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*
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