22 BRUNEL. 



compelled to seek safety by flight, which with difficulty he effected,* 

 taking refuge in the United States of America. Here, driven by 

 necessity to the exercise of his talents, he followed the bent of his 

 inclination, and became a civil engineer and architect. His first 

 engagement in this capacity was on the survey of a tract of land 

 near Lake Erie ; he then became engaged in cutting canals, and 

 was employed to erect an arsenal and cannon foundry at New York, 

 where he erected several new and ingenious machines. He was also 

 engaged to design and superintend the building of the Bowery 

 Theatre, New York, since destroyed by fire, the roof of which was 

 peculiar and original in its construction. Brunei now rose high in 

 the estimation of the citizens of New York ; they appointed him 

 their chief engineer, and in that capacity he organized an establish- 

 ment for casting and boring ordnance, which at that time was 

 considered unsurpassed for its novelty of design and general practi- 

 cability. Previously to this the idea of substituting machinery for 

 manual labour in making ships' blocks had long occupied Brunei's 

 mind, and in 1799, having matured his plans, he determined upon 

 coming to England, finding that the United States were unable to 

 afford full occupation for his inventive genius. 



In the month of May of the same year Brunei took out his first 

 patent in England, which was for a duplicate writing and drawing 

 machine. His next invention was a machine for twisting cotton- 

 thread and forming it into balls ; it measured the length of thread 

 which it wound, and proportioned the size of the ball to its weight and 

 firmness. This machine was not, however, patented, and it became 

 rapidly and generally adopted without bringing any advantage to 

 the inventor. 



Brunei's next contrivance was a machine for trimmings and 

 borders for muslins, lawns, and cambrics, somewhat of the nature 

 of a sewing machine. Shortly after this he patented his famous 

 block-machinery, which he submitted for the inspection of the 

 Admiralty in 1801. 



Earl St. Vincent was at that time at the head of the Admiralty, 

 and after many delays and difficulties, which were ultimately over- 

 come chiefly through the influence of Earl Spencer and Sir Samuel 

 Bentham, Brunei's system was adopted ; and he was enabled to 

 erect the beautiful and effective machinery, which has continued 

 until the present time, without any alteration or improvement, to 



* Brunei had scarcely left the shores of France when he found that he had 

 lost his passport. This difficulty he, however, got over by borrowing a pass- 

 port from a fellow-traveller, which he copied so exactly in every particular. 

 down to the very seal, that it was deemed proof against all scrutiny. He had 

 hardly completed his task when the American vessel was stopped by a French 

 frigate, and all the passengers were ordered to show their passports. Hrunel, 

 with perfect self-possession, was the first to show his, and not the slightest 

 doubt was aroused as to its authenticity. 



