CHAPTER VII 



LIFE IN HANOVER SQUARE VISIT TO TRANCE ABAOO CUVIKB 

 BOMB. 



[My father was appointed, in 1816, a member of the 

 Army Medical Board, and it became necessary for him 

 to reside in London. He and my mother accordingly 

 wished farewell to Scotland, and proceeded to take up 

 their residence in Hanover Square. My mother pre- 

 served the following recollections of this journey : 



ON our way we stopped a day at Birmingham, 

 on purpose to see Watt and Boulton's manu- 

 factory of steam engines at Soho. Mr. Boulton 

 showed us everything. The engines, some in action, 

 although beautifully smooth, showed a power that 

 was almost fearful. Since these early forms of the 

 steam engine I have lived to see this ail but omnipo- 

 tent instrument change the locomotion of the whole 

 civilized world by sea and by land. 



Soon after our arrival in London we became 

 acquainted with the illustrious family of the 

 Herschels, through the kindness of our friend Pro- 



