BENNIE. 97 



Professors Robison and Black. With the former gentleman he 

 gradually formed an intimate acquaintance, and was by him intro- 

 duced to Messrs. Boulton and Watt, of Soho, with whom he re- 

 mained during the space of twelve months ; it being their wish to 

 have engaged his services for a longer period, but Rennie, conscious 

 of his own powers, determined to make the capital the theatre of 

 his future efforts. His first practical essay at millwright work in 

 England was the rolling mills at Soho, which were entirely re- 

 modelled and rebuilt under his direction. 



In 1784 he established himself in London, and commenced work 

 by the erection of the Albion Mills near Blackfriars Bridge, Boulton 

 and Watt, who had the direction of the steam-engines, having, in 

 accordance with the advice of Professors Robison and Black, en- 

 trusted to him the execution of the millwork. Mr. Watt, in his 

 notes to Professor Robison's account of the steam-engine, says that 

 " in the construction of the millwork and machinery, they derived 

 most valuable assistance from that able mechanician and engineer, 

 Mr. John Rennie, then just entering into business, who assisted in 

 placing them, and under whose direction they were executed." He 

 also adds that the machinery, which used to be made of wood, was 

 here made of cast iron, and considers that this was the commence- 

 ment of that system of millwork which has proved so beneficial to 

 this country. After executing this undertaking, Rennie was em- 

 ployed on the flour mills at Wandsworth, and the rolling and tritu- 

 rating mills at the Mint. His mills, and particularly his water 

 wheels, were regarded as models of perfection, while in all hydraulic 

 works he was the worthy successor of Smeaton. From this time 

 until his comparatively early death in 1821, Rennie was constantly 

 employed on various large and splendid undertakings, among which 

 his bridges occupy an important place. Of these structures the 

 finest is the Waterloo Bridge over the Thames, begun in 1809 and 

 finished in 1817. It is built of Aberdeen granite, and consists of 

 nine equal semi-elliptical arches of 20 feet span, with a level road- 

 way 45 feet wide from outside to outside of parapet, which adds 

 greatly to its beauty. This bridge was opened to the public by the 

 Prince Regent, who offered at the time to confer upon Mr. Rennie 

 the honour of knighthood ; this offer, however, he declined. London 

 Bridge, which he designed but did not live to execute, was finished 

 by his sons, Mr. George and Sir John Rennie. It is built of the 

 finest blue and white granite from Scotland and Devonshire, and 

 consists of five semi-elliptical arches, two of 130, two of 140, and the 

 centre one of 152^ ft. span, being perhaps the largest elliptical arch 

 ever attempted. The beautiful stone bridge over the Tweed at 

 Kelso, and those at Musselburgh and New Galloway, were also de- 

 signed by him. When speaking of the first-named of these bridges, 

 Mr. Rennie used often playfully to declare, that he considered him- 

 self a benefactor to his country, inasmuch as one of his earliest 



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