第 26 节
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of Ketley; in Shropshire; stepped from the accustomed path;
constructed the first inclined plane; and introduced boats of five
tons。 This; like the Duke's canal; was deemed a visionary project;
and particularly by his Grace; who was partial to locks; yet this is
also introduced into practice; and will in many instances supersede
lock canals。〃 Telford; the engineer; also gracefully acknowledged the
valuable assistance he received from William Reynolds in planning the
iron aqueduct by means of which the Ellesmere Canal was carried over
the Pont Cysylltau; and in executing the necessary castings for the
purpose at the Ketley foundry。
The future management of his extensive ironworks being thus placed in
able hands; Richard Reynolds finally left Coalbrookdale in 1804; for
Bristol; his native town; where he spent the remainder of his life in
works of charity and mercy。 Here we might leave the subject; but
cannot refrain from adding a few concluding words as to the moral
characteristics of this truly good man。 Though habitually religious;
he was neither demure nor morose; but cheerful; gay; and humorous。 He
took great interest in the pleasures of the young people about him;
and exerted himself in all ways to promote their happiness。 He was
fond of books; pictures; poetry; and music; though the indulgence of
artistic tastes is not thought becoming in the Society to which he
belonged。 His love for the beauties of nature amounted almost to a
passion; and when living at The Bank; near Ketley; it was his great
delight in the summer evenings to retire with his pipe to a rural
seat commanding a full view of the Wrekin; the Ercall Woods; with
Cader Idris and the Montgomeryshire hills in the distance; and watch
the sun go down in the west in his glory。 Once in every year he
assembled a large party to spend a day with him on the Wrekin; and
amongst those invited were the principal clerks in the company's
employment; together with their families。 At Madeley; near
Coalbrookdale; where he bought a property; he laid out; for the
express use of the workmen; extensive walks through the woods on
Lincoln Hill; commanding beautiful views。 They were called 〃The
Workmen's Walks;〃 and were a source of great enjoyment to them and
their families; especially on Sunday afternoons。
When Mr。 Reynolds went to London on business; he was accustomed to
make a round of visits; on his way home; to places remarkable for
their picturesque beauty; such as Stowe; Hagley Park; and the
Leasowes。 After a visit to the latter place in 1767; he thus; in a
letter to his friend John Maccappen; vindicated his love for the
beautiful in nature: 〃I think it not only lawful but expedient to
cultivate a disposition to be pleased with the beauties of nature; by
frequent indulgences for that purpose。 The mind; by being continually
applied to the consideration of ways and means to gain money;
contracts an indifferency if not an insensibility to the profusion of
beauties which the benevolent Creator has impressed upon every part
of the material creation。 A sordid love of gold; the possession of
what gold can purchase; and the reputation of being rich; have so
depraved the finer feelings of some men; that they pass through the
most delightful grove; filled with the melody of nature; or listen to
the murmurings of the brook in the valley; with as little pleasure
and with no more of the vernal delight which Milton describes; than
they feel in passing through some obscure alley in a town。〃
When in the prime of life; Mr。 Reynolds was an excellent rider;
performing all his journeys on horseback。 He used to give a ludicrous
account of a race he once ran with another youth; each having a lady
seated on a pillion behind him; Mr。 Reynolds reached the goal first;
but when he looked round he found that he had lost his fair
companion; who had fallen off in the race! On another occasion he had
a hard run with Lord Thurlow during a visit paid by the latter to the
Ketley Iron…Works。 Lord Thurlow pulled up his horse first; and
observed; laughing; 〃I think; Mr。 Reynolds; this is probably the
first time that ever a Lord Chancellor rode a race with a Quaker!〃
But a stranger rencontre was one which befel Mr。 Reynolds on
Blackheath。 Though he declined Government orders for cannon; he seems
to have had a secret hankering after the 〃pomp and circumstance〃 of
