltastrongdesiretoknowwhatothersknew，andwasalwaysreadytocommunicatewhatlittleI
knewmyself；andbyadmittingatoncemywantofeducation，IfoundthatIoftenmadefriendsofthoseonwhomIhadnoclaimsbeyondwhatanardentdesireforknowledgecouldgiveme。”
Hisapprenticeshipover，JohnKennedycommencedbusiness*
[footnote