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interior angles in ironwork； whether wrought or cast； for he found
that in such interior angles cracks were apt to originate； and when
the article was a tool； the sharp angle was less pleasant to the hand
as well as to the eye。 In the application of his favourite round or
hollow corner systemas； for instance； in the case of the points of
junction of the arms of a wheel with its centre and rimhe used to
illustrate its superiority by holding up his hand and pointing out
the nice rounded hollow at the junction of the fingers； or by
referring to the junction of the branches to the stem of a tree。
Hence he made a point of having all the angles of his machine
framework nicely rounded off on their exterior； and carefully
hollowed in their interior angles。 In forging such articles he would
so shape his metal before bending that the result should be the right
hollow or rounded corner when bent； the anticipated external angle
falling into its proper place when the bar so shaped was brought to
its ultimate form。 In all such matters of detail he was greatly
assisted by his early dexterity as a blacksmith； and he used to say
that to be a good smith you must be able to SEE in the bar of iron
the object proposed to be got out of it by the hammer or the tool；
just as the sculptor is supposed to see in the block of stone the
statue which he proposes to bring forth from it by his mind and his
chisel。
Mr。 Maudslay did not allow himself to forget his skill in the use of
the hammer； and to the last he took pleasure in handling it；
sometimes in the way of business； and often through sheer love of his
art。 Mr Nasmyth says； 〃It was one of my duties； while acting as
assistant in his beautiful little workshop； to keep up a stock of
handy bars of lead which he had placed on a shelf under his
work…bench； which was of thick slate for the more ready making of his
usual illustrative sketches of machinery in chalk。 His love of
iron…forging led him to take delight in forging the models of work to
be ultimately done in iron； and cold lead being of about the same
malleability as red…hot iron； furnished a convenient material for
illustrating the method to be adopted with the large work。 I well
remember the smile of satisfaction that lit up his honest face when
he met with a good excuse for 'having a go at' one of the bars of
lead with hammer and anvil as if it were a bar of iron； and how； with
a few dexterous strokes； punchings of holes； and rounded notches； he
would give the rough bar or block its desired form。 He always aimed
at working it out of the solid as much as possible； so as to avoid
the risk of any concealed defect； to which ironwork built up of
welded parts is so liable； and when he had thus cleverly finished his
model； he used forthwith to send for the foreman of smiths； and show
him how he was to instruct his men as to the proper forging of the
desired object。〃 One of Mr。 Maudslay's old workmen； when informing us
of the skilful manner in which he handled the file； said； 〃It was a
pleasure to see him handle a tool of any kind； but he was QUITE
SPLENDID with an eighteen…inch file！〃 The vice at which he worked was
constructed by himself； and it was perfect of its kind。 It could be
turned round to any position on the bench； the jaws would turn from
the horizontal to the perpendicular or any other
positionupside…down if necessaryand they would open twelve inches
parallel。
Mr。 Nasmyth furnishes the following further recollections of Mr。
Maudslay； which will serve in some measure to illustrate his personal
character。 〃Henry Maudslay；〃 he says； 〃lived in the days of
snuff…taking； which unhappily； as I think； has given way to the
cigar…smoking system。 He enjoyed his occasional pinch very much。 It
generally preceded the giving out of a new notion or suggestion for
an improvement or alteration of some job in hand。 As with most of
those who enjoy their pinch； about three times as much was taken
between the fingers as was utilized by the nose； and the consequence
was that a large unconsumed surplus collected in the folds of the
master's waistcoat as he sat working at his bench。 Sometimes a file；
or a tool； or some small piece of work would drop； and then it was my
duty to go down on my knees and fetch it up。 On such occasions； while
waiting for the article； he would take the opportunity of pulling
down his waistcoat front； which had become disarranged by his
energetic working at the bench； and many a time have I come up with
the dropped article； half…blinded by the snuff jerked into my eyes
from off his waistcoat front。
〃All the while he was at work he would be narrating some incident in
his past life； or describing the progress of some new and important
undertaking； in illustrating which he would use the bit of chalk
ready to his hand upon the slate bench before him； which was thus in
almost constant use。 One of the pleasures he indulged in while he sat
at work was Music； of which he was very fond；more particularly of
melodies and airs which took a lasting hold on his mind。 Hence he was
never without an assortment of musical boxes； some of which were of a
large size。 One of these he would set agoing on his library table；
which was next to his workshop； and with the door kept open； he was
thus enabled to enjoy the music while he sat working at his bench。
Intimate friends would frequently call upon him and sit by the hour；
but though talking all the while he never dropped his work； but
continued employed on it with as much zeal as if he were only
beginning life。 His old friend Sir Samuel Bentham was a frequent
caller in this way； as well as Sir Isambard Brunel while occupied
with his Thames Tunnel works*
＇footnote。。。
Among the last works executed by the firm during Mr。 Maudslay's
lifetime was the famous Shield employed by his friend Brunel in
carrying forward the excavation of the Thames Tunnel。 He also
supplied the pumping…engines for the same great work； the completion
of which he did not live to see。
。。。＇
and Mr。 Chantrey； who was accustomed to consult him about the
casting of his bronze statuary。 Mr。 Barton of the Royal Mint； and Mr。
Donkin the engineer； with whom Mr。 Barton was associated in
ascertaining and devising a correct system of dividing the Standard
Yard； and many others； had like audience of Mr。 Maudslay in his
little workshop； for friendly converse； for advice； or on affairs of
business。
〃It was a special and constant practice with him on a workman's
holiday； or on a Sunday morning； to take a walk through his workshops
when all was quiet； and then and there examine the various jobs in
hand。 On such occasions he carried with him a piece of chalk； with
which； in a neat and very legible hand； he would record his remarks
in the most pithy and sometimes caustic terms。 Any evidence of want
of correctness in setting things square； or in 'flat filing；' which
he held in high esteem； or untidiness in not sweeping down the bench
and laying the tools in order； was sure to have a record in chalk
made on the spot。 If it was a mild case； the reproof was recorded in
gentle terms； simply to show that the master's eye was on the
workman； but where the case deserved hearty approbation or required
equally hearty reproof； the words employed were few； but went
straight to the mark。 These chalk jottings on the bench were held in
the highest respect by the workmen themselves； whether they conveyed
praise or blame； as they were sure to be deserved； and when the men
next assembled； it soon became known all over the shop who had
received the honour or otherwise of one of the master's bench
memoranda in chalk。〃
The vigilant； the critical； and yet withal the generous eye of the
master being over all his workmen； it will readily be understood how
Maudslay's works came to be regarded as a first…class school for
mechanical engineers。 Every one felt that the quality of