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Mr。 Murray said he would call and see them at their own workshop； to
satisfy himself that they possessed the means of undertaking such an
order。 This proposal was by no means encouraging to the partners； who
feared that when Mr。 Murray spied 〃the nakedness of the land 〃 in
that quarter； he might repent him of his generous intentions。 He paid
his promised visit； and it is probable that he was more favourably
impressed by the individual merits of the partners than by the
excellence of their machine…toolsof which they had only one； the
lathe which they had just made and set up； nevertheless he gave them
the order； and they began with glad hearts and willing hands and
minds to execute this their first contract。 It may be sufficient to
state that by working late and earlyfrom 5 in the morning until 9
at night for a considerable periodthey succeeded in completing the
alterations within the time specified； and to Mr。 Murray's entire
satisfaction。 The practical skill of the young men being thus proved；
and their anxiety to execute the work entrusted to them to the best
of their ability having excited the admiration of their employer； he
took the opportunity of recommending them to his friends in the
trade； and amongst others to Mr。 John Kennedy； of the firm of
MacConnel and Kennedy； then the largest spinners in the kingdom。
The Cotton Trade had by this time sprung into great importance； and
was increasing with extraordinary rapidity。 Population and wealth
were pouring into South Lancashire； and industry and enterprise were
everywhere on foot。 The foundations were being laid of a system of
manufacturing in iron； machinery； and textile fabrics of nearly all
kinds； the like of which has perhaps never been surpassed in any
country。 It was a race of industry； in which the prizes were won by
the swift； the strong； and the skilled。 For the most part； the early
Lancashire manufacturers started very nearly equal in point of
worldly circumstances； men originally of the smallest means often
coming to the front … work men； weavers； mechanics； pedlers； farmers；
or labourersin course of time rearing immense manufacturing
concerns by sheer force of industry； energy； and personal ability。
The description given by one of the largest employers in Lancashire；
of the capital with which he started； might apply to many of them：
〃When I married；〃 said he； 〃my wife had a spinning…wheel； and I had a
loomthat was the beginning of our fortune。〃 As an illustration of
the rapid rise of Manchester men from small beginnings； the following
outline of John Kennedy's career； intimately connected as he was with
the subject of our memoirmay not be without interest in this place。
John Kennedy was one of five young men of nearly the same age； who
came from the same neighbourhood in Scotland； and eventually settled
in Manchester as cottons…pinners about the end of last century。 The
others were his brother James； his partner James MacConnel； and the
brothers Murray； above referred toMr。 Fairbairn's first extensive
employers。 John Kennedy's parents were respectable peasants；
possessed of a little bit of ground at Knocknalling； in the stewartry
of Kirkcudbright； on which they contrived to live； and that was all。
John was one of a family of five sons and two daughters； and the
father dying early； the responsibility and the toil of bringing up
these children devolved upon the mother。 She was a strict
disciplinarian； and early impressed upon the minds of her boys that
they had their own way to make in the world。 One of the first things
she made them think about was； the learning of some useful trade for
the purpose of securing an independent living； 〃for；〃 said she； 〃if
you have gotten mechanical skill and intelligence； and are honest and
trustworthy； you will always find employment and be ready to avail
yourselves of opportunities for advancing yourselves in life。〃 Though
the mother desired to give her sons the benefits of school education；
there was but little of that commodity to be had in the remote
district of Knocknalling。 The parish…school was six miles distant；
and the teaching given in it was of a very inferior sortusually
administered by students； probationers for the ministry； or by
half…fledged dominies； themselves more needing instruction than able
to impart it。 The Kennedys could only attend the school during a few
months in summer…time； so that what they had acquired by the end of
one season was often forgotten by the beginning of the next。 They
learnt； however； to read the Testament； say their catechism； and
write their own names。
As the children grew up； they each longed for the time to come when
they could be put to a trade。 The family were poorly clad； stockings
and shoes were luxuries rarely indulged in； and Mr。 Kennedy used in
after…life to tell his grandchildren of a certain Sunday which he
remembered shortly after his father died； when he was setting out for
Dalry church； and had borrowed his brother Alexander's stockings； his
brother ran after him and cried； 〃See that you keep out of the dirt；
for mind you have got my stockings on！〃 John indulged in many
day…dreams about the world that lay beyond the valley and the
mountains which surrounded the place of his birth。 Though a mere boy；
the natural objects； eternally unchangeable； which daily met his
eyesthe profound silence of the scene； broken only by the bleating
of a solitary sheep； or the crowing of a distant cock； or the
thrasher beating out with his flail the scanty grain of the black
oats spread upon a skin in the open air； or the streamlets leaping
from the rocky clefts； or the distant church…bell sounding up the
valley on Sundays all bred in his mind a profound melancholy and
feeling of loneliness； and he used to think to himself； 〃What can I
do to see and know something of the world beyond this？〃 The greatest
pleasure he experienced during that period was when packmen came
round with their stores of clothing and hardware； and displayed them
for sale； he eagerly listened to all that such visitors had to tell
of the ongoings of the world beyond the valley。
The people of the Knocknalling district were very poor。 The greater
part of them were unable to support the younger members； whose custom
it was to move off elsewhere in search of a living when they arrived
at working years；some to America； some to the West Indies； and some
to the manufacturing districts of the south。 Whole families took
their departure in this way； and the few friendships which Kennedy
formed amongst those of his own age were thus suddenly snapped； and
only a great blank remained。 But he too could follow their example；
and enter upon that wider world in which so many others had ventured
and succeeded。 As early as eight years of age； his mother still
impressing upon her boys the necessity of learning to work； John
gathered courage to say to her that he wished to leave home and
apprentice himself to some handicraft business。 Having seen some
carpenters working in the neighbourhood； with good clothes on their
backs； and hearing the men's characters well spoken of； he thought it
would be a fine thing to be a carpenter too； particularly as the
occupation would enable him to move from place to place and see the
world。 He was as yet； however； of too tender an age to set out on the
journey of life； but when he was about eleven years old； Adam Murray；
one of his most intimate acquaintances； having gone off to serve an
apprenticeship in Lancashire with Mr。 Cannan of Chowbent； himself a
native of the district； the event again awakened in him a strong
desire to migrate from Knocknalling。 Others had gone after Murray；
James MacConnel and two or three more； and at length； at about
fourteen years of age； Kennedy himself left his native home for
Lancashire。 About the time that he set out； Paul Jones was ravaging
the coasts of Galloway； and producing general