LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, DUKE STREET, STAMFORD STREET,

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

PART VI.-LIFE OF JOHN SMEATON.

CHAPTER I.

61754

John Smeaton's birth and education - Leeds at the beginning of last century-

Road communications of the neighbourhood - Austhorpe Lodge - The

boy's mechanical amusements-Leeds Grammar-school - Smeaton's work-

shop-Hindley's account of his boyish occupations ..

CHAPTER II.

Page 3-9

Placed in an attorney's office- Attends the Law Courts in Westminster Hall -

Learns the trade of mathematical instrument maker-Frequents meetings

of the Royal Society — His mechanical contrivances and inventions — His

paper on the Natural Powers of Wind and Water to Turn Mills-An inde-

fatigable student - Turns his attention to civil engineering - His tour in

Holland
10-14

CHAPTER III.

Dangers of the Eddystone Rock - Necessity for a lighthouse - Henry Win-

stanley His eccentricities - Designs and erects the first lighthouse on the

Eddystone Is washed away in a storm John Rudyerd― Builds the

second lighthouse Is destroyed by fire- Mr. Smeaton applied to for a

design
15-25

CHAPTER IV.

Lord Macclesfield's recommendation of Smeaton as engineer of the new light-

house on the Eddystone-His investigation of the subject-Decides that

it must be built of stone-The design - His journey to Plymouth - His

visits to the rock - Makes a model of the proposed building - Mr. Jessop

appointed resident engineer, and the excavations commenced-Dangers of

the work - Smeaton narrowly escapes shipwreck - Progress of the work-

Smeaton's courage -
- His carefulness as to details - Smeaton on the Hoe—

The lighthouse finished and the light exhibited - Its uses — - The lights in

the English Channel

26-48

PART VI.-Continued.

CHAPTER V.

-

Smeaton appointed receiver for the Derwentwater estates — The roads and com-

merce of England — General want of capital-Smeaton extensively em-

ployed as an engineer — Improvement of navigations-Calder Navigation —

His Report on the drainage of the Lincoln and Cambridge Fens - Various

drainage works-Repairs London Bridge-Designs pumping-engines

Erects bridge at Perth-Constructs Forth and Clyde Canal - Erects

bridge at Coldstream - Designs improvements for the Carron Works

Banff Bridge Hexham Bridge - St. Ives Harbour-Ramsgate Harbour

- Use of the Diving-bell — Eyemouth Harbour Mills and machinery

erected by Smeaton - His improvements in Newcomen's steam-engine

-

--

CHAPTER VI.

Page 49-73

Smeaton's home at Austhorpe-His study and workshop- His blacksmith-

Papers contributed to Royal Society His tools- His lathe - His mecha-

nical ingenuity and skill-His visits to London Engineers' first club-

His views of money - Refuses an engagement to serve the Empress of

Russia — Determines to publish an account of his works- His opinion of

literary composition - His manners Anecdote of Smeaton and the Duchess

of Queensberry - His domestic character - His benevolence — Recognition

of his eminent intellectual ability-His great industry-Failure of his

health-Death
74-89

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PART VII.-LIFE OF JOHN RENNIE.

CHAPTER I.

Rennie born at Phantassie, East Lothian Scotland at the middle of last

century-State of agriculture in the Lothians-The population - Their

indolence Their poverty- Wages of labour-County of Ayr - The

Highland border-Want of roads — Communication between Edinburgh

and Glasgow-Stage-coaches and carriers — Post-road between Edinburgh

and London-The first Scotch Turnpike Act passed Ancient Scotch bridges

Low state of the mechanical arts in Scotland ..

-

-

CHAPTER II.

93-104

Fletcher of Saltoun introduces barley-mills and fanners into Scotland - James

Meikle Popular prejudice against artificial wind'- Andrew Meikle,

millwright Progress of agricultural improvement in East Lothian —

Mr. Cockburn of Ormiston Meikle's mills-Clumsy methods employed

in thrashing grain - Various attempts made to invent a thrashing-mill

-Mr. Kinloch's models- - Andrew Meikle's invention of the thrashing-

machine-His improvements in windmills - Drainage of Kincardine Moss

- Meikle's mechanical ingenuity — His death

-

105-117

PART VII.-Continued.

CHAPTER III.

The Rennie family-Early mechanical bias of John Rennie - Frequents

Andrew Meikle's workshop-Attends the parish school of Prestonkirk —

Learns carpentry and mill-work under Andrew Meikle- Attends Dunbar

Grammar-school- Is offered the appointment of teacher - Begins business

as a millwright - Attends the University of Edinburgh -Dr. Robison-

Rennie's studies and amusements - Mills erected by him in Scotland -

Tour in England — Visits James Watt at Birmingham - Rennie builds his

first bridge near Edinburgh-Removes to Birmingham Is engaged to

superintend the erection of the Albion Mills, Southwark Page 118-133

CHAPTER IV.

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-

..

London in 1785-Coaches and turnpike roads-Trade - The shipping of the

Thames - Erection of the Albion Mills — The first employment of the

steam-engine in driving mill machinery. Rennie's extensive use of iron-

work in their erection - The Albion Mills destroyed by fire-Rennie's

employment on similar works-Earl Stanhope and steam navigation —

Rennie undertakes works of civil engineering - Constructs the Kennet and

Avon Canal-The Rochdale Canal - The Lancaster Canal Various canal

works- The Royal Canal, Ireland
134-151

CHAPTER V.

Recommends the employment of the steam-engine in Fen drainage - Drowned

state of the Lincoln Fens - Arthur Young's account of them - The East

Fen-Sir Joseph Banks resolves upon their drainage - Mr. Rennie em-

ployed to devise a plan for draining Wildmore Fen - His comprehensive

view of the subject of Fen drainage-His catchwater system - His report

-The works executed - Great Hobhole Drain-Effects of the drainage on

agriculture - His proposed improvement of the Witham at Boston-

Reports on the drainage of the Great Level- Eau Brink Cut-Charac-

teristics of Fen scenery.

152-169

CHAPTER VI.

Dr. Robison visits Rennie in London - Theory and practice in bridge-building

- Early designs of bridges - Designs Kelso Bridge - Musselburgh Bridge-

Projected cast-iron bridge over the Menai Straits- - Boston Bridge - Rennie's

various designs of bridges - Waterloo Bridge-Its distinctive features —-

Foundation of the piers-The centering - Mode of fixing the centres —

The bridge road-Completion of the work-Southwark Bridge - The

iron-work - Details of construction -- Characteristics of the bridge 170-194