14 WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR 



THE STEAM HAMMER 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES NASMYTH 



Illustrations. Post 8vo. 6s. 



*** Fine Paper Edition, with Portrait and Illustrations. Svo. 16s. 



"The whole range of literary biography may be searched in vain for a more 

 interesting record of an active, useful, successful, and happy life, than is presented 

 by the delightful autobiography of James Nasmyth. Starting in life, on the 

 modest wage of 10s. a week (fixed by himself, and within which he lived), at the 

 early age of forty-eight James Nasmyth had accomplished fame and fortune, and 

 retired from active business. Long may he live to enjoy the fruit of the work of 

 his skilful and industrious hands !" The, Edinburgh Review. 



"We should not know where to stop if we were to attempt to notice all that is 

 instructive and interesting in this volume. It will be found equally interesting to 

 students of human nature, to engineers, to astronomers, and even to archaeologists. 

 Among other merits, there are few books which could be put with more advantage 

 into a young man's hands, as affording an example of the qualities which conduce to 

 legitimate success in work. Mr. Nasmyth has done his generation a great service 

 in publishing this modest but most instructive autobiography. It must always be 

 one of the most interesting records in the history of mechanical engineering ; and 

 it is not less valuable as a picture of some of the soundest and pleasantest human 

 nature with which we have ever become acquainted." The Quarterly Review. 



"It would be an easy and agreeable task to wander through the pages of this 

 Autobiography, obtaining here and there illustrations of the character of the 

 writer, anecdotes of the many great men with whom he came into contact, glimpses 

 of the practical sagacity which governed his own conduct in life. The exigencies 

 of space forbid the indulgence, and we can only advise our readers to procure the 

 volume for themselves. There are, notwithstanding, a few things which must be 

 noticed. There run through it certain veins of garrulity, of unconscious egotism, 

 and of the simplicity of genius, which justify the belief that the great mechanic 

 has been permitted, in the main, to tell his own story in his own words and way. 

 There is one more pleasant feature which should be mentioned, and it is the tone 

 of hearty appreciation of excellence, whether moral, intellectual, or technical, 

 which pervades the volume. Nasmyth became acquainted with many great and 

 good men, and he speaks of their greatness or of their goodness with unstinted 

 admiration. From the first page to the last there is neither a word of personal 

 censure, nor a stain of jealousy or animosity. Close competition and keen rivalry 

 .seem to have left no traces upon his mind, and he has an approving word for every 

 contemporary who is mentioned at all. Such, in brief outline, is the history of 

 James Nasmyth, whose autobiography, edited by Samuel Smiles, is now before us." 

 The Times. 



"An autobiography which is quite a model, both in charming simplicity of style 

 and in modest self-effacement. . . . One of the pleasantest and most interesting 

 books we have met for many a day." Globe. 



"A singularly interesting volume; a most interesting and suggestive book." 

 Daily Telegraph. 



"A pleasant record of an interesting life. ... It would be impossible to give 

 any notion here of the unceasing activity of mind which gives life to every page of 

 this book ; nor can we even hint at the number of charming little mechanical 

 ' dodges ' contrived for all manner of purposes by Mr. Nasmyth in his odd moments. 

 Those who take no interest in such matters and we think they are to be pitied 

 will find much pleasant matter in Mr. Nasmyth's record of passing scenes and 

 events ; and we can congratulate him on having produced a well-written account 

 of a most interesting life." Saturday Review. 



