32 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



the trouble they have had in the matter. I have no doubt they have had a 

 great deal of anxiety, and no little exertion, before they were able to bring 

 their scheme to so favourable a termination on my account ; but so far as I 

 understand, they undertook the work, and finished it cheerfully. I have like- 

 wise to thank the subscribers generally for the handsome testimonial which 

 the Chairman has now presented to me. My feelings are very different this 

 day from what they were forty years ago — when I left my father's house on 

 a cold winter morning, took my seat upon the top of the Edinburgh coach — 

 (there were no railways in those days) — wended my way to the capital of 

 Scotland, for the purpose of making my first bow before this honourable 

 Society. On that occasion I was full of fears and trembling — afraid that my 

 invention should turn out a mere chimera, and trembling when I thought of 

 coming before learned and scientific men. I had a small wooden model of the 

 machine under my arm, which looked like anything rather than a design for 

 cutting corn. As my friends advised me before I started, I waited upon the 

 Secretary of the Society, the late Sir Charles Gordon, to hear what he would 

 say about it. Sir Charles looked over it, and after examining it attentively, 

 declared he was no mechanic, and, consequently, could give no opinion upon 

 the matter, but added, he would be glad to give me an introduction to a 

 celebrated mechanic who lived in the town — he alluded to the late Sir John 

 Graham Dalyell, a well-known and much respected gentlemen in his day. 

 He accordingly gave me an introduction to Sir John, and I went to his house 

 and showed and explained the model to him, which looked liker a rat-trap 

 than anything else I know of. Sir John looked at it, and said that it was a 

 very difficult thing to give a decided opinion upon the model of any contriv- 

 ance that would be able to cut a standing crop of corn in an efficient manner ; 

 but, so far as he was able to judge, the model looked like a thing that would 

 do so, and he recommended me to get a machine constructed upon the large 

 scale after the pattern of my model, and try it next harvest. This was the 

 first encouragement to prosecute the idea I had formed that I had received. 

 The horizon of my imaginings grew brighter, and I was able to speak, even 

 to Sir John, in more confident terms. When I got home, a large machine 

 was immediately set about being constructed ; it was finished before harvest, 

 started amongst the standing corn before it was ripe, and it worked very well, 

 and I was obliged to Sir John for the friendly advice he gave me. Had he 

 condemned the principle, it might never have gone a step further. You are 

 all as well acquainted with the machine as I am, so that it is quite unneces- 

 sary for me to take up the time of the Society by continuing its history. Sir 

 John Graham Dalyell gave it the first push, and you, to-day, have put on the 

 capstone. I can only again thank you for the distinguished honour you have 

 this day done me. 



The meeting then separated. 



[A small model of the Eeaping Machine made by Mr Bell many years ago 

 was exhibited on the table.] 



