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sword；' they told him； they gave him ‘no rest'； ‘his position became
intolerable'； it was plain he must choose between his political and his
religious tenets； and in the last years of his life； about 1812； he returned to
the Church of his fathers。
August 1786 was the date of his chief advancement； when； having
designed a system of oil lights to take the place of the primitive coal fires
before in use； he was dubbed engineer to the newly…formed Board of
Northern Lighthouses。 Not only were his fortunes bettered by the
appointment； but he was introduced to a new and wider field for the
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exercise of his abilities； and a new way of life highly agreeable to his
active constitution。 He seems to have rejoiced in the long journeys； and
to have combined them with the practice of field sports。 ‘A tall； stout
man coming ashore with his gun over his arm' … so he was described to my
father … the only description that has come down to me by a light…keeper
old in the service。 Nor did this change come alone。 On the 9th July of
the same year； Thomas Smith had been left for the second time a widower。
As he was still but thirty…three years old； prospering in his affairs； newly
advanced in the world； and encumbered at the time with a family of
children； five in number； it was natural that he should entertain the notion
of another wife。 Expeditious in business； he was no less so in his choice；
and it was not later than June 1787 … for my grandfather is described as
still in his fifteenth year … that he married the widow of Alan Stevenson。
The perilous experiment of bringing together two families for once
succeeded。 Mr。 Smith's two eldest daughters； Jean and Janet； fervent in
piety； unwearied in kind deeds； were well qualified both to appreciate and
to attract the stepmother； and her son； on the other hand； seems to have
found immediate favour in the eyes of Mr。 Smith。 It is； perhaps； easy to
exaggerate the ready…made resemblances； the tired woman must have done
much to fashion girls who were under ten； the man； lusty and opinionated；
must have stamped a strong impression on the boy of fifteen。 But the
cleavage of the family was too marked； the identity of character and
interest produced between the two men on the one hand； and the three
women on the other； was too complete to have been the result of influence
alone。 Particular bonds of union must have pre…existed on each side。
And there is no doubt that the man and the boy met with common
ambitions； and a common bent； to the practice of that which had not so
long before acquired the name of civil engineering。
For the profession which is now so thronged； famous； and influential；
was then a thing of yesterday。 My grandfather had an anecdote of
Smeaton； probably learned from John Clerk of Eldin； their common friend。
Smeaton was asked by the Duke of Argyll to visit the West Highland coast
for a professional purpose。 He refused； appalled； it seems； by the rough
travelling。 ‘You can recommend some other fit person？' asked the Duke。
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‘No；' said Smeaton； ‘I'm sorry I can't。' ‘What！' cried the Duke； ‘a
profession with only one man in it！ Pray； who taught you？' ‘Why；' said
Smeaton； ‘I believe I may say I was self…taught； an't please your grace。'
Smeaton； at the date of Thomas Smith's third marriage； was yet living； and
as the one had grown to the new profession from his place at the
instrument…maker's； the other was beginning to enter it by the way of his
trade。 The engineer of to…day is confronted with a library of acquired
results； tables and formulae to the value of folios full have been calculated
and recorded； and the student finds everywhere in front of him the
footprints of the pioneers。 In the eighteenth century the field was largely
unexplored； the engineer must read with his own eyes the face of nature；
he arose a volunteer； from the workshop or the mill； to undertake works
which were at once inventions and adventures。 It was not a science then
… it was a living art； and it visibly grew under the eyes and between the
hands of its practitioners。
The charm of such an occupation was strongly felt by stepfather and
stepson。 It chanced that Thomas Smith was a reformer； the superiority of
his proposed lamp and reflectors over open fires of coal secured his
appointment； and no sooner had he set his hand to the task than the interest
of that employment mastered him。 The vacant stage on which he was to
act； and where all had yet to be created … the greatness of the difficulties；
the smallness of the means intrusted him … would rouse a man of his
disposition like a call to battle。 The lad introduced by marriage under his
roof was of a character to sympathise； the public usefulness of the service
would appeal to his judgment； the perpetual need for fresh expedients
stimulate his ingenuity。 And there was another attraction which； in the
younger man at least； appealed to； and perhaps first aroused； a profound
and enduring sentiment of romance： I mean the attraction of the life。 The
seas into which his labours carried the new engineer were still scarce
charted； the coasts still dark； his way on shore was often far beyond the
convenience of any road； the isles in which he must sojourn were still
partly savage。 He must toss much in boats； he must often adventure on
horseback by the dubious bridle… track through unfrequented wildernesses；
he must sometimes plant his lighthouse in the very camp of wreckers； and
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he was continually enforced to the vicissitudes of outdoor life。 The joy
of my grandfather in this career was strong as the love of woman。 It
lasted him through youth and manhood； it burned strong in age； and at the
approach of death his last yearning was to renew these loved experiences。
What he felt himself he continued to attribute to all around him。 And to
this supposed sentiment in others I find him continually； almost
pathetically； appealing； often in vain。
Snared by these interests； the boy seems to have become almost at
once the eager confidant and adviser of his new connection； the Church； if
he had ever entertained the prospect very warmly； faded from his view；
and at the age of nineteen I find him already in a post of some authority；
superintending the construction of the lighthouse on the isle of Little
Cumbrae； in the Firth of Clyde。 The change of aim seems to have caused
or been accompanied by a change of character。 It sounds absurd to
couple the name of my grandfather with the word indolence； but the lad
who