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could never equal。
The effects of the introduction of the slide rest were very shortly
felt in all departments of mechanism。 Though it had to encounter some
of the ridicule with which new methods of working are usually
received； and for a time was spoken of in derision as 〃Maudslay's
Go…cart；〃its practical advantages were so decided that it gradually
made its way； and became an established tool in all the best
mechanical workshops。 It was found alike capable of executing the
most delicate and the most ponderous pieces of machinery； and as
slide…lathes could be manufactured to any extent； machinery；
steam…engines； and all kinds of metal work could now be turned out in
a quantity and at a price that； but for its use； could never have
been practicable。 In course of time various modifications of the
machine were introducedsuch as the planing machine； the
wheel…cutting machine； and other beautiful tools on the slide…rest
principle；the result of which has been that extraordinary
development of mechanical production and power which is so
characteristic a feature of the age we live in。
〃It is not； indeed； saying at all too much to state；〃 says Mr。
Nasmyth；*
＇footnote。。。
Remarks on the Introduction of the Slide Principle in Tools and
Machines employed in the Production of Machinery； in Buchanan's
Practical Essays on Mill Work and other Machinery。 3rd ed。 p。 397。
。。。＇
a most competent judge in such a matter； 〃that its influence in
improving and extending the use of machinery has been as great as
that produced by the improvement of the steam…engine in respect to
perfecting manufactures and extending commerce； inasmuch as without
the aid of the vast accession to our power of producing perfect
mechanism which it at once supplied； we could never have worked out
into practical and profitable forms the conceptions of those master
minds who； during the last half century； have so successfully
pioneered the way for mankind。 The steam…engine itself； which
supplies us with such unbounded power； owes its present perfection to
this most admirable means of giving to metallic objects the most
precise and perfect geometrical forms。 How could we； for instance；
have good steam…engines if we had not the means of boring out a true
cylinder； or turning a true piston…rod； or planing a valve face？ It
is this alone which has furnished us with the means of carrying into
practice the accumulated result's of scientific investigation on
mechanical subjects。 It would be blamable indeed；〃 continues Mr。
Nasmyth； 〃after having endeavoured to set forth the vast advantages
which have been conferred on the mechanical world； and therefore on
mankind generally； by the invention and introduction of the Slide
Rest； were I to suppress the name of that admirable individual to
whom we are indebted for this powerful agent towards the attainment
of mechanical perfection。 I allude to Henry Maudslay； whose useful
life was enthusiastically devoted to the grand object of improving
our means of producing perfect workmanship and machinery： to him we
are certainly indebted for the slide rest； and； consequently； to say
the least； we are indirectly so for the vast benefits which have
resulted from the introduction of so powerful an agent in perfecting
our machinery and mechanism generally。 The indefatigable care which
he took in inculcating and diffusing among his workmen； and
mechanical men generally； sound ideas of practical knowledge and
refined views of construction； have rendered and ever will continue
to render his name identified with all that is noble in the ambition
of a lover of mechanical perfection。〃
One of the first uses to which Mr。 Maudslay applied the improved
slide rest； which he perfected shortly after beginning business in
Margaret Street； Cavendish Square； was in executing the requisite
tools and machinery required by Mr。 （afterwards Sir Marc Isambard）
Brunel for manufacturing ships' blocks。 The career of Brunel was of a
more romantic character than falls to the ordinary lot of mechanical
engineers。 His father was a small farmer and postmaster； at the
village of Hacqueville； in Normandy； where Marc Isambard was born in
1769。 He was early intended for a priest； and educated accordingly。
But he was much fonder of the carpenter's shop than of the school；
and coaxing； entreaty； and punishment alike failed in making a
hopeful scholar of him。 He drew faces and plans until his father was
almost in despair。 Sent to school at Rouen； his chief pleasure was in
watching the ships along the quays； and one day his curiosity was
excited by the sight of some large iron castings just landed。 What
were they？ How had they been made？ Where did they come from？ His
eager inquiries were soon answered。 They were parts of an engine
intended for the great Paris water…works； the engine was to pump
water by the power of steam； and the castings had been made in
England； and had just been landed from an English ship。 〃England！〃
exclaimed the boy； 〃ah！ when I am a man I will go see the country
where such grand machines are made！〃 On one occasion； seeing a new
tool in a cutler's window； he coveted it so much that he pawned his
hat to possess it。 This was not the right road to the priesthood； and
his father soon saw that it was of no use urging him further： but the
boy's instinct proved truer than the father's judgment。
It was eventually determined that he should qualify himself to enter
the royal navy； and at seventeen he was nominated to serve in a
corvette as 〃volontaire d'honneur。〃 His ship was paid off in 1792；
and he was at Paris during the trial of the King。 With the
incautiousness of youth he openly avowed his royalist opinions in the
cafe which he frequented。 On the very day that Louis was condemned
to death； Brunel had an angry altercation with some
ultra…republicans； after which he called to his dog； 〃Viens；
citoyen！〃 Scowling looks were turned upon him； and he deemed it
expedient to take the first opportunity of escaping from the house；
which he did by a back…door； and made the best of his way to
Hacqueville。 From thence he went to Rouen； and succeeded in finding a
passage on board an American ship； in which he sailed for New York；
having first pledged his affections to an English girl； Sophia
Kingdom； whom he had accidentally met at the house of Mr。 Carpentier；
the American consul at Rouen。
Arrived in America； he succeeded in finding employment as assistant
surveyor of a tract of land along the Black River； near Lake Ontario。
In the intervals of his labours he made occasional visits to New
York； and it was there that the first idea of his block…machinery
occurred to him。 He carried his idea back with him into the woods；
where it often mingled with his thoughts of Sophia Kingdom； by this
time safe in England after passing through the horrors of a French
prison。 〃My first thought of the block…machinery；〃 he once said； 〃was
at a dinner party at Major…General Hamilton's； in New York； my second
under an American tree； when； one day that I was carving letters on
its bark； the turn of one of them reminded me of it； and I thought；
'Ah！ my block！ so it must be。' And what do you think。 were the
letters I was cutting？ Of course none other than S。 K。〃 Brunel
subsequently obtained some employment as an architect in New York；
and promulgated various plans for improving the navigation of the
principal rivers。 Among the designs of his which were carried out；
was that of the Park Theatre at New York； and a cannon foundry； in
which he introduced improvements in casting and boring big guns。 But
being badly paid for his work； and a powerful attraction drawing him
constantly towards England； he determined to take final leave of
America； which he did in 1799； and landed at Falmouth in the
following March。 There he again met Miss Kingdom； who had remained
faithful to him during his six long years of e