586 



In Sir Henry De la Beche, an active, prudent, and successful 

 administrator has been withdrawn from the public service ; but a 

 far heavier loss is deplored in that branch of science in which he 

 won his renown, and whose foremost cultivators were his friends, 

 fellow-labourers, and disciples. 



MR. BRYAN DONKIN was born at Sandoe, Northumberland, on 

 the 22nd of March, 1768. His taste for science and mechanics soon 

 showed itself; and he was, almost as a child, continually to be 

 found in his little workshop, making thermometers and ingenious 

 contrivances connected with machinery of all kinds. This mechani- 

 cal turn of mind was ultimately encouraged by his father, who was 

 agent for the Errington and other estates, and who had formed the 

 acquaintance of John Smeaton, the eminent engineer, from having 

 frequent occasion to consult him on questions relating to the 

 bridges and other works on the Tyne. 



On leaving home, the son began life in the same business as his 

 father, being engaged for a year or two as Land Agent to the 

 Duke of Dorset at Knowle Park, Kent. Soon, however, the bent of 

 his genius showed itself, by his leaving the Duke's agency, and 

 going to consult Mr. Smeaton as to the best course to pursue to 

 become an engineer. By Smeaton's recommendation, he ap- 

 prenticed himself to Mr. Hall, of Dartford, and was soon able to 

 take an active part in Mr. Hall's works; so that, in 1801-2, he 

 was entrusted principally with the construction of a model of the 

 first machine for making paper, the execution of which had been 

 put into Mr. Hall's hands by the Messrs. Fourdrinier. 



The idea of this machine originated with Mr. Roberts, and formed 

 the subject of a patent obtained by Mr. Gamble, which was assigned 

 to Messrs. Bloxam and Fourdrinier. After some time had been 

 spent and considerable expense incurred, many attempts were made 

 to set the model to work, but in none of these trials was any paper 

 produced fit for sale. 



The model remained at Mr. Hall's works until 1802, when Mr. 

 Donkin agreed with Messrs. Bloxam and Fourdrinier to take the 

 matter in hand; and, having taken premises at Bermondsey (still 

 occupied by his sons), he made a machine, and erected it, in 1804, 

 at Frogmore, Herts. On putting this machine to work, it was found 



