James Nasmyth: Engineer | Page 3

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James Nasmyth: Engineer, An Autobiography.
Edited by Samuel Smiles, LL.D.
(this Etext is taken from the popular edition, pub. John Murray 1897)
PREFACE
I have had much pleasure in editing the following Memoir of my friend
Mr. Nasmyth. Some twenty years since (in April 1863), when I applied
to him for information respecting his mechanical inventions, he replied:
"My life presents no striking or remarkable incidents, and would, I fear,
prove but a tame narrative. The sphere to which my endeavours have
been confined has been of a comparatively quiet order; but, vanity apart,

I hope I have been able to leave a few marks of my existence behind
me in the shape of useful contrivances, which are in many ways helping
on great works of industry."
Mr. Nasmyth, nevertheless, kindly furnished me with information
respecting himself, as well as his former master and instructor, Henry
Maudslay, of London, for the purpose of being inserted in Industrial
Biography, or Ironworkers and Toolmakers, which was published at the
end of 1863. He was of opinion that the outline of his life there
presented was sufficiently descriptive of his career as a mechanic and
inventor.
During the years that have elapsed since then, Mr. Nasmyth has been
prevailed upon by some of his friends more especially by Sir John
Anderson, late of Woolwich Arsenal--to note down the reminiscences
of his life, with an account of his inventions, and to publish them for
the benefit of others. He has accordingly spent some of his well earned
leisure during the last two years in writing out his recollections. Having
consulted me on the subject, I recommended that they should be
published in the form of an Autobiography, and he has willingly given
his consent.
Mr. Nasmyth has furnished me with abundant notes of his busy life,
and he has requested me, in preparing them for publication, to "make
use of the pruning-knife." I hope, however, that in editing the book I
have not omitted anything that is likely to be interesting or instructive. I
must add that everything has been submitted to his correction and
received his final approval.
The narrative abundantly illustrates Mr. Nasmyth's own definition of
engineering; namely, common sense applied to the use of materials. In
his case, common sense has been more especially applied to facilitating
and perfecting work by means of Machine Tools. Civilisation began
with tools; and every step in advance has been accomplished through
their improvement. Handicraft labour, in bone, stone, or wood, was the
first stage in the development of man's power; and tools or machines, in
iron or steel, are the last and most efficient method of economising it,
and enabling him to intelligently direct the active and inert forces of

nature.
It will be observed that Mr. Nasmyth, on his first start in life, owed
much to the influence of his father, who was not only an admirable
artist--"the founder," as Sir David Wilkie termed him, "of the landscape
painting school of Scotland"--but an excellent mechanic. His
"bow-and-string" roofs and bridges show his original merits as a
designer; and are sufficient to establish his ability as a mechanical
engineer. Indeed, one of Mr. Nasmyth's principal objects in preparing
the notes of the following work, has been to introduce a Memorial to
the memory of his father, to whom he owed so much, and to whom he
was so greatly attached through life. Hence the numerous references to
him, and the illustrations from his works of art, of architecture, as well
as of mechanics, given in the early part of the book.
I might point out that Mr. Nasmyth's narrative has a strong bearing
upon