(HAP. XVII. RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS. 363 



occasion he said "He had commenced his career 

 on a lower level than any man present there. He 

 made that remark for the purpose of encouraging young 

 mechanics to do as he had done TO PERSEVERE. And 

 he would tell them that the humblest amongst them 

 occupied a much more advantageous position than he 

 had done on commencing his life of labour. They had 

 teachers who, going before them, had left their great 

 discoveries as a legacy and a guide ; and their works 

 were now accessible to all, in such institutions as that 

 which he addressed. But he remembered the time 

 when there were none thus to guide and instruct the 

 young mechanic. With a free access to scientific books, 

 he knew, from his own experience, that they could be 

 saved much unnecessary toil and expenditure of mental 

 capital. Many ingenious young mechanics, if they 

 failed to profit by the teaching of those who had 

 preceded them, might often be induced to believe that 

 t hoy had hit upon some discovery in mechanics; and 

 when they had gone on spending both time and money, 

 they would only arrive at the unpleasant discovery that 

 what they had cherished as an original invention had 

 been known many years before, and was to be found 

 recorded in scientific works." And again " The man 

 who wished to rise in his trade or profession must never 

 see any insurmountable difficulties before him. Obstacles 

 might appear to be such ; but they must be thrown 

 overboard or conquered. This was the course which 

 he had himself pursued." These characteristic senti- 

 ments clearly illustrate the man, and show the fibre of 

 which he was made ; and we need scarcely say that they 

 served to give new life and hope to all who listened 

 to him. 



Xor did he remain a mere inactive spectator of the 

 improvements in railway working which increasing 

 oxperience from day to day suggested. He continued 

 to contrive improvements in the locomotive, and to 



