CHAP. XI. HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER. 281 



deeming no point, however apparently unimportant, 

 beneath his careful attention and study. 



Hence great reliance was placed upon his judgment by 

 those who consulted him ; and the accurate though com- 

 paratively reserved manner in which he expressed himself 

 before Committees of Parliament gave all the greater 

 weight to his evidence. " What I liked about Rennie," 

 says one who knew him well, " was his severe truthful- 

 ness." When under examination on such occasions, he 

 could always give a strong, clear reason, in support of 

 any scheme he recommended, based upon his own careful 

 preliminary study of the whole subject. But when asked 

 any question outside the line of his actual knowledge, he 

 had the honesty to say at once, " I do not know." He 

 would not guess nor attempt to give ingenious answers 

 to show his cleverness, nor act the special pleader in the 

 witness-box, but confine himself solely to what he posi- 

 tively knew. 



In the course of his professional career, Mr. Rennie ex- 

 perienced the great advantage which he had derived from 

 his early training as a millwright. His practical know- 

 ledge enabled him to select the best men to carry out his 

 designs, and he took pride and pleasure in directing them 

 how to do their work in the most efficient manner. His 

 manufactory was indeed a school, in which some of the 

 best mechanics of the day received a thorough training in 

 machine work ; and many of his workmen, like himself, 

 eventually raised themselves to the rank of large em- 

 ployers of skilled labour. Mr. Eennie was never ashamed 

 to put his hand to any work where he could teach a 

 lesson or facilitate despatch, and to the end of his 

 career he continued as " handy " as he had been at the 

 beginning. 



A curious illustration of his expertness at smith- 

 work occurred during a journey into Scotland, when on 

 his way to visit the Earl of Eglmtoii at Eglinton 

 Castle. He went by the stage-coach, in company 