military life。 At all event's he was present on Blackheath one day
when George III。 was reviewing some troops。 Mr。 Reynold's horse; an
old trooper; no sooner heard the sound of the trumpet than he started
off at full speed; and made directly for the group of officers before
whom the troops were defiling。 Great was the surprise of the King
when he saw the Quaker draw up alongside of him; but still greater;
perhaps; was the confusion of the Quaker at finding himself in such
company。
During the later years of his life; while living at Bristol; his hand
was in every good work; and it was often felt where it was not seen。
For he carefully avoided ostentation; and preferred doing his good in
secret。 He strongly disapproved of making charitable bequests by
will; which he observed in many cases to have been the foundation of
enormous abuses; but held it to be the duty of each man to do all the
possible good that he could during his lifetime。 Many were the
instances of his princely; though at the time unknown; munificence。
Unwilling to be recognised as the giver of large sums; he employed
agents to dispense his anonymous benefactions。 He thus sent 20;000L。
to London to be distributed during the distress of 1795。 He had four
almoners constantly employed in Bristol; finding out cases of
distress; relieving them; and presenting their accounts to him
weekly; with details of the cases relieved。 He searched the debtors'
prisons; and where; as often happened; deserving but unfortunate men
were found confined for debt; he paid the claims against them and
procured their release。 Such a man could not fail to be followed with
blessings and gratitude; but these he sought to direct to the Giver
of all Good。 〃My talent;〃 said he to a friend; 〃is the meanest of all
talentsa little sordid dust; but as the man in the parable who had
but one talent was held accountable; I also am accountable for the
talent that I possess; humble as it is; to the great Lord of all。〃 On
one occasion the case of a poor orphan boy was submitted to him;
whose parents; both dying young; had left him destitute; on which Mr。
Reynolds generously offered to place a sum in the names of trustees
for his education and maintenance until he could be apprenticed to a
business。 The lady who represented the case was so overpowered by the
munificence of the act that she burst into tears; and; struggling to
express her gratitude; concluded with〃and when the dear child is
old enough; I will teach him to thank his benefactor。〃 〃Thou must
teach him to look higher;〃 interrupted Reynolds: 〃Do we thank the
clouds for rain? When the child grows up; teach him to thank Him who
sendeth both the clouds and the rain。〃 Reynolds himself deplored his
infirmity of temper; which was by nature hasty; and; as his
benevolence was known; and appeals were made to him at all times;
seasonable and unseasonable; he sometimes met them with a sharp word;
which; however; he had scarcely uttered before he repented of it: and
he is known to have followed a poor woman to her home and ask
forgiveness for having spoken hastily in answer to her application
for help。
This 〃great good man〃 died on the l0th of September; 1816; in the
81st year of his age。 At his funeral the poor of Bristol were the
chief mourners。 The children of the benevolent societies which he had
munificently supported during his lifetime; and some of which he had
founded; followed his body to the grave。 The procession was joined by
the clergy and ministers of all denominations; and by men of all
classes and persuasions。 And thus was Richard Reynolds laid to his
rest; leaving behind him a name full of good odour; which will long
be held in grateful remembrance by the inhabitants of Bristol。
CHAPTER VI。
INVENTION OF CAST STEELBENJAMIN HUNTSMAN。
〃It may be averred that as certainly as the age of iron superseded
that of bronze; so will the age of steel reign triumphant over
iron。〃 HENRY BESSEMER。
〃Aujourd'hui la revolution que devait amener en Grande…Bretagne la
memorable decouverte de Benjamin Huntsman est tout a fait
accomplie; et chaque jour les consequetces sen feront plus vivement
sentir sur le confinent。〃LE PLAY; Sur la Fabricatio n de l' Acier
en Yorkshire。
Iron; besides being used in various forms as bar and cast iron; is
also used in various forms as bar and cast steel; and it is
principally because of its many admirable qualities in these latter
forms that iron maintains its supremacy over all the other m