BENTHAM. 11 



the parts of a window-sash frame ; both of these leaving nothing 

 for the skilled workman to do, save putting the pieces together. 

 There were also planes of various descriptions, saws for cutting 

 extremely fine veneers, machines for boring, dovetailing, cutting 

 stone, &c., &c. Machines for metal-work were not, however, at- 

 tempted, on account of the difficulty of obtaining the necessary 

 power for working them, the Queen's Square Place apparatus being 

 all worked by men. The fame of this machinery attracted many 

 visitors, amongst others Mr. Secretary Dundas (afterwards Lord 

 Melville), who stated in the House of Commons that it opened a 

 new era in the manufacturing prosperity of the country. 



But the circumstance which completely changed Bentham's 

 future destiny, was the frequent visits of Earl Spencer and the 

 Lords of the Admiralty, who soon perceived the advantages which 

 would accrue to the state by engaging the general in the British 

 service. Various proposals were made by the Admiralty to engage 

 him permanently in the public service ; but Bentham refused all in 

 which he had not the individual responsibility. Ultimately a new 

 office was created for him, under the name of Inspector-General of 

 Naval Works; not, however, without the fierce opposition of the 

 Naval Board, who, although unable to change the title of the office, 

 managed to reduce the salary from the sum of 2000Z. per annum, 

 as originally proposed, to 750?. nominal, with an addition finally 

 agreed upon of 500?. a year in all, 1250/. per annum. Notwith- 

 standing this opposition, Bentham, convinced of the services he 

 could render, gave up the honours and riches which awaited him in 

 Russia amongst others, an estate promised him on his return and 

 determined to devote his energies to his native country, regardless 

 of all pecuniary advantages. During the interval which elapsed 

 before the actual institution of his new office, Bentham was author- 

 ized by the Lords of the Admiralty, early in 1795, to build seven 

 experimental vessels; into these he introduced many improvements, 

 amongst which may be mentioned diagonal braces, metallic tanks 

 for water, metallic canisters for powder, means for filling the maga- 

 zine with water in case of fire, safety lamps, &c. 



Appointed Inspector-General of Naval Works in 1796, the whole 

 of Sir Samuel's energies were henceforward directed towards the 

 improvement of naval arsenals, and the introduction of his ma- 

 chinery for shaping wood, with steam-power to give it motion. 

 This introduction of steam-power into the naval dockyards of 

 Great Britain experienced at first the most violent opposition ; and 

 it was not until 1797 that any progress was made towards the fur- 

 therance of his object. During the same year Sir M. Isambard 

 (then Mr.) Brunei presented himself to the general, for the purpose 

 of bringing before his notice certain machinery for making blocks. 

 Bentham was at that time fully engaged by Lord St. Vincent in 

 organizing a better mode of managing timber in the royal dock- 



