162 HENRY DEACON 



is of some interest, showing how these two 

 men, who were Deacon's teachers, regarded 

 each other. He says, "If ever I come 

 your way I hope to see your face ; and the 

 hope is pleasant, though the reality may 

 never arrive. You tell me of the glorious 

 success of your pile driver, it must be indeed a 

 great pleasure to witness the result. Is it not 

 Shakespeare who says ' The pleasure we 

 delight in physics pain'? In all your fatigue 

 and labour you must have this pleasure in 

 abundance, and a most delightful and healthy 

 enjoyment it is. I shall rejoice to see some 

 day a blow of the driver and a tap of the 

 hammer. You speak of some experiments 

 in tempering in which we can help you. 

 I hope when you come to town you will let 

 us have the pleasure of doing so. Our appar- 

 atus, such as it is, shall be entirely at your ser- 

 vice. I made, a long time ago, a few such 

 experiments on steel wire, but could eliminate 

 no distinct or peculiar results. You will know 

 how to look at things, and at your hand I 

 shall expect much. Here we are just lecturing 

 away, and I am too tired to attempt anything, 

 much less to do anything just now ; but the 

 goodwill of such men as you is a great 

 stimulus, and will, I trust even with me, 



